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Police Beat: Man accused of intentionally driving toward another car

By Howard B. Owens

James R. Sweet, 49, of 5 Shady Lane, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, reckless endangerment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Sweet is accused of intentionally driving his car into the lane of traffic occupied by another vehicle. The other car was reportedly driven by a person Sweet was ordered to stay away from. There was reportedly a child in that car.

Suzanne Corona has yet to agree to carry 'I Stole At South Beach' signs

By Howard B. Owens

No charges have been filed yet against Suzanne Corona for allegedly trashing the buffet at South Beach on Sept. 30, and owner Ken Mistler remains ready to drop the charges if she agrees to carry these signs for four hours on East Main Street, Batavia.

Mistler had the signs made up more than a week ago in anticipation of Corona signing a contract admitting she stole from South Beach, but then Corona reportedly became hospitalized and has been unavailable since.

Corona is suspected of walking into South Beach with a purse full of baggies and then trying to fill them up with buffet items before wait staff interfered. When a manager intervened, Corona allegedly began dumping the baggies back on the buffet.

The value of the trashed buffet, plus the lost afternoon business, cost the restaurant more than a $1,000, according to Mistler, which means if Corona doesn't agree to carry the signs she faces at least one felony charge.

Batavia's notorious woman is expected in court Wednesday for sentencing on her public lewdness conviction. As part of a plea deal, an adultery count was dropped. Corona admitted to a sexual act with a man not her husband on a picnic table in Farrall Park in June.

Police Beat: Alleged punching and kicking leads to felony assault charge against Le Roy man

By Howard B. Owens

James R. Kosiorek, 18, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, is charged with assault, 2nd. Kosiorek is accused of punching and kicking another person in the head, causing physical injury to that person by means of a dangerous instrument. The alleged incident occurred on Friday. Kosiorek was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Kenneth Michael Burns, 53, of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. While incarcerated at Genesee County Jail, Burns allegedly violated an order of protection by contacting the protected person by phone.

Justin J. Pryzybyl, 21, of 8411 Peachy Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, making an unsafe start and not wearing a seat belt. Pryzybyl was stopped at 2:10 a.m., Saturday, on Clay Street by Le Roy Police Sgt. Michael Hare.

Benjamin Louis Monna, 21, of Florendin Drive, Henrietta, is charged with operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, unlawful possession of marijuana and speeding. Monna was allegedly spotted speeding on the Thruway (83 in a 65 mph zone) and was located a short time later on the side of the road at the Pembroke off ramp. He was allegedly found in possession of Ritalin without a prescription, a small amount of marijuana and was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs. He reportedly refused a blood test. Monna was taken into custody at 8:45 a.m., Friday, by Deputy Brian Thompson.

Mark Jacob Mutka, 29, of Ganson Avenue, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding (84 in a 55 mph zone). Mutka was stopped at 4:08 a.m., Sunday, on Genesee Street, Darien, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Police Beat: A pair of harassment charges

By Howard B. Owens

Justin E. Cratsley, 22, of 8348 Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cratsley is accused of pushing a woman during an argument at 5:35 p.m., Oct. 7.

Kenneth M. Burns, 53, of Bergen, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Burns was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident that was reported at 8:45 p.m., Monday. No further details were released.

Mother accused of delivering drugs to son in Genesee County Jail

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia mother is in jail tonight accused of delivering drugs to her son, who was being held in the Genesee County Jail.

Kathleen Catino, 59, of Seven Springs Road, allegedly handed her son some oxycodone during a jail visit.

Cain Catino, 39, also of Seven Springs Road, is being held on a robbery charge. He is accused of entering the Oakfield Pharmacy on Sept. 20 and demanding hydrocodone.

The mother is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, promoting prison contraband, 2nd, and possession of a controlled substance by ultimate user's original container.

Son is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband.

Jail officers reportedly witnessed the transaction in the visitation area and immediately seized the alleged contraband.

Kathleen Catino was jailed without bail.

Young driver looking for help in identifying man who totaled her car

By Howard B. Owens

In hindsight, 21-year-old Danielle Lovett wishes she hadn't said it was OK for witnesses to leave the scene of an accident she was involved in Sunday night.

It turns out that after the witnesses left, so did the driver of the other car -- flat tire, damaged muffler and all.

Lovett's 1999 Buick was totaled.

Even though Lovett's insurance is giving her $2,100 toward a replacement, she still has to pay a $500 deductible.

"I'd just like to find him so he can pay me back the $500," Lovett said.

She describes the driver as a white male in his late 40s or early 50s. She believes he was driving a Pontiac Aztec or similarly styled car.

The driver's side rear suffered some damage, she said. The man drove off with a flat tire and the noise from his muffler made Lovett think his exhaust system was damaged in the accident.

Even though the Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident, Lovett has tried herself to find the driver, alerting area mechanics and body shops to the damage.

A Bergen resident, Lovett said she was heading home from Batavia at 11 p.m., Sunday, on Route 33 in Stafford when a car coming off of Prole Road failed to yield at a stop sign.

She was unable to brake in time and struck the rear of the car.

Lovett wasn't hurt, but she knew right away her car was majorly damaged.

She said when she got out of the car, the other driver approached her and asked if she was OK. She was, and he said, "OK, so I can leave now?"

"No," she said. "We need to do this the right way."

She called 9-1-1 and when she got off the phone, the man said, "OK, so I can leave now?" 

Lovett insisted he stay and suggested they exchange information. He said he would go to his car and get his documents and she searched her glove box for a pen. When she looked up, the man was getting his car and leaving.

Lovett said the man stumbled toward her after he got out of his car and had slurred speech. At first, she figured he was just as shaken up as she was, but after awhile, she realized it was more than just after-accident shock.

"That's when I thought, 'Oh, my God, he's drunk,'" she said. "He's totally wasted."

There was at least one witness to the accident, Lovett believes, and other people who may have seen the hit-and-run car. She's hoping somebody will be able to come forward with more information to help find the driver.

UPDATE: A possible suspect vehicle has been identified. About 20 minutes after this post appeared, Lovett received a call from a person who read the story suggested a car matching the description was parked at a local repair shop.  I happened by while Danielle was checking out the vehicle.  She said the car sure looked like the one from the accident and the paint transfer, she said, matched the color of her vehicle.  The deputy investigating the accident, Howard Carlson, doesn't come on duty until 11 p.m. and Lovett was told to call back then.

Man who tried to outrun police until he ran out of gas given prison term

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia man who tried to outrun law enforcement from Avon to Le Roy will serve one- to three-years in state prison, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled this morning.

Randy S. Rumble, 27, of State Street, entered a guilty plea at the end of August to felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation. On Aug. 1, Rumble led cops from Avon and deputies from Genesee County on a high-speed chase until he ran out of gas and was taken into custody by a Le Roy police officer.

Defense attorney William Tedford described Rumble as the nicest client he has represented.

He's a nice guy who makes poor decisions when he drinks," Tedford said.

"I have no reason to think you’re not a nice guy, but as people in court have heard me say 100 times, if you get killed by a drunk driver it doesn’t matter if it's Mother Teresa or Charles Manson at the wheel," Noonan said.

"You're lucky you're not standing here responsible for the deaths of other people or buried in the ground yourself. This conduct is way beyond anything that’s acceptable in this society."

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Cianfrini argued for a stiff prison sentence.

"It was a dangerous situation," Cianfrini said. "He only stopped when he ran out of gas. He didn't stop voluntarily. He then ran into a hedgerow, further hampering law enforcement."

As for a statement to Noonan, Rumble apologized.

I respect whatever sentence you give me," Rumble said, then hung his head. "And that’s it."

Rumble will also be required to pay a $2,000 fine and have an interlock-ignition device on whatever vehicles he has access to upon his release from prison.

Previously: Batavia man allegedly tried to outrun law enforcement, until he ran out of gas

Police Beat: Woman accused of trying to hide stolen merchandise under child

By Howard B. Owens

Gena Lorane Ellis, 24, of West Ridge Road, Brockport, is charged with petit larceny. Ellis is accused of stealing $124.13 worth of merchandise from Target by hiding the items under her child in her shopping cart.

Amanda Darlene Clemons, 26, of Ridge Road, Holley, is charged with petit larceny. Clemons is accused of trying to steal $211.86 worth of clothing, boots and other merchandise from Target by hiding the items under a blanket in her shopping cart.

David M. Saylor, 26, of 9431 Summit St. Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI with a BAC of .18 or greater, failure to keep right, no seat belt and unsafe tires. Saylor was allegedly involved in an accident on North Street. He is accused of striking a parked car at 12:26 a.m. and causing significant damage to both vehicles.

Batavia man arrested as part of Orleans County marijuana distribution investigation

By Howard B. Owens

A drug investigation that began five months ago in Orleans County led to a search of three Genesee County dwellings Tuesday and the arrest of a Batavia man.

Taken into custody was Edgar Perez, 25, of 110 Jackson St., upper. Perez was arraigned in the Town of Barre Court and jailed in Orleans County on $100,000 bail.

In all, four search warrants were executed by law enforcement Tuesday, including one on a car stopped in Barre where investigators reportedly uncovered eight pounds of marijuana.

Perez was reportedly driving the car.

Search warrants were also executed at 110 Jackson St., Batavia and 32 and 33 Sunset Parkway, Oakfield.

Additional suspects from Genesee County are still being sought according to Orleans County investigator Joe Sacco.

Sacco said Tuesday's arrest and searches were unrelated to another recent drug investigation in Orleans County that grabbed regional media attention.

In the raids, investigators reportedly seized some quantity of marijuana, scales, packaging material and other drug paraphenalia at each search location.

Assisting Orleans County's Major Felony Crime Task Force was the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force and the City of Batavia's Emergency Response Team.

For the record, while we expected to receive a copy of a press release from Orleans County on this matter, we have not. This report combines our interview with Joe Sacco this afternoon and the press release published on WIVB's web site (click through for a picture, apparently, of the marijuana seized).

Man accused of entering woman's home and hitting her

By Howard B. Owens

A woman claims that a man from Alabama entered her home without permission Tuesday and assaulted her and a friend.

Arrested and charged with burglary, 1st, was Glenn David Reuben, 47, of 7536 Sandhill Road, Alabama.

Reuben was jailed on $10,000 bail.

The woman, a Lockport Road resident, suffered a cut on her face that required stitches.

The alleged assault occurred at 10:30 a.m.

Drug Task Force raids, searches apartment on Jackson Street

By Howard B. Owens

The Local Drug Enforcement Task Force raided the upper apartment at 110 Jackson St., Batavia, at around 6:15 p.m.

All we know at this point is that the raid was not the only one conducted in Genesee County today.

Investigators were still on scene about two hours later conducting a search of the apartment.

Above, Lt. Chris Bourke of the Orleans County Sheriff's Office and his K-9 "Cliff."

Covington man faces new charge for allegedly impersonating federal agent

By Howard B. Owens

A 41-year-old Covington man already facing charges out of the Town of Batavia for allegedly trying to pass himself off as a federal law enforcement agent was arrested by Le Roy Police on Monday on a similar charge.

Nikko C. Gambino, of Morrow Road, Convington, was arraigned in Le Roy Town Court and jailed on $750 on a charge of criminal impersonation, 2nd.

Gambino is accused of entering a Le Roy business some time in September allegedly dressed as a federal agent and directing an employee of that business to make a phone call under his pretend authority.

Three weeks ago, Gambino was arrested by the Sheriff's Office for allegedly attempting the same ruse in Walmart. A search of his residence reportedly found articles of clothing with law enforcement markings and a metal badge.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said it isn't really clear why Gambino has allegedly attempted to enter retail outlets and pass himself off as a federal agent.

"He's refusing to talk, but we we think it is some sort of diversion," Brewster said. "He wants to draw attention to himself while his accomplice attempts to steal something. We haven't been able to confirm that with surveillance tapes and nothing has been reported stolen. At this point, it's just a guess."

On the arrest out of the Town of Batavia, Gambino was charged with two counts of criminal impersonation, 2nd, and one count of falsely reporting an incident.

He was initially jailed on $5,000 bail.

Police Beat: Alleged attempt to heist of 50-inch plasma TV foiled

By Howard B. Owens

Brett Myers Blair, 26, of South Lyon Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass and petit larceny. Blair is accused of attemping to steal a 50" plasma television from Kmart. Blair was allegedly observed by Kmart personnel wandering around the back stock room of the store without authorization. (Initial Report)

Matthew S. Flannery, 20, of Lymn Road, Byron, is charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident. James C. Wilcox, 41, of South Lake Street, Bergen, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. Flannery and Wilcox were arrested following an investigation into a property damage accident at 6:04 p.m., Sept. 25 in the area of 10 Munger St., Bergen. Wilcox is accused of interfering with Bergen Fire Department personnel prior to the arrival of law enforcement and helping Flannery allegedly flee the scene of the accident. Flannery's 2005 Saturn reportedly struck a utility pole. (Initial Report)

Barry Lamont Posey, 18, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny.  Posey is accused of removing items from packaging and hiding the items on his body with the intent of leaving Target without paying for the merchandise.

Gordy Abiola Akinpeia, 18, of Lincoln Avenue, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Akinpeia is accused of stealing merchandise from Target.

Cassandra Kay Dembik, 18, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dembik is accused of getting into a fight with another person at 3221 Pratt Road, Batavia, at 6:15 p.m., Monday.

Douglas D. Sprague, 19, of Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Sprague was arrested at 11:57 p.m., Sunday, by State Police in Bergen Park. The State Police blotter item lists the type of weapon only as "gun." No further details were released.

Woman accused of altering cash cards of her employer

By Howard B. Owens

Le Roy Police say a 37-year-old Leicester woman stole from her employer earlier this year by creating forged cash cards.

Deanna L. Leach, of 5576 Gibsonville Road, Leicester, faces 11 felony counts of forgery, 2nd.

Det. John Condidorio said Leach allegedly altered 11 cash cards worth $50 each while employed as a manager at the business. Leach reportedly failed to log the cards in order to cover up her alleged crime.

Man runs after allegedly trying to steal TV from Kmart

By Howard B. Owens

A man who reportedly tried to steal a television from Kmart has fled on foot and was last spotted running behind Jerry Arena's Pizzaria.

The subject is described as white male, wearing a brown and white hat, brown sweater and blue jeans.

The suspect fled Kmart, leaving the TV on Kmart's property.

Multiple law enforcement units are responding to the area.

UPDATE: Before we could even get this published, the suspect was caught on West Main Street.

Man with prior DWI convictions now faces Leandra's Law charge

By Howard B. Owens

An Attica man with two prior DWI convictions was allegedly found driving drunk with children in his car on East Main Street in Batavia last night.

Taken into custody on $25,000 bail and charged with a felony under Leandra's Law was 40-year-old Roland J. Reed, of Exchange Street, Attica.

Reed reportedly had a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old in the car when he was stopped at 11:24 p.m. in the area of 505 East Main St., Batavia, by Deputy Christopher Parker.

Besides a felony DWI and the Leandra's Law felony charge, Reed is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, unlawful possession of marijuana, unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely and refusal to take a breath test.

The children's mother was reportedly a passenger in the vehicle.

Police Beat: Driver charged with DWI following accident in Elba

By Howard B. Owens

Austin W. Smith, 24, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Smith was reportedly involved in an accident at 8:24 p.m., Saturday, on Route 262, Town of Elba. The accident was investigated by State Police. (initial report)

Steven M. Keaton, 38, of 50 Gilbert St., Le Roy, is charged with three counts of criminal contempt, 2nd. Keaton is accused of violating an order of protection by being with the protected person on three different occasions.

Cassandra Kay Dembik, 18, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with unlawfully dealing with a child. Dembik is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Lawrence Joseph Owczarczak, 55, of West Point Drive, East Amherst, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Owczarczak is accused of grabbing a young man by the arm on Friday evening.

David N. Taplin, 33, of 16 Skyline Circle, Brockport, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Taplin reportedly turned himself in at Batavia Police headquarters in regard to a bench warrant.

Jerry T. Saddler Jr., of 112 State St., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Saddler is accused of violating an order of protection by allegedly contacting a woman he was barred from contacting.

Gregory Seppe, 52, with no permanent address, is charged with criminal trespass, 2nd. Seppe is accused of entering a dwelling on Columbia Avenue without permission. Seppe was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Nicholas A. Antonucci, 23, of 4192 Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of marijuana. Antonucci is accused of repeatedly shouting obscenities at 10:45 p.m., Friday, while in a parking lot at 214 E. Main St., Batavia.

Jodi L. Reed, 38, of 7428 Pearl St. Road, Oakfield, is charged with possession of a forged instrucment, 2nd, and petit larceny. Reed is accused of passing a forged check at a local bank on Aug. 3.

Police Beat: Man accused of not paying for cab ride and punching driver

By Howard B. Owens

William George Horner, 59, of Bank Street Road, Batavia, is charged with theft of services and harassment, 2nd. He is accused of refusing to pay a driver of Batavia Cab Company following a taxi ride and then allegedly punching the driver. The alleged incident occurred at 2:40 a.m. in the area of 8013 Bank St. Road.

John M. Parker, 58, of 1302 Phelps Road, Pembroke, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or higher, driving with no headlight, failure to use turn signal, no seat belt and avoiding traffic device or intersection. Parker was stopped at 10:26 p.m., Tuesday, by Officer Richard Retzlaff of the Corfu Police Department on Route 33 just east of the village. Parker was allegedly found to have a BAC of .21.

Nadine M. Jackson, 48, of Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd. Jackson was arrested by State Police for an alleged crime reported at 9:05 a.m., Aug. 15. No further details were released.

Police Beat: Reports released of seven arrests at College Village

By Howard B. Owens

Willie Lamar Ervin, 18, of Bonica Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawfully dealing with fireworks. Deputy Brian Thompson responded to a report of M88 type fireworks being set off in the parking lot of College Village at 3:15 a.m., Sunday. Ervin was issued an appearance ticket. Also charged was Jerrod Malcolm Scott, 18, of Ridgeway Avenue, Rochester, and Armekco Davante Austin, 18, of Terrace Park, Rochester.

Anthony Willie Wagner, 19, of Bruce Street, Syracuse, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wagner was at 4:49 a.m., Sunday, following an investigation into a report of fireworks being set off in the College Village parking lot.

Clark Tyrell Canty, 20, of Lenox Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Canty was arrested by Deputy Brian Thompson at 11:12 p.m., Sept. 29, following a report of the strong odor of marijuana coming from a van parked in the parking lot of College Village.

Kimberly Ann Doyle, 20, of Watson Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Doyle was stopped at 1:04 a.m., Sept. 30, by Deputy Brian Thompson at College Village after dropping off a resident there. Doyle was allegedly spotted with a banned person in her vehicle. Upon investigation, with the assistance of K-9 "Jay," Doyle was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Ashley Evette Mercado, 20, of Watson St., Batavia, is charged with trespass. Mercado was arrested at 1:04 a.m., Sept. 30, by Deputy Brian Thompson for allegedly entering College Village and remaining there in violation of an alleged ban on her presence at College Village.

Sharnice Shantell Gibson, 18, of Wood Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd. Gibson is accused of being on Walmart property at 11:04 p.m., July 23, in violation of a ban against her being on Walmart property. Gibson was issued an appearance ticket to be arraigned in Town of Batavia Court on Oct. 21.

Police Beat: Two men arrested for allegedly fighting on Pringle Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

Tyrone N. Thigpen, 33, of 9 South Lyon St., Batavia, and Robert L. Williams Jr., 20, of 25 Harvester Ave., Batavia, are charged with disorderly conduct. Thigpen and Williams are accused of fighting on Pringle Avenue at 3:10 a.m., Saturday.

Paul D. Barth Jr., 19, of Cohocton Road, Pembroke, is charged with petit larceny. Barth is accused of stealing merchandise while employed at Kmart. The alleged thefts occurred between July through September.

Lynn Ann Hertweck, 42, of Reed Road, Churchville, is charged with a felony count of DWI, aggravated DWI (driving with a BAC of .18 or greater) and improper left turn. Hertweck was stopped in the area of 30 Hunter St., Bergen, at 1:54 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Howard Carlson.

Richard J. Kubus, 30, of 25 Vine St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Kubus is accused of attempting to steal a grocery cart full of merchandise from Tops Market in Le Roy. The total value is reportedly $401.69.

Trevor D. Cliff, 19, of Avon, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle without an inspection certificate and speeding. Cliff was stopped by State Police at 8:28 p.m., Saturday, on Townline Road in Alabama.

Donald I. Wagner, 61, of Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to use designated lane. Wagner was stopped by State Police at 10:55 p.m. on Court Road, Covington.

A 17-year-old from Attica is accused of petit larceny from a location in Alexander. The youth was arrested by State Police at 1:39 p.m., Thursday. No further details released.

Follow up to an accident we reported Friday: Injured, Nikkolas M. Bruner, 52, of Basom.

Follow up to "wanted" post for Deborah Compton: Compton was taken into custody Saturday at her residence and released on $1,500 bail.

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