From Batavia PD Chief Shawn Heubusch:

It is with great pleasure that the City of Batavia Police Department welcomes Officer Jamie Givens to its ranks.

Officer Givens joined the Batavia Police Department on March 1, 2012; she attended the Basic Police Academy at Monroe Community College’s Public Safety campus. While at the Basic Police Academy Officer Givens learned many aspects of Law Enforcement such as accident investigations, vehicle and traffic enforcement as well as handling emergency situations. Following her formal classroom education Officer Givens entered the Batavia Police Department’s Supervised Field Training program in early September of 2012.

During her time in in Field Training Officer Givens was exposed to normal police activity all the while being monitored and evaluated by experienced Field Training Officers. While in Supervised Field Training Officer Givens was able to test her knowledge and learn tactics from veteran Officers. Officer Givens received high praises for her knowledge and ability during her time spent in Supervised Field Training.

Officer Givens has successfully passed Supervised Field Training and will be assigned to the Day Platoon starting in early January 2013.

We ask everyone to join the Police Department in welcoming Officer Jamie Givens to the City of Batavia Police Department.

Photo: By Howard Owens, taken at the scene of today's motor-vehicle accident on Clinton Street.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office recently hired Joseph A. Corona to fill the position of Deputy Sheriff; a position that was left vacant by a Deputy Sheriff who retired on May 5, 2012.

Deputy Corona is a 2004 high school regents graduate from Brockport High School and completed a BOCES Outdoor Power and Marine Technology program. He has participated in several volunteer programs with the Brockport and Rochester Police Departments and also participated in an internship with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Corona was previously employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and graduated in 2009 from the Detention and Removal Operations Basic Law Enforcement and the Detention and Removal Spanish Language Training Programs. 

He was designated as an Expert Marksman in the firearms course, received the Driver Training Award, and was recognized as an Outstanding Distinguished Graduate and an Outstanding Physical Fitness Graduate for his performances while in the Academy. Deputy Corona recently graduated from the Niagara University Law Enforcement Academy on December 21, 2012 and, again, received the academy’s Physical Fitness award. Joe is also a nationally certified Personal Trainer.

Sheriff Maha stated, “Deputy Corona has been participating in our 14-week field training program and is performing exceptionally well. He will be a great addition to our road patrol.”

Traffic is being diverted off Clinton Street to East Avenue while Batavia PD deals with a two-car, non-injury motor-vehicle accident.

Batavia Fire Department is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Initial indication is a town snow plow was stopped southbound on Clinton and was allowing a Haul-4-Less truck to make a left-hand turn from East Avenue onto Clinton. A semi coming up behind the plow truck may not have seen the plow truck stopped and tried going around the plow truck, hitting the Haul-4-Less truck. No injuries. Heavy wreckers had to be called in for the disabled trucks and traffic was blocked in both directions.

Related, local law enforcement officers are currently working a handful of property damage accidents in various parts of the county. All seem to be weather related.

With a record of 7-0, Alexander's girls were riding the high of a good start to a season.

Then they hit the brick wall of a team that hadn't lost its previous 31 games and are defending state champions, the Lady Lancers of Elba.

Keyed by McKenzie Bezon's 18 points, the Lancers, now 7-0 themselves, notched a decisive 57-31 at home.

Alexander Head Coach Marcia Hirsch wasn't too happy with her team's performance.

"We were playing a tough team," Hirsch said. "I expected my team to step up a little better. Our defense is the not the defense we’ve seen. They shut down all my scorers."

Her girls can expect to drill more on defense in the coming days and weeks, Hirsch said.

Elba's head coach, Tom Nowak, said in preparation for the game, his girls drilled on pressuring Alexander with an aggressive defense, forcing turnovers and limiting scoring, which is what they did Thursday.

And the team will continue to work on defense, he said.

"Hopefully, we can polish things up a bit," Nowak said. "You just keep playing. You never know where it's going to take you."

To go with her 18 points, McKenzie had six rebounds.

Kelsey Bezon had five rebounds and 11 points. Jamie Marshall had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anna Dorman had seven points and five rebounds.

For Alexander, Sarah Loranty led the way with 13 points.

Next up, Elba hosts Bergen on Monday and Alexander plays in the Rotary Tournament at Genesee Community College on Tuesday.

A reader of The Batavian has helped another recover a ring lost the day after Christmas that was more precious than valuable.

Lynn Halicki posted a lost-and-found notice to The Batavian's "Announcements" section and another reader spotted it, called her and returned the ring.

"The ring really has no monetary value - just sentimental value," Halicki said in her post.

After getting her ring back, Halicki posted a comment and wrote, "It made me extremely happy and proud that there are so many GOOD people!!!!!!"

One of the people who reportedly got involved with bath salts over the summer and wound up getting in trouble with the law has decided to entrust his fate to a local jury rather than accept a plea deal.

Because 32-year-old Bradley J. Broadbent has a prior violent felony conviction, the best deal District Attorney Lawrence Friedman could offer the Batavia resident was a minimum of five years in prison with a guilty plea to attempted burglary, 2nd, a Class D felony.

Broadbent was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass, burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

On July 6, Broadbent was talked down off the roof of a house on Hutchins Street. He was reportedly hallucinating and suffering from a high body temperature.

He was suspected of damaging bathrooms at a business complex on Liberty Street earlier that day, and after leaving the UMMC emergency room, he allegedly entered a house on Tracy Avenue without permission.

At the time, Broadbent was suspected of using bath salts and family members were upset, suspecting his use of bath salts started after the 420 Emporium opened at 400 Ellicott St.

According to Broadbent's sister, Melissa, Bradley was on a good, positive path prior to starting bath salt use.

In court today, Judge Robert Noonan granted a brief recess so attorneys could research Broadbent's criminal record and confirm that a guilty plea would indeed make him a second felony offender.

Broadbent was released from prison 10 years and six months before his arrest in July on his 1986 conviction for burglary, 2nd. Documents available in court prior to the recess didn't include the two years he spent in prison on an unrelated conviction in Batavia City Court a few years ago. If Broadbent had not been in jail or prison during the 10 years and six months after his original prison term, he would not be considered a second violent felony offender for the purpose of sentencing on the new charges.

The top charge against Broadbent is a Class C felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence, if he's convicted, of seven years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Press release:

“Today, the House of Representatives took action on the first of two aid packages to help people devastated by Superstorm Sandy in October. I am pleased that one of my first acts as a member of Congress was to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill, which will provide nearly $10 billion to FEMA so it can cover flood insurance claims.

It is important that Congress come together to do its part and provide the necessary aid to help the millions of people impacted by this natural disaster. Too many families have had their entire lives turned upside down. It is only right that the federal government help those impacted on the East Coast recover and begin to rebuild not only their homes, but their lives.”

A Bergen resident, Jasvir Kaur, bought a $20 scratch-off ticket Nov. 13 at the Country Deli in Alexander and won $5 million, lottery officials announced in Rochester today.

After taxes, Kaur pockets $3.3 million.

A former Le Roy resident who was involved in a scuffle with police June 17 when a deputy tried to arrest her son entered a guilty plea today to one charge against her but would not admit to using a knife against the deputy.

Elaina J. Mead, 43, formerly of 21 Maple Ave., Le Roy, now a resident of Varysburg, entered a guilty plea to attempted menacing a police officer under what's known as an "Alford Plea." It means Mead believes a jury would convict her at trial, but she's not admitting to the actual events alleged against her.

Mead did admit that she tried to interfere with Deputy Matthew Butler's attempt to arrest her son, 25-year-old Michael Mead Sr., on a warrant (see correction below), but when Judge Robert C. Noonan asked her if it was true that she placed a knife to Butler's chest and placed Butler in fear of his life or serious injury, she said she did not.

The plea satisfies all counts against Mead, which included assault, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. The maximum sentence under the terms of the agreement are up to 15 days in jail and four months intermittent jail time and a $5,000 fine.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell said that if the case went to trial, Officer Emily Clark, Le Roy PD, would testify that Michael Mead was resisting arrest and she and Butler were wrestling with him when people from inside 21 Maple Ave. started throwing small household objects at the officers.

Clark would say, Finnell said, that she saw Elaina Mead exit the house with a knife in her hand and approach Butler and place the knife against Butler's chest.  According to Clark's version of events, Clark yelled, "knife, knife," and then let go of Michael Mead's legs and knocked the knife from Elaina Mead's hand, sustaining a small cut in the process.

Last month Sheriff Gary Maha presented Clark with a Certificate of Appreciation and Butler a Commendation for their conduct during the confrontation.

UPDATE and CORRECTION: We should have included that Mead could also get five years probation. Also, the information that Butler was at the residence to execute a warrant is a mistake from the initial report that I forgot (while writing this) was later corrected. Butler and Clark went to the residence to question Michael Mead on an alleged violation of a court order investigation. When Butler attempted to arrest Mead, that's when he allegedly resisted arrest.

A motor-vehicle accident is reported on Ellicott Street Road at Little Canada Road, Bethany, with minor injuries.

A person reports not feeling well and having back pain.

Bethany Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:48 a.m.: A dispatcher informs a deputy responding that "the situation is deteriorating quickly." A Bethany chief requests mutual aid from Stafford and the deputy requests a trooper to respond to assist with traffic control.

UPDATE 10:02 a.m.: Roadway is reopened. It sounds like there were two accidents at this location.

Jamie S. Schlonski, 40, an inmate in the correctional facility in Collins, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, and petit larceny. Schlonski was charged following an investigation by Le Roy PD into burglaries in August in the village. The victim reported numerous checks stolen and cashed in the village. Schlonski was living in Le Roy at the time and was later identified as a suspect.

Rebeca Lynn Rose, 26, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Rose is accused of shoplifting clothing from Target on Thursday. Also charged with petit larceny was Megan Lynn Furr, 26, of North Street, Le Roy.

Alicia M. Stankwick, 21, of 2955 Angling Road, Corfu, is charged with harassment, 2nd.  Stankwick is accused of sending unwanted text messages to a male whom she was advised by a Batavia PD officer the day before not to contact.

Ryan C. Cook, 34, of 7 Mill St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cook is accused of having unwanted physical contact with a woman.

Kristen L. Brightenfield, 19, of Stafford, is charged with criminal mischief 4th/prevention of emergency call. Brightenfield was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 2:17 p.m. on Wednesday. No further details were released.

There is a wind advisory in effect today for all of Western New York.

Winds of 20 to 35 mph are predicted with gusts up to 50 mph.

The advisory is in effect until 6 p.m.

Wind could bring down tree branches, damage power lines and it may be difficult to handle high-profile vehicles on roadways.

A one-vehicle rollover with entrapment is reported at 6833 W. Main St. Road in Le Roy. There is also a telephone pole down. The driver is alert and talking but is upside down and held in place by her seat belt. The car is on its roof. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding. The location is west of the two car dealerships on that stretch of roadway.

UPDATE 6:50 a.m.: Fire police are shutting down the road in the vicinity of the accident scene.

UPDATE 6:55 a.m.: Route 5 at Bater Road is shut down. The address of the accident is determined to be 6919 W. Main St. Road.

UPDATE 7:04 a.m.: Fire police are told to open up the road.

UPDATE 7:05 : The Le Roy assignment is back in service. A tow truck is expected there in about 10 minutes. Law enforcement is on scene.

UPDATE 7:16 a.m.: The driver is being transported to UMMC.

UPDATE 7:27 a.m.: The patient is a 36-year-old woman complaining of neck pain.

Some of you may have already noticed that certain people now, when they leave a comment on a story, have a little "club member" icon below their names.

This means these people have elected to help support The Batavian by becoming club members and we want to recognize their support.

The other change we've made is people who are not yet members will get a reminder to join every time they log into the site (our software, in a pattern I've never been able to figure out, occasionally asked people to reenter their usernames and passwords). After people enter their usernames and passwords, they will hit a screen that offers them the opportunity to continue with their login or join The Batavian Club. There is still no obligation to join the club to read news or comment on stories, but we want to remind people how important it is that they support our local news efforts.

Plus, members get benefits such as discounts at local businesses -- a monetary value that exceeds the cost of membership.

Join The Batavian Club and SAVE: Currently, members will receive $220 in gift certificates to local businesses -- far more value than the cost of the membership! (more info below)

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers.

Richard Stevens is indicted on two counts of failure to register change of address, a class E felony, and two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a class A misdemeanor. Stevens, a convicted sex offender, is accused of moving in April to 22 Tracy Ave., Batavia, without registering a change of address within 10 days. He's also accused of moving back to 22 Tracy Ave. from the Genesee County Jail in October and failing to register a change of address within 10 days. Stevens is also accused of trying to choke another person on two occasions, once in October and again in November.

Clenton J. Reese is indicted on a count of criminal contempt,1st, a class E felony. Reese is accused of violating a court issued stay-away order.

Statement from Rep. Chris Collins:

“Today, as I took the official oath of office, I thought of the faith and trust the hardworking residents of New York's 27th Congressional District have placed in me. I am humbled by the opportunity to be their representative and their voice in the United States House of Representatives.

As a new member of Congress, I look forward to serving on both the Agriculture and Small Business committees. These committee assignments are a natural fit for both my experience as a small business owner and the incredibly important role agriculture plays in NY-27. In addition to fighting every day for what is best for the families of NY-27, I pledge to be a strong advocate and champion for farmers and small business owners, and their employees, not only in our own community, but all across this country.

I begin my time in Congress at a very critical moment in our country. It is my hope that the new Congress can come together to seriously address the issues facing our nation. I look forward to being a part of the discussion, and most importantly, a part of the solutions that are necessary to curb our nation's unsustainable spending and reduce our crushing national debt. Members of Congress must start making decisions based not on political expediency, but on commonsense fiscal policy focused on ensuring prosperity of our children, grandchildren and future generations.”

Collins will take a ceremonial oath of office at 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Genesee County Courthouse.

Town of Batavia firefighters are holding a boot drive Saturday to benefit the West Webster Fire Department and the families and victims of the Christmas Eve ambush of first responders in Webster.

Firefighters Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka were killed in the attack and Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino were injured.

The boot drive is being organized by Josh Finn with the help of other Batavia volunteers. Residents are asked to drive by the fire hall on Lewiston Road (across from Kmart/Tops Plaza) on Saturday and drop donations into a firefighter's boot.

The drive is from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.