A motor-vehicle accident, with no injuries, is reported at the intersection of Transit and East Bethany / Le Roy roads. It is blocking traffic. Fire police from Bethany are called to handle traffic.

The driver of a Chevy S-10 dark-colored, older model pickup is said to have forced another vehicle off the roadway and then left the scene. Law enforcement is looking for that vehicle. It did not have any damage.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: The fire response from Bethany is cancelled. A trooper on scene reports one lane is closed, the other is open and the scene has been mostly cleaned up. Tow(s) is in route.

Craig Russell Williams, 32, of Greenway Boulevard, Churchville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely. Williams was stopped at 12:49 a.m. on Rochester Street, Bergen, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Ryan Christopher Riggi, 18, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlicensed operation and failure to signal. Riggi was stopped at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday on Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

More than $1 million in automobile was parked at the Northside Deli this afternoon, according to owner Dave Stupp. Dave said the cars stopped while on a route from Toronto to the Hamptons as part of a California to East Coast Tour. The drivers told Stupp they worked for Aston Martin.

Photo submitted by Dave Stupp.

Update on the burglary in Pavilion today: A second person of interest was taken into custody by State Police on Transit Road about 8 p.m. less than two miles from the burglary location.

The man was identified as an individual who had approached two residents on Transit Road looking to use a telephone and asking for directions to Texeco Town.

After residents reported the suspicious behavior. State Police and the Sheriff's Office set up a perimeter around the area and the State Police helicopter was called in to assist in the search.

A trooper who had just joined the search stopped on Transit Road to talk with one of the homeowners and while they were talking, the subject of the search walked toward them and the trooper ordered him onto the ground.

The subject was taken back to the Batavia Barracks for questioning. No word yet confirming whether he was involved with the burglary.

Previously: Quick State Police response thwarts burglary in Pavilion, but suspects slip out before dragnet in place

Less than 10 minutes elapsed from the time local law enforcement was informed of a suspected stolen pickup truck heading into Elba from Orleans County to the time three men were taken into custody by Batavia PD.

The report hit the scanner and an Elba resident apparently heard the APB and contacted dispatchers when the truck passed through the village.

Within two minutes, a Sheriff's deputy was behind the truck heading south on Route 98.

The truck was reportedly traveling at 70 mph. It headed into the city and struck a pole near the Hess station at Oak and Main. It then turned left onto Main and reportedly struck another vehicle.

The truck was next reported making a left onto Prospect, was reported on Richmond, then New York Place and then Genesee Street.

Sgt. Jason Davis drove north on Buxton and blocked southbound Buxton. The truck couldn't make the turn from Genesee to northbound Buxton and crashed into the fence of a front yard on Buxton.

Three men jumped from the vehicle and ran. During the foot pursuit an officer suffered a possible knee injury. 

Two suspects were taken into custody almost immediately. A third suspect ran west and was apprehended on the track of Woodward Field/Van Detta Stadium.

Sgt. Dan Coffey said it's too soon to determine what charges might be filed against the men, but they're facing possible multiple charges in Orleans and Genesee counties and the City of Batavia.

We'll provide more information about the arrests once it is available.

(Initial Report)

The Genesee County Dispatch Center just received a complaint from a Le Roy resident displeased with a neighbor mowing the lawn at this time of night.

The dispatcher asked if is there is an ordinance about noise which might prohibit lawn mowing after a certain hour. The officer says he's not sure -- the town was looking to pass a noise ordinance which would address such an issue, but he was uncertain whether or not it passed.

Regardless, the policeman is responding to the complaint.

A possibly stolen red Dodge pickup truck from Orleans County was driving at a high rate of speed from Elba south on Route 98 into the city, reaching speeds of 70 mph. One of the male occupants is now in custody at Buxton Avenue and Genesee Street. The vehicle came to rest at 9 Buxton and an officer is down with a knee injury in the back yard there. Mercy medics are responding.

Another occupant was located in the bleachers at Van Detta Stadium and after officers gave him directives, he was subsequently arrested at 9 Pickthorn Drive.

There are three suspects altogether. Another address involved is 21 Vernon Verona Ave.

UPDATE 9:31 p.m.: A police officer was taken to UMMC for treatment of an injury.

For nearly five hours today, State Police commanders figured time was on their side after receiving a report that would-be burglars were still inside a residence on Shepard Road in Pavilion.

A neighbor saw an older tan minivan pull into the driveway of the residence and two men got out and appeared to enter the house. The minivan then left.

Trooper John Szymkowiak arrived on scene within minutes of the initial report and a witness told him that the men he'd seen enter the house hadn't left.

Szymkowiak, who was dispatched just before noon, immediately called for backup and requested assistance to establish a perimeter around the house. He also requested an investigator from the Batavia Barracks and a K-9 to the scene.

State Police were assisted by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office and the uniformed and plain clothes members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies also set up road blocks on both ends of Shepard Road for a couple of hours and patrolled the area looking for the minivan.

With all the necessary support in place, State Police commanders took a very deliberate approach to determining whether the suspects were still inside.

"Once we have a perimeter set up, we know nobody is going to leave at that point," said State Police Lt. Kurt Schmidt. "Apparently they got out before we set up, but you can never help that. We set up a quick perimeter, so we're sure at that point that the house is ours. There's only a very few things that would make us want to hurry and none of those were present today."

The first step in the deliberate process of determining whether suspects were inside was to deploy a robot from the Livingston County Sheriff's Office. That robot, equipped with a camera, checked all around the house looking for any evidence of entry or exit.

Next, the robot unit from the State Police arrived on scene. So two robots were deployed. One was equipped with a key to the entry door from the garage. The other was used to drop a steel block in place to hold the door open once it was unlocked.

The robots then entered the house and began a room-by-room check of most of the downstairs.

With the owner watching a television over the shoulder of one of the robot operators, he could see that a TV was missing, drawers and been opened and other items were missing from their proper locations.

At that point, with confirmation that burglars had entered the house, Schmidt said the operation took an even more methodical approach to ensure no suspects were inside.

"We have technology and we're not in any big hurry," Schmidt said. "We have a visual on all sides. We have robots that go inside, so no troopers are in any danger. That takes time and you get kind of tired waiting around, but it's worth it because we don't want to take a risk."

As time dragged on, State Police began to increasingly believe the structure was empty, so members of the other agencies began to peel away and go back in service.

The robots continued to search the house and its operators told to any possible suspects inside that the robot was from the State Police and that K-9s would be sent into the house if they didn't surrender.

A door was closed to one downstairs room and a robot was positioned there, so if suspects were inside they wouldn't be able to open the door.

About this time, a man who had been found wandering down Transit Road was brought to the scene. The Rochester resident couldn't explain why he was in Pavilion, according to police, so he was taken into custody and transported to the Batavia Barracks for questioning.

"The person we're speaking to now stated he was never at this house," Schmidt said. "We believe he was, but we don't have any evidence to say he was, so he's not giving us anything -- as far as anybody else who might have been around."

The person being questioned is black. A witness could describe the skin color of the men who entered the house, but believed they were wearing colorful clothes.

The suspect vehicle is described as an older tan minivan, which was last seen on Transit Road.

After the suspicious person was taken into custody, the State Police helicopter was dispatched to conduct a search of the area.

Once the robots had searched the house a bit, Schmidt said police felt there was little chance the suspects were still inside, but as a matter of continued caution, K-9s on long leashes were sent in first.

It took about 20 minutes for troopers to clear the house and confirm the suspects were no longer inside.

It appeared that most, if not all, of the homeowner's belongings that the burglars intended to steal were stacked by the front door, waiting for the minivan to return for loading, but Szymkowiak had arrived on scene before that could happen.

Schmidt said troopers take crimes such as this seriously and do everything they can to bring the culprits to justice.

"For burglary in progress, I don't know the term, I guess, it's a hot call," Schmidt said. "That's somebody's home and it's broad daylight. None of the residents were at home, but it's a sensitive issue. Your home is your castle and somebody is entering that right during broad daylight so that gets our attention. We hope we can catch them. We hope to catch them today."

At 7:15 p.m., the helicopter was still searching the area and troopers and investigators were still on scene.

UPDATE 8:06 p.m.: A suspect law enforcement was looking for is now in custody. They had been looking in the area of Sparks, Shepard and Transit roads. They learned that a Hispanic male went to a couple of residences and asked to use the phone. One of the residents tried to keep the suspect in sight. The man asked for directions to Texaco Town.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch for Thursday through Friday afternoon.

Areas of heavy rain will spread across Western and North Central New York during that time, bringing total rainfall amounts between one and two inches. There is a potential for higher amounts locally, which could result in flooding, according to the weather service.

Rivers and creeks may continue to rise several hours after the heaviest rain has ended. There will be some ponding of water on roadways, especially in typically vulnerable low-lying areas. Locally, heavier amounts are possible in some locations, which could result in stream and small creek flooding as well as more widespread urban flooding issues.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warning. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The YWCA YES! Cafe will feature a Salute to Veterans lunch at noon on July 10th with guest host Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who will talk about his annual trip to Washington, D.C.

Veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces will have the opportunity to share their stories during Wednesday's lunchtime program.

The menu will feature: Grilled hotdogs and burgers, a salad bar, baked beans, and apple pie. Cost is $10. Reserve your seat now! Call 343-5808.

The YWCA YES! Cafe is located at 301 North St. in the City of Batavia.

Shortly before noon today residents on Shepard Road in Pavilion saw a light-colored minivan pull up to a neigbor's house. Witnesses said two men got out of the vehicle and knocked on the front door, then went around to the back of the house and the van drove away.

The neighbors called law enforcement and when State Troopers arrived, witnesses told them that they believed the two men entered the house and might still be inside. State Police and Sheriff's deputies from Genesee and Livingston counties responded to the scene.

A robot was deployed to check the interior of the house and with the help of the homeowner, intestigators determined someone had been in the house and items were missing.

A man from Rochester was located about an hour ago walking on Transit Road and is now in custody. It's unconfirmed whether he's connected to the case. A State Police helicopter has been deployed to search the area. State Police are still on scene.

A couple of minutes ago, Mercy medics were called non-emergency to stage in the area of Transit and Shepard roads to possibly assist the police.

(Howard is there and will have more complete coverage later.)

UPDATE 4:32 p.m.: The State Police entered the house found no one inside, thus clearing the scene. It appears the burglars were thwarted in their crime, leaving items taken from the house piled by the front door.

Tim Yaeger, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Services, reminded us that this is Lightning Safety Awareness Week and notes that the National Weather Service has updated its Lightning Safety page <http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/>

The page contains not only information about lightning safety, but the science of lightning, the health effect on victims, download-able posters and brochures, and much more.

There have already been seven lightning fatalities this year.

<http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.htm>

In Western New York, there have been 32 documented injuries by lightning since 1996. Monroe, Niagara and Erie counties have each seen seven injuries; three injuries each in Ontario and Cayuga counties; two injuries in Cattaraugus County; and one injury in Wyoming, Livingston and Chautauqua counties.

An investigation into what was initially reported as a possible hostage sitation on Highland Park, Batavia, yesterday has led to the arrest of two men on criminal charges.

Carl I. Sherman, 34, of Rochester is charged with menacing, 2nd, a misdemeanor, and Jason P. Sherman, 35, of Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd, and assault, 2nd, both felonies.

Carl was jailed on $5,000 bail and Jason was ordered held without bail.

The incident that brought police to Highland Park was reported around 1 p.m.

When Sgt. Dan Coffey arrived on scene, he was informed that a woman was possibly being held against her will by a person with a weapon inside a residence at 12 Highland Park.

Witnesses reported seeing a person with a handgun and that another male was carrying a baseball bat to use as a possible weapon.

A woman inside the residence was reportedly providing this information to a third party outside the residence.

Coffey called for backup and reported the possible hostage situation. Uniformed and plain clothes members of the Batavia PD and Sheriff's Office, along with State Police responded.

Nearby residents were asked to either shelter in place or congregate in the St. Anthony's parking lot for their own safety.

After nearly an hour, four people came out of the residence without incident and surrendered to police.

All four people were interviewed by investigators.

It's alleged that Jason was involved in a domestic incident Sunday with a woman at the residence and she sustained a fractured wrist and broken bone in her neck.

Yesterday, Jason's brother, Carl, allegedly went to the residence and threatened the woman with a baseball bat during an argument.

Police have not released details on whether a firearm was used or if one was found at the location. No firearm was located following an extensive search of the house.

No arrest had been made in Sunday's alleged incident because it was still under investigation at the time of yesterday's events, said Chief Shawn Heubusch.

After the four people were taken from the scene, a State Police robot was deployed to search the residence and then the residence was cleared by the Emergency Response Team to ensure no other people were hiding inside.

The Batavia Fire Department also assisted at the scene, and Mercy EMS was on standby.

Previously:

• Police respond to hostage situation on Highland Park
• Four people being questioned after possible hostage situation on Highland Park

Three people are being accused of selling cocaine in Genesee and Orleans counties following a lengthy joint investigation by law enforcement in both jurisdictions.

A search warrant was executed yesterday at a location on Hundredmark Road, Elba, and investigators said they found cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

The suspects are suspected of selling cocaine at the residence.

Arrested where:

• Edgardo Aponte, 41, of Hundredmark Road, Elba, charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, criminal nuisance, 1st, and tampering with physical evidence.
• Sonia E. Aponte, 32, of Hundredmark Road, Elba, charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possesion of a controlled substance, 4th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and criminal nuisance, 1st.
• Jeremy S. Yantz, 32, of Washington Avenue, Batavia, is charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd.

Edgardo Aponte was arraigned in Elba Town Court and jailed on $50,000 bail. Sonia Aponte was released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Yantz was arraigned in Town of Albion Court and jailed in Orleans County on $25,000 bail.

The five-month investigation was a joint operation by the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force.

The Batavia PD Emergency Response Team assisted in the execution of the search warrant along with uniformed deputies, officers with Homeland Security and Rochester PD's K-9 unit.

The District Attorney's Office also assisted in the investigation.

From being a middle school teacher, to being a County Coroner for Genesee County, to being a Sheriff’s deputy, Vern Falcone, a native of Le Roy, has had a long and diverse career.

“While I was training to become a Sheriff’s deputy, I met a fellow deputy who was also a funeral director. That got me interested in it, so I went to school, got my license and worked part-time in a funeral home in Le Roy, while also working as a full-time Sheriff’s deputy," Falcone said. “I like working with people and I’m good at dealing with people, as well as helping families in difficult situations.”

When Vern retired in 2007, after 22 years with the Sheriff's Office, he became a full-time funeral director in Le Roy. In April of this year, Falcone opened Falcone Family Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., at 8700 Lake Road, Le Roy.

Falcone is a tall, soft-spoken man with a calm demeanor, quite suitable for a career in the funeral business.

He had the brand-new facility built to resemble a home. He and his wife, Debra, did the painting, decorating and landscaping.

“If we knew anything about construction, we would have built it ourselves”, Falcone said with a laugh. “We wanted a new and up-to-date building, with a relaxing family atmosphere."

There is a fireplace to greet you when you enter, along with a cozy living room.

“I tried to create a relaxing atmosphere, like being in your own home," Falcone said.

There are soft colors and low lights, with music playing in background.

“I wanted to get away from the traditional funeral home look and make the facility feel more comfortable,” Falcone said. “I want people to walk in and feel at home in a difficult situation. I want their experience here to be as easy and comfortable as possible."

“We built a children’s room for children to play in while adults are focusing on grieving. They don’t need to worry about children being underfoot," Falcone said.

There are large screens to display video memorials in the grieving room. The room seats 125 people comfortably, with room for overflow. The room can also be divided in half to accommodate more intimate gatherings.

“I am very accommodating to people and I am happy to meet them at different hours, or even go to their home for a meeting," he said. "This is a service-oriented business and I am here to provide service to our guests. I don’t like answering services, so I always answer the phone myself and it will either be myself, or Debra, who greets visitors at the door."

The couple’s two daughters also help with the business and his oldest daughter is currently going to school to become a funeral director herself.

“I anticipate that this will be a self-supporting family business and we appreciate the support we’ve gotten from the community," Falcone said.

If you have questions or would like a personal tour of the facility, call Vern Falcone at 585-768-2400.

Press release:

The City Water Department has been notified by the Genesee Valley Railroad that it will be conducting a test of its fire suppression system for the transfer station located on Mill Street on Thursday June 27th at approximately 10 a.m. Residents should be aware that this test may cause a temporary discoloration of the water in the general vicinity of Evans and Walnut streets. Residents should avoid doing laundry until the water clarity has returned to normal.

Work crews are scheduled to pave South Swan Street and Vernon Avenue between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday.

Residents are asked not to park on the road.

Residents will have limited access to their properties during paving operations.

Paving will begin on South Swan and then move to Vernon.

All other traffic is asked to avoid these streets Thursday.

The state's red "SEIZED" signs are out of the windows at Molasses Hill Bulk Foods on Ellicott Street in Batavia and a new sign is taped to the front door: "Closed til 9:00 AM Wed 6/26."

Previously: Molasses Hill closed, seized by state