batavia

Law enforcement is responding to the Walmart parking lot, near the Garden Center, after receiving a call that a man with three young boys in his care threw one of the them to the ground and then slapped the child. The only description is that the man is white, wearing a bright green shirt and he ran out of the store after the incident.

UPDATE 2:44 p.m.: A person in the parking lot told an officer that the subject left with the three little boys in an unknown type vehicle.

UPDATE 2:47 p.m.: The subject is believed to have exited the parking lot at the south end driving a dark gray older-type Buick.

Mercy medics and a Town of Batavia ladder truck are called to the Federal Buffalo Detention Center at 4250 Veterans Memorial Drive to help bring down a contruction worker who has been unconscious on the roof for approximately 15 minutes.

UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: Equipment already at the facility is being used to try and bring to patient down.

To help promote an anti-smoking message, GCASA has placed about 50 T-shirts on PVC-pipe hangers along the edge of the agencies property at 430 E. Main St., Batavia.

A contractor is on Summit Street, Batavia, this morning working on the sewer system. A worker told me they were putting in a lining.

Bruce Jeramie Brade, 32, of Stroh Road, Attica, is charged with identify theft, 3rd. Brade allegedly used the personal information of another person, including a credit card number, for personal benefit.

Llani Marie Gerrastzu, 18, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Gerrastzu was allegedly found in her home with marijuana at 6:35 a.m., Wednesday.

Shannon Ann Caton, 38, of Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with harassment. Caton was allegedly involved in a fight at her place of employment on April 2.

Eric A. Ion, 40, of Brant, is charged with criminal contempt. Ion is accused of violating a court order in Alexander at 4:14 p.m., May 14. Ion was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Michelle G. Robb, 55, of Corfu, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs. Robb was stopped at 8:06 p.m., May 14, by State Police on Route 77, Pembroke. No further details released.

Richard A. Demmer, 20, of Oakfield, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Demmer was arrested by State Police related to an alleged incident reported at 5:20 p.m., May 14.

One of the two brothers recently accused of sexually abusing children in multiple jurisdictions over the past three decades appeared in Genesee County Court this afternoon to answer to a felony grand jury indictment.

Sean M. Vickers, 44, of 117 Andes St., Geneva, entered a not guilty plea to single count of a course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a Class B felony.

Vickers is accused of sexual relations with a child while a resident of Batavia more than a decade ago.

According to Batavia PD, after media reports of his arrest, more people came forward accusing either Vickers or his brother of sex-related crimes.

While Sean Vickers, already a registered Level-3 sex offender, has yet been charged with any additional crimes, the FBI arrested David Allen Vickers, 49, of Stanley, and accused him, while working as a truck driver, of transporting a child to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada and engaging in sexual activity.

The two brothers are suspected of sexual activity with children going back 30 years.

Police are asking that anybody that may have children who came into contact with the Vickers or people who are now adults that may have had contact with the Vickers to contact police or the FBI.

Terry Platt, a landlord who owns numerous properties, says he's done investing in Genesee County.

On Tuesday, the City of Batavia Planning Board voted unanimously to disapprove Platt's proposal to convert a single family home at 316 E. Main St. into a boarding house.

"I hate to say it, because I would love to stay here and spend my money in the city, but after today, I think they've proved to me that Terry Platt's not wanted in this city," Platt said. "Therefore I will be looking to sell some things, but keep many so I can keep the income and take it to a different city that deserves it."

According to Platt, he put down $5,000 on a purchase offer for the property after city officials assured him the parcel was properly zoned for a rooming house and approval of his application wouldn't be a problem.

Then, last Friday, in a meeting with the city, he got the impression the attitude had changed.  Sudden, he said, city officials had found laws that limit the size of the rooming house.

He was told that instead of 12 rooms, he could only have nine, if approved.

At Tuesday's meeting, council members Rose Mary Christian and Kathy Briggs, along with John Roach and two neighboring property owners spoke against Platt's plans.

Christian noted that 316 E. Main St. is next to a pair of well-maintained Victorian-era houses, including one that won an award from the Landmark Society this year.

"These are extraordinary properties that are well maintained and cared for by the owners," Christian said.

Both Christian and Briggs noted that converting a single-family home to a multi-unit dwelling goes against the city's recently adopted strategic plan, which aims to convert many of the existing apartment buildings that were once single-family homes back to single-family homes.

Roach objected to the idea that Platt would likely take in NYS parolees as tenants.

Christian noted that some of Platt's properties have sex offenders living in the dwellings.

April Walroot, Platt's property manager, said out of the 28 rooms the company has rented now, only four are the homes of registered sex offenders.

She also said that because the house is within 500 feet of a school -- St. Joseph's -- NYS Parole won't allow sex offenders to be placed in the residence.

According to this online mapping tool, St. Joe's is more than 800 feet from the house, as is the Richmond Memorial Library. 

Elizabeth Jess, who recently acquired the red brick home next to 316, said she and her husband bought it because the neighboring homes were single family and well maintained. She said she was worried about sex offenders moving into a residence next to her family.

"If there was ever any indication this could happen, we never would have bought this home," she said.

The Bialys, who own the recently designated Landmark home, have invested thousands and thousands of dollars into maintaining their house and they are concerned that putting a rooming house two doors down from their home would diminish the value.

Platt said, yes, his company does work with NYS Parole to find homes for former prison inmates. He also said all of his rooming homes are supervised and there are rules enforced on the residents. There's a strong motivation to obey the rules, Platt said, because offenses get reported back to parole officers.

It's an advantage to the city, he said, to have parolees living at his properties rather than elsewhere in the city because they are expected to follow certain rules and are monitored by the property manager.

The conversion also fits within the city's strategic plan, Platt said, because they city wants more residents downtown.

"We have a location downtown where people will be able to walk to everything and be able to spend their money downtown, keep the traffic downtown," Pratt said. "It will be a positive for the city."

After the application was denied, Pratt talked of possible legal action. He said he will consult with an attorney.

He feels there is an issue with the city giving him indications it would be approved and then, from his point of view, changing the rules at the last minute, and he also feels the city is discriminating against a certain class of people.

"There is a shortage of this type of housing for the good people who need a place to live," Platt said.

The denial is just one more piece of evidence, Platt said, that the city doesn't want him around so he's going to stop investing his money locally.

"It's pretty obvious the City has made many gestures and many ways to let Terry Platt know he's not wanted in the City of Batavia," Platt said.

Asked if the City isn't also making it harder for other landlords to do business, or was he just being singled out, Platt said, "It has lot to do with Terry Platt and his rooming houses, because how can they let a single-family home on Oak Street be converted to a rooming house several years ago and now all the sudden they don't want to see rooming houses near downtown where they need the traffic?"

City Fire Department is on scene in the area of Woodrow Road and Soccio Street, Batavia, where white smoke is seen coming from the second-floor window of a residence.

UPDATE 8:54 a.m.: It's a dryer fire.

UPDATE 8:55 a.m.: Third platoon to stand by at headquarters.

UPDATE 8:56 a.m.: Fire is out.Ventilating.

UPDATE 10 a.m.: City fire back in service.

Chad M. Johnston, 27, of 15 N. Lyon St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, public appearance under the influence of a narcotic and possession of a hypodermic needle. Johnston was observed at 10:15 p.m., Monday, on Liberty Street by Officer James DeFreze, under the apparent influence of a drug. Upon investigation, Johnson was allegedly found in possession of heroin and a needle.

David Michael Robinson, 51, of Lake Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with forcible touching. Robinson is accused of touching the intimate body parts of another person after being told not to do so.

A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old resident of Porter Avenue are both charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, criminal tampering, 3rd, and unlawful possession of marijuana (16-year-old only). The youths are accused of going into the bedroom of their sister and brother-in-law and damaging all of their personal property, throwing everything on to the floor and down a stairwell. A marijuana pipe was found at the residence of the youth while Officer James DeFreze was at the location questioning the 16-year-old.

Jessica R Johns, 30, of 122 Jackson St., lower, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant out of City Court related to a DWI charge. Johns allegedly failed to report to jail. She was jailed on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

According to the unofficial vote count released by the Batavia City School District, voters approved the district's budget and approved the capital project.

The $41,981,241 spending plan received 505 yes votes to 201 no votes.

The $3.8 million capital project was approved 454 yes votes to 233 no votes.

Also approved 557 to 128 was a change to the transportation plan.

For the results of school district votes throughout Genesee County, WBTA, The Batavian's official news partner, is tracking the results: click here.

A possible structure fire is reported at 7475 S. Pearl Street Road in Oakfield. It is believed to stem from an electrical problem in the basement, which is showing some white smoke. Oakfield Fire Department is responding and mutual aid is requested from East Pembroke, Town of Batavia, and Alabama, which is called to fill in at Oakfield's hall. Everyone is out of the building.

UPDATE 6:42 p.m.: The electrical circuits have been shut off and Oakfield is waiting for National Grid to arrive. All mutual aid responders back in service.

The brother of a former Batavia resident already under a grand jury indictment for allegedly abusing children has been taken into custody by the FBI and accused of transporting children across state lines for sexual purposes.

David Allen Vickers, 49, of Stanley, is accused of taking a child on his commercial truck driving trips to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada and engaging in sexual activity with the child.

The investigation into Vickers began after the recent arrest of Sean M. Vickers, 44, of 117 Andes St., Geneva, for allegedly sexually abusing children in Batavia more than a decade ago.

Media coverage of Sean's arrest prompted other alleged victims to come forward and led to the investigation of David.

The two bothers are suspected of being involved in sexual abuse going back as long as 30 years ago and which has continued until as recently as two months ago.

Authorities encourage any parent of a child that came into contact with either of the brothers, or any adults whose children came into contact with either of the brothers to get in touch with local law enforcement.

Numerous alleged victims have already come forward, according to police.

Sean Vickers is also a suspect in sexual abuse cases in Niagara County.

State Police and members of the regional law enforcement gathered today at the Batavia Barracks of Troop A to honor their brethren who have fallen in the line of duty.

U.S. Attorney for WNY William Hochul was among the speakers. He quoted Matthew 5:9 -- "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" -- and told the families of those who had fallen that police officers do more than enforce laws, they are the peacemakers who keep communities safe so they are assured of honor in the eyes of God.

To purchase prints from this event, click here.

An electrical fire is reported in the basement of 160 Bank St., Batavia.

City fire is responding.

UPDATE 10:46 p.m.: City command reports smoke in the basement. No visible fire.

UPDATE 10:54 p.m.: National Grid requested to the scene to pull the meter.

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Sweet Pea's Cupcakery Café, on Jackson Avenue, has something new just in time for summer: soft-serve ice cream.

It's very good.

Pictured are owners Lyndsey Oliver-Farewell and Travis Farewell.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Benevolent Association will be conducting a fund-raising event this summer, starting in May. The P.B.A. will be sending out mailings to the community in an effort to help raise money, which it uses to support various groups. For years, the Batavia P.B.A has helped fund programs in and around Batavia, such as numerous youth athletics, senior citizen groups, and community programs. We encourage all to help us continue our efforts in serving the community. We will not be making any solicitations by phone or in person. Should anyone have questions regarding this event, please contact one of our members, or mail us at: Batavia P.B.A., P.O. Box 299, Batavia, New York, 14021.

A grass fire off the eastbound Thruway is reported in the area by the State Street overpass. Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m.: A fireman at the scene says it's a controlled burn that's being tended to. It's "a bit smoky" but is not an impediment to traffic.

Somebody's vehicle hit a tree on Jefferson Avenue in the city by Wendy's and Tim Horton's and the tree is said to be hanging at a 45-degree angle over the roadway.

UPDATE 11:31 a.m.: It is believed that a large commercial truck that was parked in the area damaged the tree when it left and a police officer is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:27 a.m. (by Howard): The tree would have been planted about 2004. It would have been about two inches in diameter at the time. It's now four or five inches and would cost from $400 to $500 to replace with a tree of the same size, according to the county Department of Public Works.