Stafford

I should have posted these photos earlier today but got sidetracked or something.  I took the top photo on the drive home from Rochester yesterday on Route 33.  The bottom photo is from Indian Falls by Joanne Meiser.

Tylur Tyshawn Harper, 27, of Byron Holley Road, Byron, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and criminal obstruction of breathing. Harper is accused of breaking the rear window of a vehicle and applied pressure to the throat of another person during a disturbance at a location on Swamp Road in Byron at 10:42 p.m., Wednesday.  Harper allegedly fled the scene on foot following a traffic stop by Deputy David Moore and was later located by Sgt. Mathew Clor and Trooper Ruckdaschel and Trooper Serio  on Byron Holley Road with the help of tracking from  Swamp Road by Batavia PD Officer Stephen Quider and K-9 "Batu."  Harper was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court with an order of protection issued.  Harper was released on his own recognizance.

Elizabeth Christine Lambert, 26, of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Lambert was stopped at 10:42 p.m., Wednesday, on Swamp Road, by Deputy David Moore.

Wendy Marie Rivera, 56, of Redwood Avenue, Albion, is charged with stalking 4th and harassment 2nd. Rivera is accused of stalking and harassing another person while following that person in a car on Clinton Street Road in Stafford.  Rivera was located and arrested by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

Daniel Joseph Davis, 55, of Hollymount Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, reckless endangerment, improper passing, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to obey police officer, speed not reasonable and prudent for conditions, and moving from lane unsafely. It's alleged that Davis tried to avoid a traffic safety checkpoint by leaving his lane of travel and proceeding into the oncoming traffic lane nearly striking law enforcement officers and then fleeing the checkpoint before being stopped by a patrol vehicle a short distance from the checkpoint on  Clinton Street Road, Stafford. Davis was arraigned in Town of Stafford Court and released on his own recognizance.

Katie Lee Winnie, 27, of Martin Road, Akron, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Winnie was located at 3:06 a.m., July 8, on South Lake Road, Bergen, by Deputy David Moore, after the Sheriff's Office received a complaint of a woman slumped over the wheel of a vehicle parked at a convenience store.  Winnie was arrested this week after the office received the results of a lab test.  She was released on an appearance ticket.

There were no gunshots fired yesterday evening following a traffic stop near Mill Road on State Route 33 in Stafford after the driver ran into a cornfield -- either by the suspect or by law enforcement.

What was initially reported as gunfire turned out to be a wildlife scare cannon -- it emits loud blasts fueled by propane -- to deter birds and other wildlife from damaging crops.

The incident began at 6:04 p.m. when Howard Owens, publisher on  The Batavian, reported a silver Pontiac sedan heading west on Clinton Street Road being driven in an erratic manner.  

Near Mill Road, a Deputy was positioned in a laneway in a farm field waiting for the vehicle to pass.

The deputy initiated a  traffic stop across from a  sweet-corn-for-sale stand and a cornfield. As soon as the sedan stopped, the driver bolted from the vehicle and ran south into the cornfield.  The deputy initiated a foot pursuit but backed off when he reportedly saw the suspect remove a handgun from his waistband.

The deputy detained a female passenger in the vehicle,  placing her in handcuffs and returning her to the vehicle.

At that moment, there was a muffled boom, and Owens and the deputy took cover behind their respective vehicles.  The deputy reported, "shots fired."

Over the next 15 minutes or so an additional three blasts were heard.  During that time additional deputies and Batavia police officers arrived on the scene and Route 33 was closed in both directions. Owens was then evacuated from the scene by two deputies in a patrol vehicle.

Over the next few hours, additional law enforcement arrived from Monroe County and the State Police.  SWAT units on scene included one from Monroe County, one from the State Police, and the Genesee County Emergency Response Team. The DEC K-9 unit also responded.

Law enforcement had a preliminary identification of the suspect based on statements from the female passenger. 

The NYSP Aviation Unit helicopter was dispatched to assist and it coordinated with NYSP drone operators to search the area.  Also assisting were the Monroe County Sheriff's Office drone operators.

The suspect was located shortly after 11:20 p.m. in an area about one mile to the northeast of the original location near Westbrook  Road. He was attempting to seclude himself in a wooded area.

He was taken into custody without further incident. 

Law enforcement did recover a handgun during a search of the area where the suspect had initially fled. 

Taken into custody was Arthur J. Brown, 44, of Lake Street, Le Roy.  He was charged with:

• Criminal possession of a weapon 2nd
• Menacing a police officer
• Tampering with physical evidence
• Obstruction of governmental administration 2nd
• Criminal  possession of a controlled substance 7th
• Driving while impaired by drugs
• Failure to keep right

Brown was arraigned in Town of Stafford Court and jailed without bail.

The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Breanna A. Smith, 29, of Lexington Avenue, Rochester. Smith reportedly had an active warrant in Florida but Flordia officials declined to extradite Smith.  She was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and issued an appearance ticket.

Top Photo: Sweet corn sign this morning at the incident location.

Previously: BREAKING NEWS: Shots fired after vehicle stopped on Route 33, near Mill Road

Smith being taken into custody just after the driver fled and just before the first blast was heard.

I've been driving through Stafford in the evenings a lot recently and every time I pass the barn on Griswold Road off Clinton Street Road,  I wish I had my camera with me.  Yesterday evening, I time my trip for sunset and had my camera with me.

I took the photo above last night after stopping to buy some sweet corn off Route 33 in Stafford.

Below, sunset in Alabama by Joanne Meiser.

Members of the Stafford Country Club opened a 25-year-old time capsule as part of the club's year-long centennial celebration.

Water had gotten into the capsule but it was filled with memorabilia from 1996 when Tiger Woods ruled the golf world -- among the items in the box was a magazine with Woods on the cover.  Other items included documents of events from 1996 and the history of the club along with a restaurant menu.

Top two photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service. 

Pictured above, Jim Owen, Country Club member,  Mike McCarthy Pres. Stafford Country Club, Pat Garnish, Chair of Stafford Country Club Centennial Committee, Ralph Garnish, Auctioneer, Candice Bower, Centennial Committee member, Mari -Ellen Lamont, Centennial Committee member/photographer. 

Photos below by Mari-Ellen Lamont

Members of the Batavia Society of Artists participated Tuesday evening in a Plein Air painting exhibition at the Stafford Country Club.  

The artists spread out over the golf course to paint various landscapes of the club.  The event was organized by club member Mari-Ellen Lamont as part of the club's 100th Anniversary Celebration.

The paintings will be sold at auction to benefit Stafford Country Club Scholarship Fund.

Thomas Matthew Bergman, 22, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Bergman is accused of touching the intimate parts of a female Uber driver at 12:49 a.m., Aug. 1, at the Relax Inn on Park Road, Batavia.  Bergman was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance. 

Karrie Morrow, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a substance 7th. Morrow's car was reportedly stopped at 1:15 a.m. on East Avenue on July 31 by Officer John Gombos.  Police say K-9 "Batu" alerted on Murrow's purse on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The purse allegedly contained "illegal contraband." Morrow was processed at the jail and issued an appearance ticket.

Luis Santiago-Arroyo, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Santiago-Arroyo allegedly violated an order of protection by calling the protected party.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Alex Dumbleton, 28, of Batavia, was arrested in Rochester on three bench warrants out of Batavia and for failing to appear as directed on one arrest warrant. The arrest warrant was for alleged burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Dumbleton was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on bail pending his next court appearance on Aug. 25.

Carlene Mahoney, 59, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Mahoney allegedly took produces from a store on Ellicott Street without paying on July 28. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Brittany Lynn Bolton, 21, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with petit larceny. Bolton is accused of stealing $293.80 in merchandise from Walmart in the Town of Batavia.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Joseph Michael Dispenza, 27, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment 2nd. Dispenza was allegedly involved in an altercation with two people outside the Autozone at 8347 Lewiston Road, Batavia.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Carl Eugene Goodman, 34, of Main Street, Yorkshire, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Goodman allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection by calling the protected party multiple times for no legitimate purpose. Goodman was issued an appearance ticket.

Teresa Marie Stephenson, 31, of Cedar Street, Batavia, and Justin Thomas Stephenson, 36, of Cedar Street, Batavia, are charged with trespass.  Teresa and Justin are accused of being inside a building on Bethany Center Road Bethany, at 2:54 a.m., Aug. 6, without permission.  Both defendants were issued appearance tickets.

Anthony L. Vanelli, 43, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Vanelli was arrested by State Police in the Town of Batavia at 6:10 p.m., July 28. No further details were released. He was issued an appearance tick.

A Batavia resident figures he missed being involved in a serious accident by one second with a car "easily going 100 mph" on Bank Street Road yesterday.

"(The car) had to swerve towards college road," David Austin told The Batavian in an email. "I thought for sure he was going to wipe out but he corrected and I could hear him accelerate. Scared me more than I have ever been. If I would have made that turn 1 second later I probably wouldn't be here."

The alleged driver of that car was James Matthew Lepore, 23, of Rio Grande Drive, North Chili.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Lepore failed to stop for a deputy who spotted his car exceeding the 55 mph speed limit on Route 33 in Stafford.  The deputy pursued and the car continued into the Town of Batavia and then into the city before heading north on Route 98.  There law enforcement successfully deployed a spike strip and the car was forced to a halt.

According to the arrest report, Lepore "recklessly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death by unlawfully fleeing a deputy in a motor vehicle and intentionally went into the opposite lane of travel causing other motorists to swerve out of the way to avoid a head-on collision, all while traveling at speeds in excess of 90 to 100 mph."

After the stop, Lepore was allegedly found in possession of an unregistered firearm and a controlled substance. 

Lepore is charged with:

• Reckless endangerment in the first degree
• Criminal possession of a firearm
• Unlawful fleeing a police officer in the third degree
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th
• Speed in excess of 55 mph
• Plus, 21 traffic offenses.

Lepore was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and under terms of bail reform released on his own recognizance.

The lead investigators in the case are Deputy Travis DeMuth and Investigator Kevin Forsyth.  Assisting in the incident were Sgt. Andrew Hale, Investigator Howard Carlson, Investigator Joseph Loftus, Investigator Ryan DeLong, Deputy Kyle Krzemien, Deputy Josh Brabon, Deputy Kyle Tower, Deputy Andrew Mullen with K-9 "Frankie," members of Batavia PD and the State Police.

A grass field fire covering about an acre erupted at about 11:37 a.m. in Stafford at Sweetland and Roanoke roads. It was moving toward a house.

Stafford Fire Command called for mutual aid from Le Roy, which was just wrapping up a response to a vent fire at a business and an accident in front of Le Roy's Tops. Byron also responded.

The fire was knocked down but then hot spots flared up and had to be snuffed out. 

A farmer helped by plowing a furrow around the blaze to help contain it.

Stafford and Byron went back in service at 12:56 p.m.

Photos by Glenn Adams.

Clyde Davonta Hoskins Jr., 29, of Genesee Street, Buffalo, is charged with: criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree -- a loaded firearm; criminal possession of a stolen property in the fourth degree -- a firearm; and tampering with physical evidence. On Tuesday, July 13, Hoskins was arrested after an investigation into a loaded pistol being located in a chicken coop at midnight on Aug. 8, 2020 on Route 237 in the Town of Stafford. He was arraigned in Stafford Town Court at 1:20 p.m. yesterday and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due to return to Stafford Town Court on Aug. 12. The case was investigated by Genesee County Sheriff's Investigator Kevin P. Forsyth.

Brian Michael Raphael, 33, of East Main Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. At 3:45 p.m. on July 12, Raphael was arrested after being located by Genesee County Sheriff's deputies after fleeing Walmart. He allegedly stole merchandise from the store. He was processed at the jail and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Town of Batavia Court on July 20. The case was handled by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

A mailbox is reportedly on fire in the area of 5976 Clinton Street Road, Stafford.

The caller was a passerby and said the location was between Westbrook Road and Mill Road.

Stafford fire is dispatched.

UPDATE 11:10 p.m.: A second caller reports the location is at former Oderkirk Farm. A chief just arriving on scene confirms a mailbox on fire.

UPDATE 11:13 p.m.: The fire is out.

An Amazon van and another vehicle are reportedly involved in a collision at Griswold Road and Caswell Road in Stafford.

One person is complaining of head pain.

The vehicles are not blocking traffic. One is in a ditch.

Stafford fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Kaleb James Bobzien, 23, of Alexander Road, Batavia, is charged with: second-degree strangulation; two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing; and endangering the welfare of a child under age 17. Bobzien was arrested at 8 p.m. June 24 on Alexander Road in Batavia after an incident in which he allegedly obstructed the breathing of two victims, including one juvenile. During an altercation with the two victms, Bobzien is alleged to have placed a blanket over the face of one victim while choking the second victim with his arm. One victim reported an injury to her neck as a result of the choking. Following an investigation, Bobzien was arrested and put in Genesee County Jail with no bail. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Deputy Jacob Gauthier, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

David Thomas Gay, 40, of Ellicott Street, Batavia is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree; second-degree obstruction of governmental administration; resisting arrest; and speeding -- exceeding 55 mph; and refusal to take a breath test. On June 30 at 8:36 p.m., Gay was arrested on Byron Road in Stafford after Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush tried to stop Gay's vehicle on Route 33 for allegedly violating NYS vehicle and traffic law. Gay eventually stopped a few miles away on Byron Road. It is alleged that Gay was intoxicated and that he resisted arrest. Gay was transported to GC Jail, where he allegedly fought with officers. He was released with appearance tickets and is due in Stafford Town Court on July 9. Quackenbush was assisted by Deputy Jacob Gauthier in this case.