Details

Written by Traci Dutton Ludwig

Published: 09 January 2019

Created: 09 January 2019

Last Updated: 09 January 2019

Hits: 4407

DWI arrest: On Jan. 5 at 4:18 am, police arrested Ruben Mendoza Alvarado, 27, of the Bronx, on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of at least .08 of one percent, making an improper turn at an intersection and a stopping/standing/parking violation on a highway. Police conducted a traffic stop of Alvarado’s 2016 Ford Explorer on Fenimore Road after observing the car frequently slow its speed and accelerate several times, as well as drive over the curb while making a turn from Post Road onto Fenimore Road. Alvarado initially told police he had not been drinking, although police detected an odor of alcohol on his breath. Field sobriety tests were administered, and Alvarado was unable to successfully complete them. An alco-sensor screening test indicated a blood alcohol result of .15. Alvarado was arrested and taken to headquarters. There, a Datamaster test confirmed his BAC at .15. Alvarado was released on $50 cash bail, with an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court, returnable on Jan. 9.

Shoplifting
CVS was hit by a shoplifter again this week. A man reportedly stole items from the Popham Road CVS Jan. 4. Contractors working on the outside of the building saw the suspect flee south on Garth Road and described him as in his late 50s and wearing a dark jacket and glasses. Surveillance video showed the man stealing L’Oreal makeup, six Norelco razors and Aquaphor lotion. Detectives are following up.

On Jan. 4, a 7-Eleven Asset Protection Specialist reported that a store associate was suspected of stealing 10 gift cards valued at $785 and five Kit-Kat candy bars worth $9.45. Detectives are following up.

Car break-in
A man from Jackson Heights parked his 2002 Honda CRV at Fountain Terrace and Greenacres Avenue between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Jan. 4, and returned to find the back window smashed and items removed. Stolen items included a $900 Apple laptop computer and a duffel back containing various sports shoes and clothing.

Identity theft
On Jan. 4, a Brewster Road woman reported receiving a call from a person alleging to be an employee of Chase Bank on Dec. 29, 2018. The alleged bank employee said there were two suspicious charges from California, against the woman’s Chase bank account. The woman said she received a security code for her Chase bank account by text message and was put on hold numerous times during the call’s extended duration, which she found to be suspicious. Following the call, the woman called Chase Bank for follow-up and learned there were no suspicious charges from California against her account. Instead, she learned $5,000 had been transferred from her savings account to her checking account and that there was a pending Chase Quickpay transaction scheduled for an unknown recipient. The woman reported the matter to a local Chase branch, and her accounts were frozen, pending investigation.

On Jan. 5, a Greenacres Avenue man reported receiving a debt collection letter for an unknown Sprint account on Dec. 6, 2018. The account allegedly had an unpaid balance of $54.86 and was opened in August 2018. The man informed the debt collector that the account was fraudulent. The man told Scarsdale police the matter might be related to a Citibank MasterCard fraudulently opened in his name and reported to Citibank’s fraud department in December 2018.

Dog bite
On Jan. 3, a Seneca Road dog jumped at a FedEx delivery person and scratched and bit him on the abdomen while the delivery person was delivering a package to the address. A dog walker was on the scene, but he was getting glasses out of a car when the incident occurred.

Cars and roadways
While canvassing cars at a Crane Road checkpoint Jan. 1, one car did not stop properly. Police conducted a traffic stop and learned the driver had a suspended registration effective Dec. 23. Police issued the driver a summons and removed the car’s license plates. The car was towed to the police impound lot.

A passerby found a New York State license plate on Ewart Road and brought it to headquarters Jan. 5. Police attempted to contact the owner and vouchered the plate for safekeeping.

Two car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Firefighters
According to Scarsdale Fire Chief James Seymour, the fire department responded to 24 incidents during the reporting period. Details about some of the incidents are below.

On Dec. 31, 2018, Con Edison detected a reading of three percent total volume of natural gas in the sewer manholes on Myrtledale Road. Firefighters assisted Con Edison in checking Myrtledale Road and Saxon Woods Road houses near leak. No gas readings were found inside any of the canvassed houses. Con Edison stayed on scene to address the leak.

A baby was reportedly locked inside a car on Cushman Road on Dec. 31. The baby’s adult guardian said she first tried to break the car’s window with a rock in order to open the door and reach the baby. The attempt was not successful. Police and firefighters used a car lockout kit to reach inside the door and depress the key fob located on the front seat. The infant was released from the back seat of the car, unharmed.

Firefighters and police forced entry into a Mamaroneck Road house in which an automatic carbon monoxide alarm was sounding, with two cars in the driveway and no answer at the door, Jan. 1. Firefighters detected 30 ppm of carbon monoxide in the house. They traced the source to the boiler room, where a hot water heater flue pipe was detached. Con Edison was notified. Firefighters shut down the boiler and hot water heater and began ventilating the house. Con Edison red-tagged all appliances, and firefighters notified a relative of the homeowner to brief her on the incident. The relative said she would take care of repair notifications.

On Jan. 1, firefighters assisted at a car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway.
On Jan. 6, firefighters shut water to an Old Lyme Road house due to a steam leak. They advised the resident to contact a plumber.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 31, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019 has been compiled from official information.

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.

Details

Written by Traci Dutton Ludwig

Published: 17 January 2019

Created: 17 January 2019

Last Updated: 17 January 2019

Hits: 5544

With snow in the forecast, the Scarsdale Police has issued the following advisory: The Village of Scarsdale is currently preparing for the snow storm tonight and this weekend. Keeping the Village streets clear and passable is critically important during periods of heavy snowfall. We ask our residents to take appropriate precautions and limit their travel to allow plow vehicles and Village crews to quickly clear snow and ice from roadways. Village of Scarsdale Department of Public Works crews are conducting equipment checks on snow plow vehicles and making necessary repairs to ensure effective use of personnel and resources during the storm. We don’t suspend vehicular and pedestrian movement through the Village unless a local state of emergency is declared. This is determined based on the progression of the storm and the safety of the roads. Internal coordination is also being performed between various emergency services departments to ensure quick and efficient response to the storm. All after hour calls will be handled through non-emergency police phone lines at (914) 722-1200 unless otherwise notified.

Arrest: An undercover car helped catch a suspect on Fairview Road.At approximately 4 p.m., Jan. 11, a Fairview Road woman reported an unknown man smoking a cigarette in her driveway. He was described as black and wearing sweatpants and a gray hoodie. The woman said she saw the man approach her parked Chevrolet Suburban and activated the car’s alarm via the key fob. In reaction, the man ran away from her car and fled. Upon checking her car, the woman noticed her black Prada handbag had been stolen, and the contents of the glove compartment had been tossed. Stolen with the purse were: an orange Prada wallet, a driver’s license, cash, several gift cards, a glasses case, a phone charger and personal papers.

Police were called to the scene to investigate. Officers found a smoldering Newport cigarette butt and vouchered it as evidence. Police conducted a search of the area but did not find the suspect. At that time, all marked patrol cars left the scene; however, one undercover car remained in the area.

Shortly thereafter, the suspect emerged from hiding and was spotted by the undercover officer on Oxford Road, near Post Road. The undercover officer, together with police who were called back in marked patrol cars, stopped the suspect for questioning. He was smoking a Newport cigarette of the same brand found at the crime scene. Police conducted show-up, and the Fairview Road woman positively identified the suspect as the same man she saw in her driveway. At that time, the suspect – Jonathan Martin, 26, of White Plains – was arrested. The stolen property was found scattered in a Fairview Road backyard, and some gift cards were found in Martin’s pockets, along with other valuables, such as watches, a cell phone, cell phone cases and two Metro cards, that are under investigation. Martin was arraigned at Scarsdale Village Justice Court on the following charges: fourth-degree grand larceny of a credit card, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property – credit cards, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property greater than $1,000, trespassing and fourth degree grand larceny of property greater than $1,000. Martin was transported to Westchester County Jail where he is being held on $15,000 bail.

According to SPD Captain Thomas Altizio, “The police department has used undercover vehicles in the past and is aware of the benefits of their use, but we are very pleased that the use of this vehicle resulted in an arrest so quickly. We are grateful to Esurance for this recent vehicle donation and to the Fairview Road resident for notifying us immediately of the suspicious activity and providing us with detailed information that lead to a quick arrest.”

Car break-in
On Jan. 7, a Walworth Avenue woman reported two of her cars – a BMW 328 and an Audi Q7 – had been broken into at approximately 3 a.m., and an EZ-Pass was stolen from the Audi. Both cars were unlocked at the time. A third car, an Acura MDX, was locked and not entered, but its window had been damaged by an apparent attempt to cut the glass.

Identity theft
On Jan. 9, a Lyons Road man reported someone used his person information to obtain goods around December 29, 2018. Police are following up.

On Jan. 12, a Heathcote Road man reported an incident of identity theft in which $8,000 was withdrawn from a checking account with a forged signature on a withdrawal slip. The incident occurred in Florida on Jan. 9. Police are following up.

On Jan. 11, a Brewster Road man reported a fraudulent charge on his American Express credit card. Police are following up.

Text message
On Jan. 8, an Overhill Road employer reported receiving a text message containing obscenities. The message was allegedly sent by the boyfriend of a woman who interviewed for an employment position but was not hired. Police tried to reach the boyfriend and the interviewee for follow-up.

Bang
A report of “two shots fired in the area” was determined to be the use of noisemakers at Fenway Golf Club, activated to scare geese from the golf course Jan. 11.

Safe place
A caller reported four young men were “dealing cell phones” on East Parkway Jan. 13. Police went to the scene and interviewed the men. They said they were conducting a Facebook Marketplace transaction. They had decided to use a public place for safety reasons since the young men were not familiar with each other. Police said they could use public safety headquarters for safe Internet exchanges in the future, in order to avoid concern by the general public.

Accident investigation
Following a Mamaroneck Road/Crossway accident being investigated by White Plains police, in which a 2012 Nissan struck a telephone pole at 2:30 a.m., Jan. 12, a charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense) was entered against the driver – Nelson A. Barrios, 22, of Mamaroneck. In the course of the accident investigation, numerous items fell out of the Nissan while it was being pulled upright by a tow truck. These items included one large Ziploc bag and one small Ziploc bag, both containing a white powder believed to be cocaine, capsules believed to be a controlled substance, an oil vape pen and empty cartridges. Empty beer cans were observed in plain sight inside and outside the car. Further investigation and follow-up by Scarsdale police is forthcoming, pending the results of the WPPD accident investigation unit. One person was ejected from the car during the accident and was transported to a hospital by Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Arrest
On Jan. 12, police arrested Melvis Gant, 49, of Mount Vernon, on the charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration. In the course of traffic patrol, police learned that Gant’s car’s registration had been suspended for failure to pay five parking tickets within 12 months, and a warrant for his arrest had been issued out of Scarsdale in Nov. 2018. Gant’s car was impounded, and he was released on $65 cash bail. He was given a desk appearance ticket for Jan. 16, to resolve the charged violations.

Summons
On Jan. 10, police conducted a traffic stop of a car on Overhill Road, due to the car being stopped with its engine running. The driver stated the car belonged to his friend sitting in the passenger seat. A check of the driver’s license revealed the license had been suspended on Oct. 25, 2018, because the driver failed to pay a driver’s responsibility assessment order. Police issued two summonses to the driver – one for a stopping/standing/parking violation and one for third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Improper license plates
Police stopped to help a motorist with a BMW leaking a large amount of fluid on Hutchinson Avenue Jan. 12. The driver, a Bronx man, produced a valid driver’s license but improper registration and insurance proof. A computer check revealed the car’s PA plate was registered to a different owner and different type of vehicle. The Bronx driver said he had just purchased the car and provided police with a copy of the sales documentation and a PA title signed in his name. He further explained to police that the seller told him he could use the existing license plate until he could obtain proper registration. Police issued the man three summonses – for an unregistered vehicle, improper plates and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. The plate was removed from the car and vouchered for safekeeping for its rightful owner.

Cars and roadways
Police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Walworth Ave. Jan. 7.
Traffic cones were moved closer to the curb near a Griffen Avenue construction site, as per police request Jan. 9.
The highway and water departments addressed a broken water main on Springdale Road Jan. 10.
Eleven car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Civil matters
Police helped an Ogden Road employer and an employee reach a mutual agreement regarding a verbal dispute Jan. 7.

On Jan. 8, a Kingston Road woman reported a monetary dispute with her interior designer. The woman claimed the designer did not deliver furnishings and window shades that the woman already paid for. Police tried to reach the designer to help mediate the dispute, but the designer could not be reached. Police advised the woman to follow up in civil court.

Lost and found
On Jan. 8, a passerby found a wallet on East Parkway. It contained a German driver’s license, a Lufthansa ID card, Visa cards and approximately $75 in U.S. currency. Police reached out to a real estate broker, whose business card was inside the wallet. She contacted her German client, and he picked up the wallet from headquarters.

Firefighters
According to Scarsdale Fire Chief James Seymour, firefighters responded to 32 incidents during the reporting period. Seymour shared details of the following incidents below.

On Jan. 7, workers using gas-powered saw to cut concrete in the basement of a Cushman Road house released carbon monoxide into the house. Firefighters advised the workers about safety and ventilated the structure. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps was called to evaluate occupants who had been exposed to the CO gas.

A light fixture inside a Morris Lane kitchen was emitting a burning odor Jan. 7. Firefighters disconnected the fixture and advised the homeowner to call an electrician.

On Jan. 8, firefighters assisted Eastchester firefighters and Con Edison representatives check houses for possible gas migration related to a gas leak at the Scarsdale/Eastchester border. No gas readings were detected in any of the structures checked.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison and shut down a boiler leaking carbon monoxide inside a Kensington Road house Jan. 8. Firefighters assisted with ventilation of the house.

On Jan. 10, firefighters responded to an activated smoke alarm in a Webster Road house. The homeowner, who was not at home, said she left something cooking on the stove on “low.” Firefighters entered the house and found a pot on the stove, with food burning inside. They removed the pot to the backyard and ventilated the house. They secured the door upon leaving.

Firefighters assisted with a rollover accident, with injuries, on Mamaroneck Road Jan. 11.

The oil burner of a boiler puffed back in a Greenacres Avenue house Jan. 11.Firefighters shut down the system, identified accumulation of carbon monoxide inside the house and ventilated the house. The resident was advised to call for service.

Firefighters assisted at a motor vehicle accident involving a Beeline bus on Popham Road Jan. 11.

Firefighters assisted at a one-car rollover accident on Mamaroneck Road, with injuries, Jan. 12.

Firefighters ventilated a Wynmor Road house and stood by for Con Edison due to a gas leak at the curb box servicing the house Jan. 13. Firefighters assisted Con Edison in checking other nearby houses, and no gas readings were found.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Jan. 7-13 has been compiled from official information.

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.

Details

Written by Traci Dutton Ludwig

Published: 02 January 2019

Created: 02 January 2019

Last Updated: 03 January 2019

Hits: 14616

On Dec. 27, the manager of the Popham Road CVS reported that video surveillance showed a man stealing approximately $2,400 worth of cosmetics from the store between 2:57 p.m. and 5:17 p.m. that day. The video showed the man emptying products from a seasonal display and shoving the products into his coat. He was described as a tall man with a shaved head wearing black pants, black and white Nike sneakers and a black coat. He had keys around his neck and was wearing black sunglasses. The next day, on Dec. 28, the on-duty CVS manager reported the shoplifting suspect had returned to the store. Police went to the scene and arrested him. At the time of arrest, the suspect – identified as Jose Hernandez, 43, of New York City, had approximately $180 in cosmetics concealed beneath his sweater. He was also found to have a pipe with heroin residue in it inside his pants’ pocket and black plastic bags inside his jacket. Hernandez was charged with grand larceny, petit larceny, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was remanded to Westchester County jail and is due to appear at Scarsdale Village Justice Court with a Legal Aid attorney, on Jan. 2. A record check revealed that Hernandez was wanted by police departments in New York City and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Hernandez’s car had temporary plates and was registered to an auto dealer in New Jersey. Because the validity of the temporary plates could not be confirmed, police impounded the car. Hernandez claimed he had driven the car from Manhattan to Scarsdale. During investigation, Hernandez revealed a woman had been working with him as a lookout in the course of his shoplifting crimes at CVS. Police are following up.

Stolen funds
On Dec. 26, a Huntington Avenue resident reported funds from a gift card were stolen via the internet. The resident said she purchased three $400 Lowes gift cards from an online gift card reseller in August 2017. She used $946.92 of the combined balance of $1,200 in September 2017. On Dec. 26, 2018, she attempted to use the remaining balance of $253.08 but learned the gift card was empty. She contacted Lowes and was told that the original purchaser of the gift card contacted Lowes in October 2017 and asked that the balance of the gift card be placed back onto the credit card used to purchase the gift cards. The billing address of the original owner of the gift cards was somewhere in Connecticut.

Missing mail
While a Crossway woman was out of the country, her doorbell surveillance system captured video of a person stealing mail from her mailbox Dec. 28. She reported it to police, who checked the mailbox and confirmed no mail was inside. The woman said she would report the stolen mail to the post office after returning home. She would also provide police with the video surveillance footage.

Woman at door
An unknown woman allegedly rang a Tompkins Road doorbell after midnight Dec.26 and told the resident she wanted to talk. When the resident asked if she needed help and offered to call police, the woman reportedly starting yelling and then left in a silver sedan. Police searched the area for her but did not locate her or her car.

Window
A window at a village church was found to be open Dec. 26. Police informed a church administrator, and he said he would speak with the church custodian about rectifying the window.

Lost ring
A Chase Road woman reported a jeweler lost her $20,000 engagement ring that she entrusted to him for repair. The jeweler admitted to losing the ring on Dec. 5 and offered to replace it or compensate her for her. When she elected for him to compensate her, he cut off communication with her. The woman wanted to report the loss to police for insurance purposes.

Train emergency
A passenger passed out in the restroom of a train car on a Metro North train Dec. 26. The train stopped in Scarsdale, and police and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps assisted in removing the man from the train. A friend of the man said he had been drinking heavily and might have also used heroin. SVAC took him to White Plains Hospital Center. MTA police also assisted with the incident.

Dog
On Dec. 25, a caller reported a dog on Cooper Road had been outside barking for three days. Police went to the scene and saw the dog, which was indeed barking. The owner was not home, and police called him. He said he was in Vermont and had left the back door open for the dog to go in and out during his absence. The back door, however, was closed, and the dog’s food and water were shut inside the house. For the dog’s safety until the owner returned from Vermont, police called New Rochelle Humane Society and requested that the dog be picked up. Police informed the owner and issued him appropriate village code violation summonses.

Cars and roadways
Verizon was notified about low-hanging wires on Overhill Road Dec. 27.
A woman was sleeping inside a parked car in the lot beneath the CVS store on Popham Road at 10:45 p.m., Dec. 29. The woman told police she had just gotten off work at CVS and was sleeping before driving home due to a migraine headache. She declined medical assistance.

On Dec. 29, police received reports of an unattended 2002 red Mitsubishi parked in the middle of Butler Road. Police went to the scene and noted the car had an expired registration and inspection sticker. Police contacted the person listed on the registration, and the person who answered the phone said he had just sold the car, and it was no longer his. The new owner was allegedly a Butler Road resident. Police contacted the new owner who confirmed he had just purchased the car. The new owner said the car died on the road on the way home. He was unable to produce a bill of sale, so police removed the license plates due to the lack of registration. A tow truck took the car to the police impound lot.

Six car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Lost and found
A passerby found a Chase bank debit card on Garth Road Dec. 29. Police vouchered it for safekeeping. Later that day, the owner contacted to police looking for his debit card. He provided proper identification and retrieved the card.

Firefighters
Firefighters responded to 30 incidents during this reporting period. Details of some of the incidents are below.
On Dec. 24, firefighters extinguished a small fire inside a Taunton Road fireplace because a damper problem was preventing smoke from venting properly.
On Dec. 25, firefighters helped an Ardmore Road resident reattach a basement light fixture that became detached from the ceiling.
Firefighters stood by for Con Edison because of gas odors in the sewer system on Stratton Road Dec. 25.
Firefighters provided mutual aid to New Rochelle Fire Department Dec. 27.
Firefighters assisted at a car accident on the Bronx River Parkway Dec. 27.
On Dec. 27, a Boulevard resident lit a fire in the fireplace without opening the flue. This caused smoke to enter the house. The resident extinguished the fire. Firefighters helped the resident open the flue and ventilated the house.
Firefighters helped Con Edison check a few houses on Heathcote Road due to a gas odor outside Dec. 28. Gas was not found in any of the houses.
Firefighters assisted at a car accident on Mamaroneck Road Dec. 28.
Firefighters assisted at a car accident on Fenimore Road Dec. 29.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Dec. 25 – 30 has been compiled from official information.

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.