Police report: Subcontractor accused of cutting pipes after labor dispute

A contractor working on a Carstensen Road house accused a former plumbing subcontractor of damaging pipes in the house Sept. 22. According to the contractor, the subcontracted plumber was hired to do extensive renovation work in a second floor addition of the house at the beginning of September. The contractor paid the plumber $2,000 for materials and a down payment on labor. Black PVC piping was purchased, and the plumber allegedly started taking measurements for the work. After two weeks, the plumber's work was deemed substandard, and the plumber was accused of not showing up on time for the job. On Sept. 17, the contractor fired the plumber and hired a replacement. The replacement plumber was almost finished with the job when the discharged plumber returned to the job site to collect his tools. However, while retrieving his tools, the discharged plumber allegedly used a hand saw to cut pipes and destroy the other plumber's work. The plumber eventually left the house with black PVC piping that he said belonged to him. Police are following up.

Stolen bike
A Dunham Road man's 28-inch, dark gray Raleigh Touring bicycle was stolen from the East Parkway bike rack at Scarsdale train station sometime between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Sept. 27. Only the bike's broken lock remained at the scene. The bike's estimated value was $200.

Identity theft
A Brambach Road woman reported fraudulent activity amounting to $1,206.39 on her bank account Sept. 22.

On Sept. 28, a Ferncliff Road resident reported someone filed fraudulent tax returns in multiple states. On Sept. 25, the man received a call from the State of Maine tax department. Shortly thereafter, the man received three fraudulent state tax refund checks from the Connecticut, Michigan and Missouri. The man said he has not yet filed his own 2013 tax return, as he requested an extension.

Harassment
On Sept. 25, a man reported an acquaintance was repeatedly harassing him at work. Police are following up.

On Sept. 26, an Edgewood man reported receiving four unwanted and harassing phone calls within the span of two hours Sept. 20. Police called the number that appeared on the man's caller ID; however, it was not in service. Patrol explained the number displayed may have been a "spoof number" and not the actual number from which the calls originated.

Suspicious man
A white man with blond hair, approximately 40 years old and driving a red GMC Arcadia, stopped in front of a Secor Road house and attempted to engage the homeowner in conversation about her house Sept. 22. According to the homeowner, the man had a speech impediment and was difficult to understand. Alarmed, she called police. Police canvassed the neighborhood and scheduled precautionary ridebys.

Suspicious bucket
A passerby reported a five-gallon green bucket containing an unknown substance at Tompkins and Butler roads Sept. 25. Police removed the bucket and confirmed it was safe. It only contained water.

Car use
A Fox Meadow woman reported her son was attempting to take her car without permission Sept. 25. When patrol arrived, the woman advised there had been a misunderstanding. She said her son had not been trying to take her car; he was only removing personal items from the car.

Street signs
A caller saw a car strike and knock down a "divided highway" traffic sign while exiting the Hutchinson River Parkway on Mamaroneck Road Sept. 22. The car had already left the area, but the sign was lying on the ground in its wake. Patrol notified the highway department for repair.

Three young women came to headquarters at 11 p.m., Sept. 25, reporting they had found a street sign for Richelieu Road. Police informed the highway department.

Taxi talk
A caller reported a dispute with a taxi driver on Tompkins Road at 1:15 a.m., Sept. 26. Upon speaking with the taxi driver, police learned the passenger was allegedly intoxicated, had provided the driver with conflicting directions and was not clear about his destination. The passenger told police he wanted to go to White Plains but the driver tried to drop him off in an unfamiliar location. The taxi driver refused to take the passenger further, and the driver was not compensated for the original fare. The passenger said he would walk home to White Plains or look for another taxi.

No pay
A Spanish-speaking laborer called police because a contractor refused to pay him for four days of work at a Brookby Road job site, as agreed, Sept. 29. The contractor said he was unable to pay the laborer although he admitted the laborer had provided four days of work. As the two men were unable to reach an agreement, police advised on settling the dispute through a civil action. While investigating the call, police noticed the contractor's vehicle was in violation of parking left to curb and of not displaying a Westchester County contractor's permit. Patrol issued appropriate citations and advised the contractor to call someone to move the vehicle, as no one on scene possessed a valid driver's license.

Help
Police checked the welfare of a Fox Meadow Road man and determined he was OK Sept. 23.

Police checked the welfare of a different Fox Meadow Road man Sept. 25.

A resident gave a rifle and a BB gun to police for destruction Sept. 25. The resident said he had been the owner of the guns for 50 years.

An 11-year-old Edgewood boy called police because he was home alone and an unknown man kept ringing his doorbell at 11:30 p.m., Sept. 25. Patrol spoke with the boy's mother and determined the doorbell ringer was a taxi driver. The taxi driver had arrived for a previously scheduled pickup without knowing the pickup had been cancelled.

Cars and roadways
A caller reported an ice cream truck parked outside of Edgewood School Sept. 22. When police arrived, the ice cream vendor was no longer there.

While on routine patrol, police noticed an unsafe traffic pattern caused by Con Edison on Post Road Sept. 23. In order to use a wet saw to cut holes in the roadway, Con Edison workers closed 75 feet of the northbound lanes and positioned cones to direct northbound traffic into a southbound lane. However, there were not any flaggers, workers or police officers to direct cars through the detour. Patrol contacted the crew's supervisor and stood by until all traffic lanes were reopened. The supervisor promised to provide a safe traffic cone pattern and flaggers prior to starting work the next day.

Police removed a low hanging wire from Carthage Road and notified utility providers Sept. 25.

A car broke down on Weaver Street Sept. 27. Police helped the driver arrange a tow to a Yonkers repair shop.

Firefighters saw two people arguing over a parking spot on East Parkway and notified police Sept. 28. The people left the area on foot prior to patrol's arrival.
Six car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Animals
Police escorted a loose black and white dog, found on Morris Lane, back to its Morris Lane owner Sept. 22.

On Sept. 22, police found a loose dog at the intersection of Murray Hill Road and Morris Lane Sept. 22. New Rochelle Human Society was notified and picked up the dog. Police issued a Village Code Appearance ticket to the unknown owner and provided it to NRHS.

A woman called police to report an animal, believed to be a mole, was walking "very slowly" on Brookby Road Sept. 24. The slow-moving mole was gone when police arrived, and nearby landscapers said they had not seen it.

Sewage backup
A foul odor, thought at first to be natural gas, summoned police and firefighters to a Tunstall Road house Sept. 22. Firefighters determined the odor was coming from a sewer line backing into the house. Police stood by while firefighters flushed sewer lines in the street.

Lost and found
A woman reported losing a yellow metal ring in the village Sept. 23. The ring was described as a design with inverted hearts.

A woman reported leaving her cell phone and driver's license on the check out counter at Scarsdale Medical Center, on Heathcote Road, Sept. 24. Medical center employees looked for the phone but did not find it.

Village code
Patrol issued summonses to landscapers using gas-powered leaf blowers on Foxhall and Fox Meadow roads Sept. 23 and Rodney and Mamaroneck roads Sept. 26.

After neighbors complained, a Harvest Drive contractor apologized for making noise from an idling truck at 7 a.m., Sept. 26.

On Ogden Road, police advised a travelling magazine salesman he needed a permit to solicit in the village Sep. 26.

A magazine salesman on Walworth Avenue was issued a summons for soliciting without a permit Sept. 26.

Police issued summonses to the registered owners of two cars parked on a Brown Road lawn Sept. 27.

Arrest on warrant
On Sept. 26, Elizabeth A. Lopez, 25, of New York City, surrendered herself at headquarters on the strength of an active arrest warrant issued out of Scarsdale Village Justice Court for violations related to a traffic accident on Dec. 11, 2013. She was arrested and released on her own recognizance, with an appearance ticket.

Fire Report
Smoke coming from beneath a car on the Hutchinson River Parkway was traced to a charred alternator and wiring Sept. 22. Firefighters stood by for a tow.

Gas igniters were activating on a Walworth Avenue stove, although all knobs were in the "off" position Sept. 22. Firefighters disconnected power to the stove and advised calling for repair.

Firefighters determined a turpentine-like odor in a Tunstall Road basement was caused by sewer gases Sept. 22. They vented the sewer system, and the odor dissipated.

Firefighters helped a Stonehouse Road resident get into her house after she accidentally locked herself out Sept. 23.

A plate of food caught fire in a Bradford Road oven Sept. 23. It self-extinguished before firefighters arrived. An attic fan was used to ventilate the house. The oven was undamaged.

Firefighters could not find the source of an outdoor smoke odor on Chesterfield Road Sept. 23. Eventually, the odor dissipated.

Following up on a false carbon monoxide alarm in a Roosevelt Place house, firefighters discovered a gas leak in the basement Sept. 24. They stood by for Con Edison.

Firefighters spread Speedi-Dri absorbent around a slight oil spill from a boiler in a Fountain Terrace house Sept. 24.

Firefighters discovered a gas leak in a Weaver Street sewer Sept. 26. It was in the jurisdiction of New Rochelle, so New Rochelle firefighters and police were notified.

An outdoor smoke odor on Innes Road was traced to a fire pit Sept. 26.

A six-foot-square area of mulch was smoldering on Mamaroneck Road Sept. 27. Firefighters extinguished it with pressurized water.

Following up on a slight natural gas odor in a Franklin Road house, firefighters shut gas to a stove with a broken knob and advised calling for service Sept. 27.

Firefighters deduced a Meadow Road power failure was caused by a burned transformer, possibly instigated by an animal Sept. 28. Firefighters found a dead squirrel, the presumed culprit, lying near the utility pole with the burned transformer. Two primary breakers were tripped open at another utility pole.

Firefighters shut gas and electricity to a malfunctioning pool heater on Morris Lane Sept. 28.

This week, firefighters assisted at four accidents in the village. They responded to one false carbon monoxide alarm and 24 false alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, shower steam, burnt toast, a power failure and the manual activation of a panic button.

Scarsdale Village Justice Court
-Demetrius Borden returned on warrant, related to charges of probation violation. The court set bail at $200 and adjourned the case to Oct. 18.
-F. Garcialbarra pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and a registration violation. He was fined $436.
-Darrell L. Jones pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and disobeying a traffic control device. He was fined $356.
-Fred A. Yannantuono was arraigned on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), aggravated DWI and a stop park violation. His license was surrendered pending prosecution. Hardship privileges were granted. Yannantuono was assigned, for evaluation, to Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities. The case was adjourned to Oct. 22.
-Jose L. Damian pleaded guilty to using a gas-powered blower. He was fined $75.
-The court set trial for Lillian V. Rangel on charges of driving without a license and violation of miscellaneous traffic rules.
-The district attorney withdrew charges from two defendants charged with vehicle and traffic violations.
-The court issued two arrest warrants and one warrant letter to defendants who did not appear in court as directed. Additionally, the court noted one defendant charged with a village code violation did not show up for his scheduled court appearance.

Adjournments included some cases with the following charges: operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, second-degree identity theft, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth- and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second- and third-degree possession of marijuana, DWI (first offense), aggravated DWI, DWI with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent, driving while ability impaired, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, various vehicle and traffic violations and village code violations.

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