NYC Man Arrested for DWI after BRP Accident. Burglars Strike Two Houses with Unactivated Alarms

DWI: Following an accident in which a driver lost control of his 2013 BMW at the Bronx River Parkway and Crane Road on Friday Nov. 27 at 11 pm, police arrested Brian M. Cohen, 26, of New York City, on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), reckless driving, a speeding violation and failure to obey an officer. The incident began when a patrol officer observed Cohen's BMW speed by him on Post Road at approximately 50 mph. Patrol followed the car as it turned right onto Fenimore Road. Cohen did not stop when patrol activated lights and sirens in an attempt to get the car to pull over. Instead, Cohen allegedly passed two vehicles by crossing the yellow line, in an apparent attempt to evade police. Cohen's then drove onto the Bronx River Parkway, where police lost sight of the car and determined the situation to be unsafe and hazardous and deactivated the patrol car's emergency lights. As police continued on the Bronx River Parkway toward the Crane Road exit, they again saw Cohen's BMW. It was stopped on the northbound side of the parkway, facing southward, the result of an apparent accident. Patrol approached the driver and asked what happened. Cohen stated, "I made mistakes." Cohen and a female passenger stated they were not injured. However, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded and took Cohen and the passenger to White Plains Hospital Center for medical attention. While speaking with Cohen, patrol detected the odor of alcohol on his breath. He admitted to having one drink in White Plains and said he was on his way home to Manhattan. Field sobriety tests were administered, and Cohen was not able to complete them successfully. An alco-sensor prescreening test indicated the presence of alcohol on Cohen's breath, and he was arrested for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, speeding, driving to the left of the pavement marks and failure to obey an office. At headquarters, Cohen refused to submit to a breath test. Cohen's mother was called, and she posted $250 cash bail. Cohen was released with an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court on Dec. 2. Car keys were turned over to Cohen's mother.

Burglaries:
A Boulder Brook Road house was burglarized Nov. 28 while the family was in New York City at an event from 1:30 p.m. until approximately 8:30 p.m. Doors and windows were locked, but the alarm system was not activated. A rear window of a patio door was shattered, and the master bedroom was tossed. Several jewelry boxes were left open and empty in the room. The master bedroom closet was also tossed. Police noted in the report that the family's son posted a message on Instagram at 4 p.m. indicating the family was in the city for a Christmas event. Police are reviewing a neighbor's video surveillance as detectives investigate the burglary.

On Nov. 29, a Ridgecrest West homeowner reported his house had been burglarized while his family was on vacation from Nov. 21-29 or possibly while the family was eating dinner after returning home from vacation Nov. 29. The house has an alarm system, but it was not activated at the time. The homeowner said no one checked the house after coming home, but instead ate dinner first. While eating at 7:15, the homeowner and his wife heard a loud thud from upstairs. The homeowner went upstairs and found the master bedroom door locked from the inside. A rear bathroom window was found to be open, and the latch was broken. The homeowner pushed a pin into the bedroom door lock and opened it. The room was found in disarray, with the rear bedroom window open, a window screen thrown on the bed, and multiple belongings stolen. Master bedroom closet drawers were open and ransacked. Police canvassed the area for possible suspects. Footprints were discovered near the suspect's entry and exit points – near the rear bathroom window and rear master bedroom window.

Car break-in
A Brewster Road family's unlocked 2012 Audi was entered, and spare change was stolen overnight Nov. 22. Contents of the car were strewn about the floor and across the front seat of the car. Stolen change was estimated at approximately two dollars.

Identity theft:
A village payroll clerk reported two fraudulent checks were presented against the account Nov. 24. The checks did not match the village's payroll check numbers or check style. Bother checks were issued to a Bronx resident. One was in the amount of $1,154.07. The other was written for $842.08. The person named on the check was never an employee of the village.

On Nov. 29, a Franklin Road woman reported someone fraudulently infiltrated custodial savings accounts for her children at Chase Bank and stole $3,680. Chase Bank is looking into the incident.

Criminal mischief:
On Nov. 28, a Brambach Road resident reported a fig tree planted on his property had been destroyed. The man said it appeared that a person used a knife or sharp object to shave bark from all sides of the tree, ultimately destroying it. The resident said he last saw the tree in perfect condition earlier that day. The resident suggested an ongoing dispute with a neighbor might be connected to the damage of the tree. Patrol offered to conduct extra ridebys of the house and suggested investing in a surveillance camera if the resident is concerned about future similar incidents. On Nov. 29, the Brambach Road resident stated he noticed soil on his front porch and another fig tree intentionally cut.

On Nov. 29, a Dunham Road man reported the roof of his brother's car was damaged overnight while parked on the street. The man said he wanted to speak with his brother before filing an official police report.

Suspicious:
A man reported to be looking into high school windows with a flashlight was a custodian working the night shift around 9 p.m., Nov. 23.

Paint ball?
A woman reported her car had been struck by a paint ball at Mamaroneck and Murray Hill roads Nov. 24. Patrol examined the car and the area and determined an egg had fallen from a nest onto the car.

Shoes:
A man who was not wearing any shoes while on the train station platform said he was not in need of assistance. He said he was a student at Sarah Lawrence College, waiting to take a train to Bronxville. He said it was his choice to not wear any shoes.

Lost:
A youth was knocking at a Butler Road door and screaming at 2: 15 a.m., Nov. 26. The homeowner called police, and patrol spoke with the boy who said he lost his way. Police called the boy's mother, who came to the scene and picked him up.

Assistance:
A mother asked police to help manage her 14-year-old son's behavior Nov. 24. The mother and son were at services at St. Pius church, and the son was refusing to get into the mother's car to go home. The son was angry because the mother took away his cell phone. Police helped mediate the dispute.

Traffic arrest:
On Nov. 27, police stopped Michelle M. Colonia, 24, of White Plains, for operating a handheld mobile device while simultaneously operating a black sedan on East Parkway. During the traffic stop, patrol realized Colonia's driving privileges were currently suspended "pending prosecution by court, blood alcohol count," as per an order dated Jan. 12, 2012. There was also an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Village of Mamaroneck. Mamaroneck police were advised and said they would pick up Colonia for arrest processing in their jurisdiction, following her arrest by Scarsdale police. Colonia was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operation of a motor vehicle while using a portable electronic device. She was released on $60 cash bail, with an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court on Dec. 9, and turned over to Mamaroneck police.

Cars and roadways:
The driver of a Lexus stopped on Heathcote Road to make a phone call Nov. 24. A caller complained, and police advised the driver to pull off the roadway or drive to a parking lot to make her call.

Seven car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Animals:
A Cooper Road resident put a wounded owl in a cardboard box Nov. 26. Patrol called a wildlife service, where a representative made arrangements to pick up the owl the following day.

Village code:
Police left on a note on a Garth Road apartment regarding the resident's bicycles, which were locked to a village light pole Nov. 24. The note requested the resident move the bikes within the next few days. Otherwise, police would impound them.

Police dispersed a small gathering of noisy kids from Dunham Road around 2 a.m., Nov. 28.

Police advised landscapers on Tompkins Road that they were not permitted to use gas-powered leaf blowers before 10 a.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 28. The person who reported the blowers thought police should have given the landscapers a summons, rather than a warning. The person told police she thought more summonses should be issued.

Neighbors complained about a loud party on Brewster Road Nov. 28. Police advised the homeowner that guests should leave in a quiet and orderly fashion.

A sign advertising gym services was posted at the intersection of Weaver Street and Hutchinson Avenue Nov. 28. Patrol removed the sign and issued the gym a summons.

Lost and found:
A caller reported his wife possibly lost two rings at Sophia's Salon in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center Nov. 21. One ring was an Italian lace gold band with sapphires valued at $5,500. The other was a $4,000 gold band with diamonds. The wife realized she lost the rings the day after she got her nails done at the salon. She reported it to police Nov. 23. She said she remembered taking the rings off and placing them on a ring holder at the salon. The salon manager spoke with employees and advised that none of them reported seeing the missing rings.

On Nov. 24, a Lyons Road man reported losing his car's license plates somewhere in the village.

A passerby found an expensive wristwatch on the ground after parking his car at Harwood Court and Chase Road Nov. 25. It was turned over to police for safekeeping. Police checked with local jewelry stores to see if anyone had recently had a similar watch serviced. Employees at Wilson and Son Jewelers entered the watch as lost in the event that the owner should contact the manufacturer to report the watch as missing.

Fire:
An inside odor of gas in a Fox Meadow Road house was caused by a faulty dryer pipe Nov. 23. Firefighters disconnected the dryer and advised the homeowner to have it repaired.

An arcing electrical wire was starting to burn the utility pole and a nearby tree Nov. 24. Firefighters called Con Edison and closed the street while repairs were ongoing.
The highway department was called about a sewer backing up through a manhole on Lorraine Place Nov. 24.

A Sage Terrace resident called firefighters about a "gas stove problem" Nov. 25. Firefighters did not find any gas leaks or problems and advised the resident to have the appliance serviced.

Firefighters extinguished a car fire, with the engine compartment fully involved, on the Hutchinson River Parkway, north of Wilmot Avenue, Nov. 25. They searched the car for possible victims and stood by for a tow.

Firefighters extinguished another car fire, with the engine compartment fully involved, on the Bronx River Parkway Nov. 25. They searched the car for possible victims and stood by for a tow.

Con Edison was called about a gas odor on Valley Road Nov. 26.

Firefighters detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide in a Greenacres Avenue house and stood by for Con Edison Nov. 26.

A gas burner would not turn off on a Spruce Lane stove Nov. 26. Firefighters shut gas to the stove and stood by for Con Edison. The resident was advised to have the stove serviced.

An oven fire caused smoke inside a Heathcote Road house Nov. 26. The fire was out when firefighters arrived. They checked the house to confirm everything was safe. The resident was advised to refrain from using the oven until it was serviced.

Con Edison was called about a noisy gas regulator and a gas odor inside a Sprague Road house Nov. 26.

This week, firefighters assisted at one car accident in the village. They responded to two false carbon monoxide alarms and 21 false fire alarms, caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, smoke detector cleaning, water leaking into a smoke detector, floor staining chemicals, shower steam and burnt food.

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