Housekeeper Arrested for Theft and Man Charged with DWI

A 33 year-old White Plains woman who worked at a housekeeper in several homes in Scarsdale was arrested on Tuesday January 27 for stealing cash from a home she cleaned on Tisdale Road. Following a complaint from the homeowners, police conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of Jenny Illescas for Petit Larceny. She is scheduled to appear in court on February 18th.

DWI
A Scarsdale man was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent, following an accident that landed his 2002 Lexus into a ditch at the Heathcote Bypass and Weaver Street at midnight, Jan. 22. The car had apparently been traveling south on the Bypass when it drove off the road. The driver was out of the car when police arrived. He advised he was not injured and declined medical attention. He was swaying as he walked, and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. His breath smelled of alcohol, and he told police he drank three beers at Brother Jimmy's Barbecue restaurant in White Plains earlier that evening. He failed field sobriety tests, and he tested positive in an alcohol pre-screening test. At headquarters, a Datamaster test measured his blood alcohol level at .17 percent. Following his arrest booking, he was released on his own recognizance. He was issued an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court on Jan. 28.

Identity theft
On Jan. 20, an Aspen Road woman reported someone created a fraudulent check and cashed it against her Bank of American account on Jan. 16. According to the woman, the check was a duplicate of a check number she had not yet issued, and it contained a forged signature. The fraudulent check was made payable to an auto company in Florida. In following up with her bank, the woman learned the perpetrator made other small transactions against the account, as a way of checking if the account was active. The bank closed the account to prevent further fraudulent transactions. Police advised the woman to monitor her credit report as a precaution.
On Jan. 23, a Clarence Road woman reported receiving a collection notice about a Verizon telephone account
opened in her name without her knowledge or permission. After speaking with Verizon's fraud department and the collection agency, the woman learned the account was opened in March 2013 and closed in July 2013. Verizon's fraud department is following up.

"Fare" change
A cab driver called police when a passenger's credit card was declined and the passenger, from Walworth Avenue, offered to pay the $80 fare in coins or by personal check. Police advised the driver that although it might be inconvenient to accept $80 in coins, the coins represent valid US currency and therefore should be accepted as payment. The passenger gave the driver $80 in coins, which he accepted as full payment for the fare.

Noises
Police checked a Nelson Road house after the homeowner thought she heard a cupboard door open at approximately 2:45 p.m., Jan. 19. Police found no sign of forced entry or criminal activity.

Police checked an Innes Road house after the homeowner heard an unusual noise and thought someone might be trying to get inside Jan. 22. Police found no sign of criminal activity.

Footprints
Police checked a Gatehouse Road house after a homeowner reported concerns about footprints in the snow around the perimeter of her house Jan. 25. Police found no signs of criminal activity and noted the footprints appeared to have been made by an animal.

Scofflaws

The parking enforcement officer saw a car parked on Spencer Place that was associated with $740 in parking ticket scofflaw fines Jan. 20. While patrol was waiting for a tow truck to arrive, the driver returned to the car. Patrol advised her to resolve the unpaid fines in Village Justice Court.

The parking enforcement officer saw a car parked on East Parkway that was associated with $720 in parking ticket scofflaw fines Jan. 20. While patrol was waiting for a tow truck to arrive, the driver returned to the car. Patrol advised her to resolve the unpaid fines in Village Justice Court.

Cars and roadways
On Jan. 19, a Boulder Brook Road man was concerned someone might have punctured the tires of his car while it was parked in his driveway overnight. Police examined the car and determined the damage did not look like criminal mischief. Rather, the damage was consistent with damage caused by tires ripped open by running against a curb.

A motorist complained about a large pothole at Post and Fenimore roads Jan. 19. Police placed a traffic cone there to warn motorists, and they alerted transportation officials for repair.

Although legally parked, two cars were causing a hazardous condition on Oakstwain Road Jan. 20. Police contacted the registered owners and asked them to move their cars.

Police notified the water department of a broken water main on Church Lane Jan. 21. The highway department applied salt to the area to prevent icing.

A car became disabled near the intersection of Mamaroneck Road and Harvest Drive Jan. 23. The driver asked police if he could leave the car in the Scarsdale pool parking lot overnight until it could be picked up for repair the next day.

A branch and wires fell on Huntington Avenue Jan. 24. Patrol blocked off the area with caution tape and notified Con Edison and the highway department. They also taped off the area around a branch leaning on wires on Quaker Center. Patrol notified the homeowner, who contacted a tree service.
Patrol stood by while a driver changed a flat tire near the intersection of Heathcote Road and Palmer Avenue Jan. 25.
Police notified the water department about pooling water on Brewster Road, possibly caused by a defective sewer, Jan. 25.
A man who appeared to be sleeping in his car on Claremont Road was a tutor who arrived early for an appointment and decided to relax and listen to a radio show in the meantime Jan. 25.
Patrol notified New Rochelle police and appropriate road maintenance agencies about a large piece of blacktop that became dislodged from Weaver Street and was causing a hazard Jan. 25.
Concerned about road rage, a driver pulled into headquarters Jan. 25. He alleged another driver had been "recklessly following" him from the Bronx River Parkway. He said the aggressive driver stopped only after he pulled into the public safety parking lot.
Seven car accidents were reported in the village and on parkways this week.

Village code, safety
On Jan. 19, police told a Greenacres Avenue contactor he was in violation of village code for using power equipment in violation of village code on a holiday. The contractor said he did not realize it was a holiday and stopped work immediately.

Police advised an ice skater to leave Duck Pond due to possible danger from thin ice Jan. 22.

On Jan. 22, patrol advised a Carthage Road man and his kids that their hockey game was causing a noise disturbance for some neighbors who had complained. The man apologized and stopped the game.

Patrol spoke to a Dolma Road homeowner after a neighbor complained of noise from the homeowner's generator Jan. 22. The homeowner said he was not sure why the generator was running, and he would return to the house to investigate the problem the next morning.

At 6:30 a.m., Jan. 24, police advised a sanitation truck driver that garbage removal needed to be done during designated hours, as per village code.

Police dispersed noisy kids form Berkeley Road at 10:30 p.m., Jan. 24.

Lost badge
A parking enforcement officer dropped his official badge in Christie Place Garage Jan. 21. A person found it and notified headquarters. The officer promptly retrieved his badge.

Fire
Firefighters shut the water supply to a broken hose bib at a Cayuga Road house Jan. 19.

Firefighters investigated pooling water in a Carthage Road yard and advised the homeowner to call the building department with concerns Jan. 19. A sump pump stopped working in a Mamaroneck Road basement and a large amount of water entered the house Jan. 19. Firefighters shut the gas supply to affected appliances and pumped water from the basement.

Firefighters looked at a small amount of water in a Crossway basement Jan. 19. It was not enough to pump out.
Firefighters advised the homeowner to contact a plumber to check the sump pump.

A stove was leaking gas in a Johnson Road house Jan. 20. Firefighters shut off the gas connection and informed Con Edison.
Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a probable gas leak on Rock Creek Lane Jan. 21.

Firefighters, police and Con Edison workers forced their way into a Carman Road house because of suspected gas infiltration from an active curb valve leak on the street Jan. 21. Con Edison workers detected gas readings in the basement and took over the scene.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a probable gas leak in a Carthage Road house Jan. 21.

A senior resident reported there was no heat in her Coralyn Road house Jan. 22. Firefighters discovered the pilot light was out in the gas furnace. They relit the pilot light, and the furnace began functioning again. A plumber was called to check the boiler.

Firefighters checked a Secor Road house for a possible gas leak Jan. 22. Con Edison workers, who were also called to the scene, found a gas leak outdoors and addressed it.

Firefighters advised a Cohawney Road resident to report fallen phone wires to Verizon Jan. 24. Firefighters also helped the resident knock heavy snow from low hanging branches leaning precariously on other wires.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a natural gas leak running alongside curbing in an open area of Butler Woods Jan. 25.

A Brewster Road resident said he inadvertently poured up to two gallons of gasoline down the drain of a basement slop sink Jan. 25. Firefighters ventilated the house and used running water to flush the drain for approximately an hour. An odor of gasoline, caused by this incident, was also reported in a neighbor's house. Firefighters checked the neighbor's house, found a poorly sealed sewer trap, ventilated the house and flushed the sewer line with water. The Westchester County Department of Health was notified.

Firefighters assisted at one car accident in the village. They responded to 11 false alarms caused by device malfunction, construction dust, cooking smoke and a battery change.

Arrest on warrant
On Jan. 23, police arrested Gustavo A. Burgos, 22, of Yonkers, on the strength of an active bench warrant, previously issued out of Scarsdale Village Justice Court for failing to appear in court on vehicle and traffic misdemeanors. After Burgos's surrender to police, he was released on his own recognizance to his father, who had accompanied him to headquarters. He was issued an appearance ticket for Jan. 28 at Scarsdale Village Justice Court.

Scarsdale Village Justice Court
Stephen J. Broege was arraigned on charges of DWI (first offense) and DWI with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent. His license was suspended pending prosecution, but the court granted him a hardship license. Broege was assigned, for evaluation, to Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities. The case was adjourned to Feb. 18.

Allen F. Bryant pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of a registration violation and was fined $193.

Gregory A. Fucci pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of a registration violation and was fined $193.

Joseph M. Gentile, Jr., pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of driving without a license and disobeying a traffic control device. He was fined $408.

Brian J. Higgins pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of a registration violation and was fined $193.

David M. Hill's bail was reduced to $1,000, and he was assigned, for evaluation, to Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities. The case was adjourned to Feb. 11.

Deanna L. Mifsud was arraigned on charges of DWI (first offense), DWI with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 of one percent and speeding (55/30). Her license was surrendered pending prosecution, but hardship privileges were granted. Mifsud was assigned, for evaluation, to Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities. The case was adjourned to Feb. 11.

S.A. Signorelli pleaded guilty to speeding and the reduced charge of driving without a license. Signorelli was fined $438.

Ashley E. Stevens pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of driving while ability impaired. Her license was suspended for 90 days with a 20-day stay. She was ordered to attend a MADD Victim Impact Panel and a drinking and driving program organized by the Department of Motor Vehicles. She was fined $560.
One case was sealed.

The court issued five warrant letters to defendants who did not appear in court as directed. One previously issued bench warrant stayed in effect for a defendant who did not appear in court on vehicle and traffic charges.
Adjournments included some cases with the following charges: possession of a hypodermic instrument, use of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree possession of a forged instrument, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first-degree operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, second-degree obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree identity theft and various vehicle and traffic violations.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Jan. 19-25 and the Scarsdale Village Justice Court calendar from Jan. 21 was complied from official information.

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