Darien

Erie County emergency crews are working a propane leak at 820 County Line Road, Alden, and Darien Fire has been requested to assist with an evacuation within a half-mile of that address.

Traffic is being shut down between 7 Day Road and Alley Road Road.

There are about 20 residential homes that will be asked to evacuate.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Residents from 400 7 Day Road to the west will be asked to evacuate. Corfu Fire dispatched, mutual aid.

UPDATE 1:24 p.m.: State Police are assisting with the evacuation. 

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: The valve has been shut off.  All residents can return.

On 55 acres of land in the far southwest corner of Genesee County is -- at least for some people who are at their wit's end -- a little slice of heaven.

The land is scenic, of course, but more importantly, for people who think they've exhausted their opportunities for escaping addiction or other behaviors that have seriously messed up their lives, there is an open door and yet one more chance for them to get things straight and find some peace.

Freedom Fellowship has been at 254 Broadway Road, Darien, for more than a decade. It was founded when John and Victoria Kula, with a deep desire to help people find God and overcome their destructive behaviors, came across an old motel and barn for sale on 50 acres of otherwise open land.

"I was helped 20-some years ago and my life changed completely," John said. "So my purpose was to help others. This was our vision way back and we ended up out here in Darien. The Lord led us out here and we purchased this property."

Victoria said she and John had been seeing each other for about two months when a friend invited him to a conference. 

"The conference was about spiritual things and he came to know the Lord there," she said. "I knew about the Lord before but wasn't really a follower.  Once John changed it was just natural for both of us to want to serve the Lord. We feel because of our experiences in life God has called us to help people with the same struggles we experienced ourselves."

Total Freedom, on its website, calls it a "one-step program."  That step is Jesus Christ.

The Program
Those who enter the program live on Total Freedom's campus for nine months of discipleship. 

"There's a curriculum that's set up by Total Freedom in Florida," John said. "It's a biblical curriculum that guides you through a healing and deliverance process. (The curriculum) is normally three to four months. The curriculum is put on an iPad and each individual works at their own pace. It's all videotape teaching. It's all about healing and transitioning and growing as who we are and being able to transition back into society."

John doesn't pretend it's easy.  It's not for everybody and some people walk away.  The day before John spoke with The Batavian, a man traveled from Oklahoma after being accepted into the program.  He was there for a couple of hours and then turned around and went back home.

Still, John said that about 95 percent of the people who enter the program have stayed clean or otherwise avoided the destructive behavior at the end of their two-year Total Freedom journey.  Participants are not tracked after completing the two-year program (that includes 12 months of after-care). It's not possible to independently verify the rehabilitation claim.

"It's a lifestyle change that we're really teaching," John said. "It's putting God in the center of your life and letting Him lead in everything you do."

For those who can't afford rehab, the first four months of the program are free. During the next phase, participants are expected to take a job to learn a skill, either at one of the ministry's businesses or off campus.  At that point, they pay $125 a week for room and board.

"They start learning how to save money, the basic skills of life, living," John said. "That is how the process goes through nine months. Then there's a year of aftercare where the test comes on how you're gonna handle your life and what you've learned."

Building a ministry
John is retired after 33 years of working, and he draws a pension.  Neither John nor Victoria are paid by the ministry.

"It has always been very important to us to not take an income from the ministry if it wasn’t necessary," Victoria said. "So far we haven’t needed to, so we don’t."

Tax records, as of 2020, show Freedom Fellowship, a 501(c)(3), has $1.4 million in assets.  Most of that appears to be the property the ministry owns. The main campus, 50 acres, is assessed at just over $1 million, and an adjoining property, acquired in 2019, is assessed at $247,000.

"The younger generation is earning an income through the various businesses that the ministry runs, and they need the income to make a living," Victoria said. "We do have some very generous donors and we did receive a large donation in order for us to purchase the properties."

What attracted John and Victoria to the first parcel that comprises the campus was a former motel that was being used as a residential rental complex.  That former motel now houses family members of people going through the program.  John and Victoria have added on, building a dormitory, recreation and meeting rooms, and a kitchen in a separate structure.

That most recently acquired property, on the west side of the campus, includes a two-story house built in 1880 that houses women going through the program.

The acquisition of the house, John said, allows the ministry to keep the men and women separated by the length of the campus. 

Total Freedom can provide a residence for eight women and 12 to 15 men at a time.

Campus life
While there, residents can make use of a fitness center and sauna, play foosball, ping-pong, basketball, and other sports, help in the garden and with the goats and chickens, and each Sunday enjoy fellowship with family before and after services.

Services are held in a chapel built in a converted barn.

And then there are the lush hiking trails through the heavily wooded, creek-laced back portion of the expansive property.

"The program is mind, body, and spirit," John said. "The menu we have, there's no sugars or carbs.  The trails are here for exercise.  Every morning, as far as the body is concerned, for a half-hour, we come back here (on the trails) and either walk or run, or whatever you want to do, but there's got to be a movement back here on these beautiful trails."

There was one person a while back, John said, who entered the program weighing 500 pounds. He needed a walker to get around.

"He walked the parking lot until he could walk these trails and eventually he lost the walker and he lost 140 pounds," John said.

There are also chores for residents.  They clean the grounds and help with maintenance.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit
As for employment opportunities on campus, Freedom Fellowship established four businesses:

• Freedom Expressions, which operates a print shop for custom clothing (such as T-shirts) and a boutique  
• Freedom Automotive, which opened in 2020
• Green Bird Candle, which makes candles and was recently started by a group of women going through the program
• The Table, the ministry's newest venture (see Freedom Fellowship in Darien Center planning new curbside pickup dining destination).

The businesses are intended to provide training and work experience for residents going through the program, an opportunity to earn money to help pay their rent and help them learn about managing finances, and generate revenue for the ministry to supplement donations, however, the print shop took a couple of years to start turning a profit and the auto shop is not yet profitable.

The auto shop is a Napa-certified training facility.  It's run by Mark Snow, who entered the program in 2016 and has stayed clean and sober since.

"I personally had been through 10 different rehabs over the course of 20 years of drug addiction, and I came through Total Freedom and I'm set free from it," Snow said. "The difference is Jesus Christ. That's all there is to it. The difference is a relationship with God. There's no other way to explain it."

For Mike Raymond, it also took putting all of his faith in God to finally put him on the right path, he said.

He first experienced Total Freedom in Florida, his home state, but soon found himself struggling with alcohol again.

Raymond had a pretty successful life in the restaurant industry.  

"I kept being offered more, more and more opportunity in the field," Raymond said. "So as much as I didn't particularly like it, I stayed with it because the money was good. I worked in various capacities over the course of my career, anywhere from starting out at the very bottom to working as a regional training director. I worked as a regional vice president. I worked as a food and beverage director, as a general manager."

The good money led to the high life and when that wasn't working for him any longer, Raymond wound up at Total Freedom in Florida. After going through the program, he tried returning to the restaurant industry but fell back into old habits.  He joined Total Freedom in Darien in 2019 and has been part of the program since, running the kitchen for the ministry.

"What's worked for me is submitting, realizing that -- to really come into the knowledge of the truth -- that this is not my home, that I'm a sojourner, and that I have a purpose and that Jesus died for me," Raymond said. "What I need to do is glorify Him in what I do and not look to the things of the world -- the money, the fame, all the things that I looked at as positives in my former life."

His job now is heading up Freedom Fellowship's newest business venture, The Table, a Mexican-themed curbside pickup restaurant on the campus.

"Mexican food has always been my cup of tea," Raymond said. "I worked for a Mexican concept for a long time. We made everything from scratch. It was real, and it's one of my favorite foods. So when I came here, it was not, obviously, the intention but when we started talking about (starting a restaurant) originally, that was the first thing that came to my mind. We prayed about it and decided, 'Hey, let's go with it and open a concept that was similar to what I knew."

The Table opened to the public earlier this month. The restaurant's menu is available online, along with online ordering.

Because New York doesn't sanction faith-based rehabilitation, most of the residents who join the program do not come to Total Freedom through the court system (though a couple of judges in Western New York have authorized it, John said). Instead, people at their wit's end hear about Total Freedom from churches and community centers.

"Once people know who we are and what we do -- and I'm going to be honest with you -- basically, sometimes it's the last resort for them because we don't charge and a lot of places want insurance or they want $1,000 up front," John said. "We just want to bring them in and when they can eventually pay, that's fine. If not, that's fine, too. We believe in and trust in that (idea), and that's definitely a blessing."

Photos by Howard Owens

Mike Raymond

Mark Snow

A room in the men's dormitory.

Part of the hiking trails.

The Batavian visited Total Freedom on June 25, the day the ministry hosted a car show, chicken BBQ, basket raffle and a bit of a carnival.  Retired pastor Richard Gritzke, pictured above with his Rolls Royce, won the prize for most classic car. The photos below are all from June 25.

Press release:

County Highway will be closing Sumner Road approximately 1,000 feet east of Route 77 for a culvert replacement from 7 a.m., Monday, July 18 through 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 21.  This is adjacent to Darien Lake Theme Park and between Route 77 and the Darien Lake Employee entrance on Sumner Road.  The culvert replacement has been coordinated with Daren Lake and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office to hit a gap in the busy concert schedule at the park.  It is expected that the road will be reopened by Wednesday evening. Use caution once reopened as the culvert crossing will remain a gravel surface until paving can occur once the concert season slows down.

 

An SUV and semi-truck have reportedly collided in the area of 254 Broadway Road, Darien.

The location is between Countyline Road and Harlow Road.

Possible serious injury with entrapment.

Mercy Flight is on ground standby. 

Darien Fire, mutual aid from Corfu, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: When a first responder arrived on scene shortly after the accident was reported, the semi was off the road and the roadway was not blocked. The driver of the SUV was out of the vehicle and walking. The driver of the tractor-trailer was conscious and alert but trapped because the cab was up against a tree.  Alden was requested to respond to assist with extrication but then the scene commander said the driver could be extricated with just a ladder. Alden's ambulance requested to the scene. Mercy Flight not required.  The SUV driver is likely a signoff. The right saddle tank on the truck was ruptured, about 75 gallons. DEC arrived on scene at 3:19 p.m.

A two-car accident is reported at Colby and Sumner roads, Darien.

Multiple injuries are reported.

Darien Fire, ambulance, Mercy EMS and Corfu Fire dispatched.

Mary E. Dorman, 36, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, failure to keep right, and moving from lane unsafely. Dorman was involved in a head-on collision at 10:45 p.m., June 4, on Bank Street, Batavia, with a Batavia PD patrol vehicle. Her vehicle also struck a parked car. Dorman was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Thomas Michael Busch, 45, of Willow Street, Lockport, is charged with possession of a sexual performance by a child. Busch was arrested following an investigation into digital images on an electronic device in his possession at 4:30 p.m., May 29, at a location on Alleghany Road, Darien.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Corey Amber Knapp, 20, of North Avenue, Medina, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Knapp was arrested on a bench warrant out of City Court.  She was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on her own recognizance.

Constance Christine Pocock, 48, of undisclosed residence, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Pocock was arrested by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell in connection with an incident reported in Stafford at 11:38 p.m., June 18.  The specifics of the incident were not disclosed.  She was arraigned in Town of Stafford Court and released on her own recognizance.

Joel D. Prouty 36, of Bergen, is charged with strangulation 2nd, attempted assault 3rd, and petit larceny. Prouty is accused of fighting with a woman at 6:18 p.m., June 8, at a location on Oak Street, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.

Johnnie M. Waston, 39, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Watson is accused of returning to a local business on East Main Street, Batavia, at 5:54 p.m., June 13, after being barred from the business.

Megan A. Gregg, 28, of Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Gregg is accused of leaving prescription pills and drug paraphernalia in an area accessible to children at a residence on Ellsworth Avenue, Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Christopher P Thomas, 38, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Thomas turned himself into Batavia PD. The charges, not released, stem from an incident reported at 1 p.m., May 31.  He was processed and released.

Amanda L. Huber, 40, of Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Huber is accused of fighting in public at 7 a.m., June 3, at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Erik R. Motquin, 40, of Batavia is charged with disorderly conduct. Motquin is accused of fighting in public at 7 a.m., June 3, at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Tarrence Y. Williams, 22, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, harassment 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child., Williams was allegedly involved in an incident reported at 10:10 a.m., June 9, at a location on Porter Avenue, in which he had physical contact with a person who is subject of an order of protection while in the presence of a child. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.

McKenzie N. O’Connell, 19, of Batavia, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of child. O’Connell is accused of providing marijuana to two juveniles and allowing them to smoke the cannabis in her house. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Andrew J. Carr, 40, of Pavilion, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Carr was stopped at 2:12 a.m., June 11, on Harvester Avenue, Batavia, by a Batavia patrol officer. Carr was issued traffic tickets.

M. Compson Summerfield, 24, of Holley, is charged with DWI and reckless driving. Summerfield was stopped at 8:55 p.m., June 13, by State Police in the Town of Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Paula A. Kingdollar, 53, of Covington, is charged with petit larceny. Kingdollar is accused of a theft at 8:04 a.m., June 15, in the Town of Batavia.  She was arrested by State Police and released on an appearance ticket. No further information released.

Top photo: Photo of a head-on collision involving a Batavia patrol vehicle. Photo by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

A woman is reporting trouble breathing after an automobile accident at Broadway Road and Harlow Road, Darien.

There are also two possible neck injuries and a possible rib injury.

The accident is not blocking.

Darien Fire and Darien ambulance dispatched.

Healthy spirits and healthy bodies is part of the goal of a planned curbside eatery on Route 20 in Darien, according to leaders of Freedom Fellowship.

The non-profit organization is seeking a special use permit for the planned establishment, which did get the blessing of the County Planning Board last week. 

The restaurant will be called The Table Latin American Grill and serve salads, rice bowls, and burritos.

"Part of our program is to eat healthy," said John Kula. "We don't really have sugars or a lot of carbohydrates in our menu. It's a pretty basic menu."

The staff for the eatery will be people who are going through or have been through Freedom Fellowship's addiction recovery program, which the ministry has been operating at 254 Broadway Road for a decade.

There's no new construction planned for the project.  The ministry will use existing structures.

The addiction program helps people in a faith-based atmosphere deal with a range of addictions and related issues, such as depression and anger.

The restaurant is the latest non-profit business for the ministry, which already operates an auto repair shop and a print shop.  The work in these businesses helps raise money for the non-profit but it is also part of the recovery process.

"It's outpatient therapy, really, for a lot of people," said Joshua Klenke, an operations manager. "It shows them a different way of life beyond what they know."

One of the managers of the new restaurant is a former regional manager for Cracker Barrel.

"He had an alcohol problem," Kula said. "The program changed his life. The Lord changed his life. And now he's paying it forward with this. And it's a blessing."

Freedom Fellowship's second annual Car Show and Chicken BBQ begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. on June 25.  There is a basket raffle and prizes and awards for various classes of cars in the show.  The location is 254 Broadway Road, Darien Center.

A large diesel fuel spill is reported in the area of 258 Genesee Street, Darien.

Darien Fire and Corfu Fire dispatched.

A caller reported finding the spill.  The origin is unknown.

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Golden is accused of stealing a bicycle from a neighbor on East Main Street at 6:36 p.m., May 20. The bicycle was recovered and returned to its owner. Golden was issued an appearance ticket.

Arthur L. Golden, 63, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd. Golden is accused of attempting to assault one of his neighbors in an apartment complex at 4:15 a.m., May 26.  Golden was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance. He was issued an order of protection and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Luis Gilbert Torres, 42, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with assault 2nd, menacing 2nd, and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd.  Torres was arrested on June 1 in the Village of Le Roy. Information on his alleged offense was not released. he was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and ordered jailed on $20,000, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond.  

Julious "Fatboy" Murphy, 69, of Jerome Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd, and criminal possession of controlled substance 3rd. Murphy was arrested Sunday on a sealed Grand Jury indictment during a traffic stop by Batavia PD. Murphy is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agency of the Local Drug Task Force while in Batavia.  Murphy was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released under supervision.

Delonta Rashid Sharif Curry, 21, of Thomas Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Curry was stopped at 12:06 a.m., June 1, on Route 33 in Bergen, by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush. He was released on appearance tickets.

Logan Michael Biedrzycki, 19, Sunridge Drive, Rochester, is charged with three counts of reckless endangerment 1st, unlawful fleeing a police officer, acting in a manner injurious to a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless driving. Biedrzycki is accused of fleeing from Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush after the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop at 4:03 p.m., June 5, on Biedrzycki's vehicle. It's alleged there was a juvenile in the vehicle.  Biedrzycki was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and ordered to reappear on July 12.

Andrew Joseph Draper, 43, of Miller Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed driver, and inadequate headlights.  Draper was stopped at 11:26 p.m., Dec. 21, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Morgan Ewert.  Draper was arrested on June 6.  He was arraigned in City Court and ordered to reappear on June 29.

Jacqueline Patrice Olsen, 60, no address released, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding.  Olsen was stopped at 10:12 p.m., June 1, on Ellicott Street Road, Bethany, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. Olsen was ordered to appear in court on July 27.

Tarrence Y. Williams, 22, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd and two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd. Williams was arrested on June 9 as the result of an investigation by the Local Drug Task Force into the transportation, sale, and possession of crack cocaine in the City of Batavia. Williams was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Kimberly Ann Brodsky, 30, of County Complex Drive, Canandaigua, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th.  Brodsky is accused of stealing, in conjunction with an unidentified white male, merchandise from Kohl's Department Store at 7:46 p.m., May 25.  Brodsky was arrested by Deputy Andrew Mullen.  Brodsky is scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court on July 5.

Nikita N. Shook, 36, of Perry, is charged with petit larceny. Shook was arrested on a warrant in Wyoming Couty by State Police. The warrant was issued after an investigation by Batavia PD into an alleged theft on April 23. Shook is accused of stealing property from another person. Shook was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Mary I. Flick, 51, of Batavia, is charged with DWI/drugs, unlicensed operation, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Flick was arrested on a warrant by Batavia in relation to an incident on June 2. She was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Erica M. Raphael, 37, of Batavia, was arrested on a warrant.  Raphael was sentenced on the charges contained in the warrant. The charges were not specified in the release by Batavia. The sentence issued was not released by Batavia PD.

Alicia M. Lyons, 42 of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons is accused of entering a business she had previously been told not to enter at 12:46 p.m., May 28. Lyons was issued an appearance ticket.

Yasier A. Castro Rivera, 34, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal impersonation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd.  Castro Rivera was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer at 9:48 p.m., May 25, on Oak Street. Castro Rivera was issued an appearance ticket.

Dajuandrick C. Gardner, 45, of Batavia, is charged with bail jumping 2nd. Gardner is accused of failing to appear in court.  He was jailed without bail and ordered to return to court on June 16.

Robert J. Ritchey, 58, of Oakfield, is charged with forcible touching, sex abuse of a victim less than 13 years old, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. The alleged incident was reported at 10:04 a.m., April 5. This is a pending investigation.  Ritchey was arrested by State Police on June 8. He was ordered held.  No further details were released.

Dustin M. Locicero, 37, of Boliver, is charged with burglary and petit larceny. Locicero was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 8:56 p.m., June 5, in the Town of Darien.  He is also charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th and falsifying business records in connection with an incident reported at 11:47 a.m., June 6 at a location in the Town of Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.  No further information was released.

Joshua P. Martin, 38, of Basom, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd, two counts of criminal contempt 1st, and endangering the welfare of a child. Martin was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 7:27 p.m., June 8, in the Town of Batavia.  His release status is "cash bail."  No further details released.

A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported at Sumner Road and Fargo Road in Darien.

Injuries are reported.

A utility pole is damaged

Darien Fire and ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Two minor injuries. Mercy EMS requested to the scene non-emergency.

Andrew A. Searight, 35, of Batavia, and Jerrtonia A. Scarbrough, 24, of Batavia, are charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Searight and Scarbrough are accused of abandoning an animal in a cage for an extended period of time at a residence on Bank Street.  The incident was reported at 9:18 a.m., May 10. They were both issued an appearance ticket.

Angela N. Bennett, 24, of Strathmore Circle, Rochester, and Shamya I. Brown, 22, of Verona Street, Rochester, are charged with grand larceny 4th.  Bennett and Brown are accused of stealing $1,726.28 in merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods in Batavia at 1:10 p.m., May 23.  Deputies responded to a report of a larceny in progress and later located the suspect vehicle on River Street in the City of Batavia. Both were issued appearance tickets.  The case was handled by Investigator Erik Andre and Deputy Trevor Sherwood.

Brandon Charles Dodd, 35, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, and Trace Garrett Brewer, 21, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. Dodd and Brewer are accused of stealing air conditioner units from Walmart at 3:38 p.m., May 22. Dodd was also arrested by Batavia PD on petit larceny and conspiracy charges. He is accused of stealing several cans of Red Bull from a business on West Main Street at 10:52 p.m., May 5. Brewer is charged with conspiracy related to the same incident.

Jamian J. "Jay" Edwards, 38, of Lake Avenue, Rochester, is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd and criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd.  Edwards is accused of selling crack cocaine to an agent of the Drug Task Force in the City of Batavia. He was taken into custody on an arrest warrant while checking in with Monroe County Probation and turned over the Sheriff's Office.

Timothy Robert Nurmi, 30, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment 2nd.  The alleged incident was reported at 11:15 a.m., May 24, at a location on West Main Street, Le Roy. The charges are a misdemeanor and a violation. Nurmi was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court for the purpose of issuing an order of protection and released on his own recognizance.

Alexis Rae Kenyon, 28, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. The alleged incident was reported at 12:59 p.m., May 26, at a location on Church Street, Le Roy. Kenyon was released on her own recognizance.

Anthony Wade Travis, 59, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with bail jumping 2nd. Travis is accused of failing to appear as ordered in County Court on a felony charge. Travis was issued an appearance ticket.

Thomas William McCabe, III, 44, of Scio (no street address provided), is charged with attempt grand larceny 3rd, criminal mischief, aggravated unlicensed operation, and driver's view obstructed.  McCabe is accused of trying to steal Diamond C. equipment trailer in the Town of Darien at 1:15 a.m., May 21. He was arrested by Deputy Austin Heberlein.  He was released on an appearance ticket.

Marie Rachael Brown, 44, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Brown was stopped at 2:26 a.m., May 22, on Route 237, Stafford, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. She was released on traffic tickets.

David Carl Stephens, 56, of Prole Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd, obstructing governmental administration, and harassment 2nd.  Stephens is accused of violating an order of protection and of attempting to fight with deputies when they responded to a complaint at a residence at Prole Road, Stafford, at 3:48 p.m., May 23.

Terrence T. Freeman, 31, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Freeman is accused of refusing to leave a residence on Liberty Street at 10:16 p.m., May 14. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Anthony D. Underwood, 22, of Buffalo, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd, unlawful imprisonment 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Underwood was arrested by Batavia PD following an investigation into a disturbance reported at 6 p.m., May 16, on South Main Street, Batavia. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Zoro D. Reisman, 18, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Reisman is accused of stealing sausages from a business on Ellicott Street at 1:37 p.m., May 15. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Garrett L. Strickland, 30, of Medina, criminal contempt 2nd. Strickland was arrested on a warrant.

Crystal A. Mounts, 44, of Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. Mounts was wanted on six warrants out of City Court related to a series of crimes she is accused of committing within the calendar year. Mounts is accused of failing to appear on the charges on April 29. Mounts was arraigned in City Court and released.

Public online auction of a single family 2 bedroom residence located in Darien Center, NY. Situated on 1.4 country acres, this home features hardwood flooring in the living room, detached garage, deck overlooking a spacious yard, and a heated work room in the basement. There is still time to see this property before the bidding closes on May 24th. The auction is located at bontragerauction.com. View the auction, read terms and conditions, or bid here: https://bit.ly/3LiVBDb

Press release:

The Darien Alexander Townline Road Bridge, south of Attica Rd in the Towns of Darien and Alexander, will be closed beginning Monday, May 23, for a bridge replacement project. This locally administered federal aid project replaces the original short-span steel structure and abutments that dates to 1939 with new prestressed concrete hollow slab units and new abutments. The current bridge is posted for 12 tons and once replaced, the bridge will be open to full legal loads. This project is expected to take 3.5 months. During this time, the road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles.

A woman sustained serious injuries in Darien this evening when the car she was in left the roadway on Erie Street and struck a utility pole and a house before the operator attempted to drive away from the scene. 

He could only get his 2005 Toyota TC another 500 feet down the road before it stalled.

The driver, Michael J. Antonucci, 39, of Darien, and the other two passengers were not seriously hurt. In fact, one of them, with blood dripping down his face, declined medical attention at the scene and walked home.

Both rear passengers were pinned in the vehicle and could not self-extricate.  One of them was seriously injured and identified as Tanya L. Captain, 34, of Darien.

The other passengers were Shawn M. Kwiatek, 43, of Darien, and Steven N. Zink, 30, of Darien.

Captain was transported to Erie County Medical Center by Mercy Flight Central, which was filling in for Mercy Flight of WNY, presently standing down following a fatal accident earlier this week involving one of its helicopters.

At the time of her transport, Captain's injuries were considered life-threatening.  The Crash Management team responded to the scene because of the seriousness of the injuries to Captain.

"Right before she got loaded in a helicopter, she was talking with paramedics," said Sgt. Kyle Krzemien of Genesee County Sheriff's Office. "Right now we're still not 100 percent, but I would say for right now, we're just gonna go with life-threatening until we hear otherwise."

Krzemien said the vehicle was westbound on Erie Street when it crossed the double center line and hit an embankment before becoming airborne. The vehicle then struck a utility pole, shearing it from its base, and, because of the speed of the vehicle, continued southwest until it struck the front porch of a house at 1390 Erie St.  The driver then tried to drive out of the front yard of that house, going back East on Erie Street, and only getting 500 feet down the road before it stopped, the sergeant said. 

There was a power outage in the area that included the traffic signals at Route 20 and Route 77.  At the time of publication, 11 National Grid customers remained without power and power was not going to be restored before 4:30 a.m., according to National Grid.

Criminal charges are pending against Antonucci, according to the Sheriff's Office.  The investigation is ongoing.  

Darien Fire and Corfu Fire responded to the scene along with Mercy EMS.

(Initial Report)

Top photo: A car after it struck a utility pole and a home on Erie Street in Darien Sunday evening, the damage caused by the accident, and Mercy Flight Central removing one seriously injured woman from the scene. Photos by Howard Owens.