Police Report: Three Arrested After Overdose in Car and a House Fire on Black Birch Lane

Suspected overdose: Firefighters, police and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps were dispatched to Secor Road and Hazelton Drive at 3:25 p.m., Oct. 3, on a report of multiple individuals passed out inside a locked 2019 Dodge Charger. Police arrived and found the driver – Peter R. Eichie, 22, of New Rochelle – asleep at the wheel. Three other people inside the car also appeared to be unconscious but breathing.

Police opened the car doors after several attempts at waking the occupants, and the occupants were removed. Three individuals were transported to the hospital by SVAC.

Eichie was arrested and charged with first-degree operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance, having an open container of alcohol in the car, a stopping/standing/parking violation and a no seatbelt violation. One of the occupants of the car – Erin Garces, 19 of Port Chester – was arrested on the charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, after she was found in criminal possession of Xanax. A second occupant – Ricci Johnson, 21, of Yonkers – was arrested on two charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, after he was found with white powder cocaine and 11 Percocet tablets in an unmarked container in his possession. The car was towed to the police impound lot.

DWI
A driver – Ignacio A. Diaz, 54, of Yonkers – was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), refusal to take a chemical test, driving a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and moving from a lane unsafely on Oct. 9. The arrest came after officers received a report at 3:44 a.m. that a utility pole fell on a car at Heathcote and Duck Pond roads. Firefighters assisted at the accident scene. There, police and firefighters determined that Diaz struck a road sign, utility pole and stone wall. All occupants of the car had self-extricated prior to Diaz’s arrest. Empty alcohol bottles were found inside the car.

House fire
On Oct. 5, patrol observed heavy smoke emanating from the roof and attic of a Black Birch Lane residence. Patrol located the homeowner of the residence and confirmed that all parties exited the house. Firefighters arrived and summoned mutual aid from Greenville, Fairview and Hartsdale fire departments. They entered the house and confirmed the attic was on fire. A vent hole was cut in the room, as firefighters entered the house to fight the fire, which had created high heat and heavy smoke. Most of the fire was concentrated in the center of the attic. Firefighters used water lines and extinguishers to fight the fire. They overhauled the structure to make sure the fire was completely out, and both electric and gas were turned off to the house. The Scarsdale building inspector was on scene to assess the incident. The fire chief advised that the fire appeared to have started in the attic of the house and did not appear to be suspicious in nature at this time. Patrol stood by for traffic and pedestrian safety until released by the chief. No injuries were reported.

Car break-in
On Oct. 3, a Bradley Road resident reported that two of his unlocked vehicles had been entered overnight.

Check fraud
On Oct. 3, a Ridgecrest West woman reported that a check she had written had been stolen, altered and cashed fraudulently for $4,000.

A Greenacres Avenue woman reported that she placed a check in a public mailbox at Greenacres and Huntington avenues on Sept. 29, and on Oct. 7 she discovered the check had been altered and cashed fraudulently.

Criminal mischief
On Oct. 9, a caller advised a Heathcote School field had been damaged by tire tracks.

Monitored
On Oct. 4, a Carman Road woman reported that she received notification from Apple that an Apple Air Tag was tracking her whereabouts and following her location. She did not authorize the Air Tag activity and wanted to document the matter.

Assistance
On Oct. 6, a Fox Meadow Road resident reported three trespassers on his property refusing to leave, kicking doors and banging on the property. Police went to the scene and spoke with the alleged trespassers. They said they had recently purchased the house and had an appointment with the tenant to observe that the electrical and gas services were working properly. They said they were denied access to the house by the tenant. The tenant then told police he had a recent medical procedure and was not feeling well. Police advised both parties that this was a civil matter and advised they should seek legal counsel for any future appointment.

On Oct. 7, police helped a driver find her parked car at Kingston and Brewster roads after she was unable to find it.

A person came to headquarters to inquire about getting home to Manhattan at 2:44 a.m., Oct. 9. Police advised the person to take a train from the Hartsdale train station.

Suspicious
On Oct. 6, a caller reported that the driver of a vehicle was seen walking around a house on Brittany Close before he left the area. Police checked the exterior and interior of the house and determined that everything was in good order.

A man wearing jeans and a yellow hoodie was reportedly on a Hanover Road property, allegedly looking in windows of the house Oct. 8. Police reviewed the video surveillance and determined the man had no criminal intent.

Welfare
On Oct. 7, police checked the welfare of an elderly Berkeley Road woman.

Cars and roadways
On Oct. 3, police issued a summons for driving without valid paperwork to a driver involved in a rear-end car accident at Fenimore and Fox Meadow roads.
Police taped off an area of Sprague Road because of flooding Oct. 4.
Police removed a large rock from Palmer Avenue Oct. 4.
Police issued multiple warnings to the owners of cars parked in no standing zones on Sage Terrace, as well as on Hampton Road, Oct. 4.
Police removed a large branch from Bypass Oct. 4.
Police assisted firefighters in closing Brewster Road due to burning electrical wires Oct. 4.
A driver with Florida license plates was stopped on Gilmore Court to let his car cool off because he was experiencing issues with the car battery Oct. 4.
Police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Herkimer Road Oct. 5.
Police barricade an area around shifting road plates on Grand Park Avenue Oct 5.
Police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Herkimer Road Oct. 5.
Police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Murray Hill Road Oct. 5.
Police secured a fallen wire on Murray Hill Road and notified Verizon Oct. 5.
Police called a tow for a motorist with a disabled car at Fenimore Road and Ridgecrest West Oct. 5.
Police called a tow for a motorist with two flat tires at Mamaroneck and Murray Hill roads Oct. 6.
On Oct. 6, police notified Verizon about unrelated low-hanging wires on Post Road and Cornell Street.
Police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Wildwood Road Oct. 7.
On Oct. 9, police notified Con Edison and Verizon about fallen wires on Black Birch Lane.
Con Edison was notified about a branch over wires on Rock Creek Lane Oct. 9.
Four car accidents were reported in the Village this week.

Village code
On Oct. 6, a Myrtledale Road construction site was draining water, which was running into the street.
On Oct. 7, a caller complained of loud TV noises in a Popham Road apartment. Police could not find the source of the noise upon examining the area.
On Oct. 7, police dispersed noisy youth from Birchall Drive after dark.
On Oct. 8, police advised the manager of a Secor Road club that residents had called and complained about noise.
On Oct. 8, police advised a Heathcote Road homeowner that callers had complained about noise.
On Oct. 9, police advised a Brewster Road homeowner that callers had complained about noise.

Animals
On Oct. 7, a Nelson Road woman walked into headquarters to report an animal scratch on her face caused by an excited Labradoodle that she attempted to greet while out walking in the neighborhood the previous day. The poodle was allegedly up to date on its vaccinations. Her lawyer advised her to ask for a police report to document the incident.

On Oct. 7., a Fayette Road resident reported that a dog was barking outside loudly for over an hour. Police found the dog and confirmed that it was barking loudly and excessively while chained to a fence in its owner’s back yard. Police issued a summons to the owner of the dog.

Police reunited loose dogs, found on Post Road, with their owners Oct. 9.

Lost and found
On Oct. 3, an Axtell Road man reported losing his passport somewhere. He asked police to document the matter.
A woman walked into headquarters on Oct. 6 and reported losing her wallet somewhere in the Village on Oct. 2.
A woman found a wallet on Chateaux Circle and gave it to police Oct. 8.
An attendant at tennis courts on Mamaroneck Road reported a lost bicycle was blocking the entrance to the courts Oct. 8. The attendant said he would hold onto the bicycle until the owner returned.

Firefighters
On Oct. 4, firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from a Post Road group home. On site, firefighters detected steam coming from the boiler. Firefighters shit down the boiler and advised the residents to have it serviced.

On Oct. 4, a house service line was broken, arcing and burning in a tree on Brewster Road. Firefighters dispatched Con Edison to the scene and made sure the scene was safe for pedestrians.

Firefighters shut the water supply to a leaking sink on Lockwood Road because the water was dripping through to the basement Oct. 5. The owner was advised to call a plumber.

Firefighters arrived at a School Lane house for a false alarm Oct. 5. While on scene, some neighbors came outside to see what was going one. While walking back to his house, one neighbor slipped on the driveway and cut his face. Firefighters got out of their truck and helped the man back into his house. He refused medical attention.

Burnt food emitted smoke from a microwave in a Mamaroneck Road house Oct. 6. Firefighters ventilated the house.

A GFI electrical receptacle was “clicking” in a Heathcote Road house Oct. 6. Firefighters removed the receptacle and capped the wires. Firefighters advised the resident to call an electrician.
On Oct. 7, firefighters assisted at a car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway.
On Oct. 8, firefighters assisted at a car accident on Cornell Street.
On Oct. 8, firefighters assisted SVAC with a patient on Catherine Road. The patient was taken to the hospital.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Oct. 3-9 has been compiled from official information.

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