Police Report: Fallen Electrical Wire Burns Cars on Rural Drive

A downed high-tension, primary electrical wire fell on a Mercedes-Benz and a Porsche parked in a Rural Drive driveway and caused a fire that burned the cars Aug. 22. Police and firefighters blocked off the area while Con Edison workers shut power. This allowed firefighters to set up a water perimeter to protect surrounding structures and to extinguish the burning cars. Damage was extensive. A Porsche parked in the driveway, registered to a New Jersey person, suffered minor damage from the fire. Firefighters wet the melted asphalt to stop it from smoldering. During this incident, surrounding streets lost power, including the Scarsdale Pool. Pool employees evacuated patrons, and police stood by to help disperse people to their cars.

Welfare check finds woman dead
A Herkimer Road woman's daughter called police to perform a welfare check of her 88-year-old mother on August 23rd. The daughter was concerned because the mother did not show up at an event and was not answering the phone. Patrol used a key to enter the house. They found the mother unresponsive in the house. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps pronounced her dead. Patrol investigated the scene, and found no sign of criminal activity. Patrol waited on the scene until the family's arrival and provided assistance.

Burglary
An active burglar alarm brought police to a Church Lane house at 12:45 a.m., Aug. 25. An exterior examination of the house uncovered a shattered kitchen door. At that time, additional patrol responded to the house, and some officers entered the house. Inside the house, police found a brick surrounded by shattered glass lying on the kitchen floor. Three of four bedrooms on the second floor had been gone through and had drawers open. These bedrooms appeared to belong to the homeowner's children. The master bedroom's closet was ajar, but the room itself appeared undisturbed. Outside the house, police found two pieces of a torn latex glove and a set of latex gloves. These were collected as evidence. Patrol contacted the homeowners, who were away. The homeowners said they would return after 8 a.m. later that day. At that time, they would determine if anything had been stolen from the house.

Car break-in
Approximately $70 in cash was stolen from an unlocked, parked car on Stonehouse Road Aug. 24. The theft occurred sometime between midnight and 6 a.m.

Identity theft
On Aug. 22, a Lyons Road man reported someone used his personal identifying information to attempt to open a Barclays Visa credit card and a T-Mobile account. The attempts were denied. However, a fraudulent Sprint account was opened, and the perpetrator received a new phone.
On Aug. 26, a Cayuga Road woman reported finding fraudulent charges on her Bloomingdale's account. The charges were made at the Manhattan store on Aug. 11 and 12. Bloomingdale's fraud department told the woman the card information had been entered manually, rather than the card being swiped. Furthermore, copies of the electronic signature did not match the woman's real signature.

Domestic matters
A Fox Meadow man called police to report his brother spilled beer in his mother's room Aug. 24. Patrol spoke with his mother, who said the man actually spilled beer in her room and was not listening to her. She then screamed and patrol lost contact with her. Patrol went to the family's house. The mother was OK and said the man's younger brother recently returned home, and the two brothers were arguing over trivial things. Patrol spoke with the man and told him to respect his mother and avoid confrontations with his brother. The man was calm and said he would comply. After midnight Aug. 26, the man called police and 911 again. He was referencing the Secret Service, New York State Police and a limousine that he claimed was coming to his house. Police informed the man that a call of this nature on a police emergency line was inappropriate. Patrol contacted the man's mother via voicemail and informed her of the matter.

A Fox Meadow woman reported her brother was sending her threatening text messages Aug. 25. Patrol examined the messages and saw no threats of violence or physical language. Rather, the messages were a conversation involving the woman's living situation in her home and her hopes to change the situation in the future. Patrol called the brother and advised that disagreements would not help the overall situation. The brother and sister were advised to not contact each other for the rest of the day.

Runaway
A driver called police from a stopped car, with Colorado license plates, on Crane Road Aug. 23. The driver reported his 12-year-old son ran away from home. When patrol arrived on the scene, the driver was there with his son. The driver stated he found his son in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church. Patrol talked with the boy and explained the importance of not running away from home.

Dog bite
A Garth Road man was twice bitten by a neighbor's dog Aug. 28. The man reported the bites occurred outside the building while the man was exiting the building. Upon reaching the street level from the stairs, the dog began to run towards to the man. The man turned to run away from the dog, and the dog bit his left calf. The man fell to the ground, and the dog bit his right shoulder. The dog's owner pulled the dog off the man, and the man was taken to White Plains Hospital Center for treatment. Police spoke with the dog's owner. The dog is a White Maltese named "Biggie." The owner told police "Biggie" broke free from her grip and bit the man. The dog was up to date on all his vaccine but was not licensed in Scarsdale.

Welfare check
A Kingston Road woman asked police to check on her children and their nanny after the woman was unable to reach the nanny following a reported dispute with an Uber driver at 12 p.m., Aug. 26. The dispute occurred while the driver was transporting the nanny and the children to a nature center. One child -- a five year-old – was confirmed to be at the nature center. Police found the nanny and the other child at home. The nanny was cooking and did not know she had missed calls on her cell phone. She attempted to call the woman to say she was OK, but poor cellular service did not allow her to make the call. Police let her use their phone to make the call.

Party?
On Aug. 26, a Bradford Road woman told police she thought someone might have had a party on her property, without her knowledge, while she was away from home. A red disposable cup was found in the bushes of the house, and blankets on the deck were not placed where she had left them. The woman asked police to record the incident.

Who's there?
A Boulder Brook Road woman reported that two men "lurking about bushes on his property" Aug. 22. The caller's mother and police went to the house. The mother confirmed the men were contractors she had hired to do a job the next day. They were there to inspect the job site.

Water
A water department employee told police a water main was leaking into the basement of a Vernon Road house Aug. 22.

Cats
A cat was reported to be "screaming for a long time" near the Brite Avenue tennis courts Aug. 24. The caller thought the cat might need assistance. Police canvassed the area for a possibly injured cat but did not find one.

Following up on a caller's report, police found two dead kittens on Fenimore Road, near the Bronx River Parkway roadwork site, Aug. 24. The highway department was advised.

Dogs
A caller reported a loose dog on Aspen Road Aug. 25. Patrol noticed the dog on a lawn and spoke with someone in the house. She said the dog belongs to the homeowner, and she brought the dog in the house.

Patrol advised the owner of a Leatherstocking Lane dog about a noise complaint regarding the dog Aug. 28. The animal did not appear to be in distress and seemed well taken care of, according to police.

Phone call
An employee of Scarsdale Congregational Church reported a man called the church asking for the "finance director" Aug. 24. She asked the man for additional information and refused to forward the call without additional information. At that point, the caller allegedly became irate and began cursing and yelling on the phone. He allegedly mumbled that he was going to get her or harm her, and he hung up. Because the caller had originally asked for the church "finance director," police thought the call was most likely an attempted phone scam. Patrol advised the employee to advise them if she received additional similar calls.

Garage door
While walking home from the Hartsdale train station, a man passed a house with an open garage door on Greenacres Avenue at 11 p.m., Aug. 27. He thought the open door was unusual and called police. Patrol knocked on the front door. The homeowner said she was aware of the open door and everything was in good order.

Cars and roadways
Police asked drivers of parked cars to move their cars to one side of Hamilton and Rodney roads in order to not obstruct traffic flow Aug. 23.
Police noticed a car with an open door on Freightway Road Aug. 23. There were no signs of forced entry or criminal activity. The owner said she must have accidentally left the door open and asked patrol to close it.
On Aug. 23, a woman reported an incident of road rage at Post and Popham roads. She said a driver entered her lane, and she beeped her horn at him. He then allegedly began tailgating here and screaming obscenities. Patrol canvassed the area for the driver, but patrol did not find him.
On Aug. 23, police puled over two cars on Woodland Place and cautioned the drivers not to tailgate or beep horns at each other. Patrol furthermore warned the drivers about the dangers of road rage.
Police advised Verizon about a fallen phone wire at Cohawney Road and Oak Lane Aug. 24.
A car parked on Stonehouse Road, in violation of a three-hour restriction, was found to belong to a person who was hospitalized for a medical emergency Aug. 24. A family member said the car would be moved as soon as the keys were made available.
On Aug. 25, a Maserati got a flat tire driving over potholes on Mamaroneck Road. The potholes and rough roadway were in preparation of roadway resurfacing, and numerous warning signs were posted.
Police notified Con Edison about sparking wires at Post and Richbell roads Aug. 28.
Five car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Civil matter
On Aug. 27, a landscaper accidentally knocked over a lamp pole while mowing the lawn of a Fox Meadow Road temple. The landscaper and temple officials worked out an agreement to have the pole repaired.

Village code
Police issued summonses for using gas-powered blowers in violation of village code to landscapers on Crane Road Aug. 22, Fenimore Road Aug. 25, Hampton Road Aug. 26 and Heathcote Road Aug. 26.
A Popham Road resident complained about noise from a hammer Aug. 23. It was caused by Village employees fixing a sidewalk. No police action was required.
A patrol issued a food truck vendor a summons for selling food on Larch Lane without a permit Aug. 23.
A Sprague Road resident reported a neighbor who allegedly leaves a dog "out all day ... barking all day" Aug. 23. Police are following up.
Police dispersed kids from Boulevard after 1 p.m., Aug. 23. At the same time, patrol noticed three cars parked on Potter Road, left to curb and facing north. Patrol thus wrote three parking citations.

Lost and found
A jeep key on a lanyard was found at the Brite Avenue tennis courts Aug. 24. Police vouchered it at headquarters for safekeeping.
On Aug. 25, a woman reported losing her wallet in the village. She said she got gas and placed the wallet on the roof of her car. She forgot it was there and drove away. While driving away, the wallet fell from the car and was lost.
A Meadow Road woman reported losing her passport in Greenburgh Aug. 25. Police advised her she must report the loss to the Greenburgh Police..
A Circle Road woman found a set of keys in her driveway Aug. 28. Police checked with several neighbors, and none of them claimed the lost keys. The keys were vouchered at headquarters.

Firefighters
Firefighters shut down a malfunctioning generator in a Stratton Road house and advised calling for service Aug. 22.
A bathroom water leak travelled to a basement alarm panel in a Claremont Road house Aug. 22. Firefighters advised calling for service.
Burnt wires in a Harvest Drive dishwasher caused the dishwasher to smoke Aug. 24. Firefighters disconnected the dishwasher and advised calling for service.
A malfunctioning hot water heater in a Catherine Road house caused elevated levels of carbon monoxide. Firefighters called Con Edison. The hot water heater was disconnected and red tagged. The homeowner was advised to call for service.
Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a leaking gas curb box on Greenacres Avenue Aug. 25.
A housekeeper locked herself out of a Heathcote Road house Aug. 26. Her purse, ID and keys were inside the house. Firefighters checked her identity and verified her authorization to be in the house. They helped her get back inside.
A "burning odor" reported on White Birch Lane was determined to be coming from a neighbor's use of a meat smoker Aug. 28.
Con Edison de-energized and cut fallen electrical lines on Post Road Aug. 28.
This week, firefighters responded to four false carbon monoxide alarms and eight false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, accidental manual pull station activation, smoke from burnt food and e-cigarette smoke.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Aug. 22-28 was compiled by official information.

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