Police Report : Kitchen Worker Arrested for Assault Plus Scarsdale Police Turnout for Fallen NYPD Officer

Arrests: Following an assault involving two kitchen employees at a Saxon Woods Road facility, which caused one employee to pass out after a physical altercation, police arrested the perpetrator Jan. 26. The victim was taken to White Plains Hospital Center for injuries and the perpetrator, who was accused of striking the victim’s head and neck with a closed fist was arrested. According to the arrest report, he was identified as Manuel A. Hernandez, 38, of Mamaroneck. He was released on his own recognizance with a return court date of Feb. 2.

Scarsdale Village Justice Court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Victor R. Oscategui, 43, of Astoria, for failing to appear in appear at a scheduled court date. On Jan. 26, Oscategui was arrested. He was held without bail and was also facing charges in White Plains.

Funeral for fallen NYPD Detective: The photo at left was forwarded to us by retired world language teacher Sarah Whittington. She said, "I was fortunate to be right on Fifth Avenue and could discern the towns' and cities' names as the motorcycle officers rode by on their motorcycles.Seeing the Scarsdale Police represented in this procession elicited a very proud feeling. Scarsdale is a very special place and today contributes and continues this tradition."

According to Captain Murphy of the Scarsdale Police Department, "Thirteen members participated in the funeral for NYPD Detective Mora. Eight members participated in the funeral for NYPD Detective Rivera the week before."

Car break-ins and attempts
On Jan. 25, a Kingston Road resident reported his wallet was stolen from his unlocked car overnight. It contained credit cards, gift cards, personal documents, $122.62 in cash and a driver’s license. Sunglasses were also stolen.

Around 12:40 a.m., Jan. 27, a Brookline Road man reported that he saw a at least one person pull up in black Toyota Camry, get out of the car and tug on the door handles of a car parked across the street. The car was locked and the man did not gain entry. Police are following up.

After two laptop computers were found in a wooded area at Heathcote and Brookby roads Jan. 27, police checked the login information and contacted the owner. The owner said he believed his car had been rummaged through the previous night and the laptops were stolen.

On Jan. 27, a Gaylor Road woman reported one of her cars had been rummaged through the previous night and loose change was stolen.

On Jan. 30, a Post Road resident reported that while his daughter was sitting in her car at 1 a.m., a Dodge SUV pulled up and a person got out of the car and walked to the window of the daughter’s car. When the person saw the daughter, the person left. Police canvassed the area for the car but could not find it.

Skimming device
A Popham Road bank employee reported that an unknown individual attempted to place a skimming device on the card reader at the ATM Jan. 27. An ATM technician was there performing repairs to the machine. According to the police report, the device succeeded in stealing at least $2,300 in funds, and it was suspected of stealing approximately $15,500 more.

Identity theft
On Jan. 25, a Lawrence Road woman reported fraudulent activity on her checking account. A check was stolen, altered and fraudulently cashed for $9,560.

On Jan. 26, a Hathaway Road man reported that approximately ten fraudulent checks were issued and cashed against his bank account. The account was closed and the bank’s fraud department is following up.

On Jan. 27, a Murray Hill Road resident reported that her credit card was fraudulently used with Uber Eats on Jan. 16.

On Jan. 28, a Franklin Road resident reported unusual activity on her account, caused by the theft and alteration of a check she had written and mailed at the public mailbox at Stratton Road and Weaver Street. The original details of the $51.68 check had been changed to $15,063.00. The payee, unknown to the resident, was listed as Yakira Martinez. Bank officials are investigating.

Note from the Scarsdale Police regarding the rash of check washings:
Since late fall, 2021, there has been a high spike in mail thefts throughout the county and also in Connecticut immediately north of Westchester County. Typically, residents or merchants are placing checks in the mail, both inside private and public mailboxes. Thieves are stealing the mail, accessing the contents and when checks are discovered, they are forged. This check “washing,” involves multiple criminal actors. There are offenders who steal the mail, offenders who then “wash” the checks, offenders who then deposit the forged check into yet another offender’s bank account, who may not be fully aware of this criminal process. Thieves are recruiting individuals via social media to acquire participants who will allow their bank account to be used for this fraudulent purpose. This systematic course of action by the suspects hinders suspect identification.

One way to avoid being victimized is to bank securely online, only making payments through a recurring payment system or by electronically transferring funds – always from a secure device and internet connection. Avoid leaving mail in the mailbox if that mail contains checks or bank information. Do not put the “flag” on your home’s mailbox to the raised position – this alerts thieves to the fact that mail is inside. Do not leave bank or sensitive information in your recycling bin that thieves could exploit – securely shred this information. Check your online banking activity daily to be alert for any suspicious or fraudulent activity. If you do need to mail a check, mail it inside your local post office.

Disputes
Police mediated a dispute between two residents of a Post Road group home Jan. 26.

Police mediated a dispute between siblings who had inherited their parent’s house on Post Road and were arguing in the street. Police advised them their dispute was a civil matter and asked them to be respectful of each other as they worked out their differences.

Death
On Jan. 27, a caller said he has not been able to reach his 73-year-old friend by phone for approximately one month. He asked police to perform a welfare check. Police went to the friend’s house, on Old Lyme Road, and found an open door. They went inside and discovered the friend to be dead in a prone position in the bathtub. No other people were in the house. Police and the medical examiner are investigating.

On Jan. 31, police were called to a Normandy Lane house because a 96-year-old resident died at home.

Assistance
Police provided a courtesy transport to the northern end of the Village for a man who was out walking in the cold on Post Road Jan. 27.
A Montrose Road woman called police to report a man with a shovel was outsider her house and she didn’t know why Jan. 29. Police spoke with the man, who worked for the woman’s landscaper. He said there was a mix up, because the company mows lawns for two houses on Montrose Road but is only contracted to provide snow removal for one of them. He was at the wrong house.

Cars and roadways
On Jan. 25, police assisted a driver start a disabled car on East Parkway.

While investigating a report of a possibly suspicious person in Freightway Garage, police noticed a parked car with its door ajar Jan. 25. Nothing seemed disturbed in the car. Police closed the door.

A truck with a license plate reported as stolen was parked in the Crossway Field lot after the park’s normal operating hours Jan. 25. Police approached the driver who was identified as the car’s registered owner. Police advised him that the park was closed and he would have to leave.

Police also advised him the license plate was still registered as stolen, and he should get this inaccuracy corrected.

A driver accidentally left the roadway and entered the bike path on Brook Lane Jan. 26. She realized immediately and started backing up. Patrol assisted and informed county officials that there was no signage regarding the bike path and no barriers to prevent drivers from mistakenly accessing it.

Firefighters cleaned up spilled oil from a disabled car on Fenimore Road and police assisted in arranging for a tow Jan. 28.

A car parked on Forest Lane was moved by its owner into a driveway to allow for a snowplow to pass Jan. 29.

A light post on Gatehouse Road was struck by a passing car or plow and reportedly fell over Jan. 29. The highway department was notified.

Frozen pipes
The water department was notified about a frozen and burst pipe on Montrose Road Jan. 27.

On Jan. 29, a Tunstall Road resident reported that pipes burst in the house, and the house was flooding.

Animals
On Jan. 24, police observed a loose French bulldog on Post Road. The owner said a second French bulldog was also loose. The owner told police a man rang the owner’s doorbell with the second dog in his possession. When no one answered the door, the man left in a black Chevy Tahoe with the second bulldog. Police canvassed the area but did not find the truck. Police advised the owner to check animal shelters. Later, the owner called police to report the second bulldog had been located at a local animal hospital.

On Jan. 24, a caller reported seeing a coyote running loose on Putnam Avenue and Sage Terrace.

A red-tailed hawk was hopping on the ground in a Carthage Road yard Jan. 25. The homeowner was afraid the hawk might be injured. It flew away when patrol approached it.

A Morris Lane resident reported a deer was lying on her property for about two hours. She did not know if it was injured. It leapt up and ran away after police approached it.

Lost and found
A Valley Road man reported losing his car’s license plates after they were accidentally put out for trash Jan. 26.

On Jan. 28, a checkbook was found in the lobby of police headquarters. Police contacted the owner, who said he was an hour away and asked police to destroy the checkbook.

Firefighters
On Jan. 24, firefighters assisted at a two-car accident on Webster Road. One driver was taken to the hospital with injuries.

On Jan. 26, firefighters assisted at a one-car accident involving impact with a tree on the Hutchinson River Parkway. No operator was found. Westchester County police was following up.

Con Edison was dispatched to Carthage Road and Murray Hill Road for potential gas leaks Jan. 27.
On Jan. 27, firefighters opened a drain valve to prevent flowing and freezing water from a broken sprinkler system on Penn Road from entering the street.

Firefighters cleaned up oil from a leaking box truck on Fenimore Road Jan. 28.

Firefighters shut water and affected utilities in a Tunstall Road house after a third-floor radiator was found to be leaking Jan. 29. The residents were advised to sleep elsewhere for the night.

On Jan. 29, firefighters assisted at a car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway.

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