crime

Batavia's city Police Department released its statistics for 2007. The department saw an increase in overall calls for service, from 15,772 in 2006 to 17,707 in 2007. Here are some of the detailed statistics (all comparisons are between 2006 and 2007 totals):

• Emergency 911 calls increased from 6,432 to 6,519.
• Major (part one) crimes fell from 696 to 509. ("Part one" crimes include: larceny, burglary, robbery, motor vehicle theft, assault, murder, rape and manslaughter.)
• The overall crime rate dropped from 4,405 to 3,222.
• Motor vehicle accidents were about the same with 493 in 2007, while traffic arrests increased from 1,582 to 2,212: DWI arrests went up from 55 to 72 and parking tickets issued increased from 1,395 to 1,595.
• While the total number of juvenile complaints increased to 280, the number of cases decreased to 175. (Exact 2006 figures were not given.)

City detectives had fewer investigations in 2007, down from 482 to 422, likely the result of changes in the "staffing levels" in the Detective Bureau, according to the release. Detective investigated cases had a clearance rate of about 50.5 percent for 2007.

Police Blotter for Thursday, June 12:

• 12:45am, 111 Liberty St., harassment
• 8:38am, 136 W. Main St., accident
• 9:05am, 110 Ellsworth Ave. (Apt: Upper), larceny
• 11:53am, Ellicott Ave., accident
• 12:43pm, 111 Liberty St. (Apt. H), criminal mischief
• 4:10pm, Ross St., harassment
• 4:14pm, Linwood Ave., accident
• 5:31pm, 229 W. Main St., accident
• 5:49pm, Jefferson Ave., harassment
• 9:59pm, 149 Ross St., harassment

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Tuesday:

• 12:09am, 35 Walnut St., burglary
• 1:42am, 390 W. Main St., trespass
• 2:12am, 127 North St., trespass
• 6:54am, 15 Maple St., larceny
• 7:19am, 9 S. Lyon St., accident
• 7:44am, 505 E. Main St., larceny
• 9:16am, 211 W. Main St., larceny
• 2:11pm, Cedar St., trespass
• 2:27pm, 115 Jackson St., larceny
• 4:07pm, Bank St., accident
• 6:13pm, 565 E. Main St., accident
• 10:47pm, Holland Ave., harassment

Wednesday:

• 10:43am, Ellicott St., accident
• 12:58pm, 117 Liberty St., possession of a controlled substance
• 9:18pm, Richmond Ave., larceny
• 10:13pm, 136 W. Main St., harassment
• 11:13pm, 10 W. Main St., harassment

Thursday:

• 9:21am, 34 Clinton St., larceny
• 11:01am, Jefferson Ave., larceny
• 12:39pm, 14 Trumbull Pkwy., harassment
• 2:25pm, Liberty St., accident
• 2:38pm, Oak St., accident
• 2:50pm, 390 W. Main St., forgery
• 4:42pm, Court St., accident
• 5:30pm, 229 Ellicott St., accident
• 6:34pm, 19 Ross St., larceny
• 8:08pm, 127 North St., accident
• 8:46pm, 6 East Ave., accident

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Police Blotter for Wednesday, June 11:

• Genesee County sheriff's deputies charged a Batavia driver with a felony count of aggravated driving while intoxicated last night. Arron L. Zimblis, 44, of 114 Vine St. (Lower), Batavia, was driving on Putnam Road in the town of Bethany when deputies allege that he failed to stop for a stop sign, left the road and drove about 100 feet into a field before coming to a stop.
• A Tennesee man was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment following an investigation by city police into an incidedent on January 31. Police were told that 33-year-old Jason T. McLain made several harassing phone calls that day. McLain posted his $200 bail and will return to City Court later this month.
• Another city police investigation yielded an arrest. In this case, a Batavia man was alleged to have damaged a door and spit at another person at a home on Ross Street in May. Ronnie J. Sumeriski II, 26, of 101 Jackson St., was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment.
• Twenty-two-year-old Alicia M. Warney, of Holley, faces a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny, city police said. Warney is accused of stealing several thousand dollars worth of property from a former roommate when Warney moved out of the apartment.

Note: All of the above arrests were reported in published releases from the departments.

Police Blotter for Tuesday, June 10:

• Larry R. Brewer, 42, of 117 1/2 Liberty St., Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant for second-degree menacing yesterday afternoon, city police said. At the time of arrest, Brewer was also charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was sent to Genesee County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
• Christopher M. Dilaura, 28, of 34 Cedar St., Batavia, was charged with violating and order of protection and sent to jail in lieu of $1,000 bail, city police said.
• Raymond L. Leach, Jr., 51, of 29 Montclair Ave., Batavia, was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Deputies were told that Leach made a threatening phone call.

Note: All of the above arrests were taken from published releases from the departments.

City of Batavia police issued three reports of arrests this morning.

• Richard J. Zawicki, 30, of 145 Hutchins St., Batavia, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child yesterday morning. According to the report, Zawicki allegedly got into an argument with a child that "escalated into a physical confrontation."
• Tara L. Hall, 29, of 11 S. Lyon St., Batavia was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing yesterday morning. Hall allegedly gave police a false statement following an investigation in accident.
• Willie J. Thomas, 32, of 5 Raymond Ave., Batavia, was charged with forcible touching last night following a police investigation into reports that Thomas had inappropriately touched "a female acquaintance" Sunday. Thomas was sent to Genesee County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.

Friday:

• 1:08am, 2 Fisher Park (Apt: Upper), trespass
• 8:12am, 301 North St., criminal tampering
• 8:27am, West Main Street, accident
• 1:36pm, 1 Kingsbury Ave., harassment
• 10:21pm, 10 W. Main St., harassment

Saturday:

• 4:20am, 131 Summit St., criminal mischief
• 11:51am, 577 E. Main St., larceny
• 12:07pm, West Main Street, accident
• 2:07pm, 419 W. Main St., larceny
• 4:08pm, Washington Avenue, accident
• 5:25pm, 6 Lewis Place, trespass
• 8:50pm, 10 Fisher Park, assault

Sunday:

• 3:35am, East Main Street, accident
• 9:36am, East Avenue, accident
• 9:59am, 23 Holland Ave., larceny
• 12:51pm, 278 Bank St., trespass
• 3:50pm, 50 Chandler Ave., larceny
• 7:36pm, 27 Central Ave., harassment

(Received in a fax from the police department): Cynthia S. Hopkins, 25, of Silver Lake, was charged with driving while intoxicated early Sunday, city police said. Hopkins allegedly hit another vehicle at East Main and Swan streets and left the scene. She was also ticketed with failure to yield right of way and leaving the scene.

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

When Batavia police found out that a 15-year-old boy was meeting men online, then in person to have sex, Det. Todd Crossett went undercover, posing as a 14-year-old to catch two of the suspects. The second of those men, Rochester resident Anthony Sloan, pleaded guilty earlier this week. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Det. Crossett sat down with us earlier today to talk about his undercover experience and give some advice for parents of younger children.

(Note: Det. Crosset couldn't talk in too much detail about the chat sessions with the men for fear of alerting other potential suspects to his and other investigators' methods.)

Police Blotter for Thursday, June 5:

• 9:01am, 208 Elm St., aggravated harassment
• 12:04pm, 10 Jefferson Square, counterfeiting

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

One Batavia man is in the hospital with serious injuries, another in the custody of Genesee County sheriff's deputies, following an accident between a car and a motorcycle last night in the town of Batavia.

54-year-old William Herrington III, of 7926 Slusser Road, was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital after his motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of Route 5 and Powers Road, according to deputies. Herrington is being treated for a cervical spine fracture, a laceration to his spine and multiple facial fractures.

Deputies believe that the driver of the car, 37-year-old Kenneth G. Scinta Jr., of 3207 Pratt Road Lot #70, had tried to make a left turn onto Powers Road without yielding the right of way to Herrington. Scinta was charged with felony first-degree vehicular assault and two misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and aggraveted DWI. He was also ticketed with failing to yield the right of way.

Scinta is in sehriff's custody without bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court today at 10:30am.

Herrington was reported in "guarded" condition this morning at 9:00am.

The accident is still under investigation.

Police blotter for Wednesday, June 4:

• 10:47am, 105 Washington Ave. (Apt: Side), larceny
• 12:47pm, 381 Bank St., accident
• 9:56pm, 419 W. Main St., larceny

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Police Blotter for Tuesday, June 3:

• 6:22am, 317 Ellicott St. Apt: 4, burglary
• 3:29pm, 23 Harvester Ave., aggravated harassment
• 3:47pm, Court Street, accident
• 5:31pm, 20 N. Spruce St. Apt: A2, larceny
• 5:35pm, 218 State St., trespass
• 5:44pm, 8 S. Main St., harassment
• 7:18pm, 204 W. Main St., harassment

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

30-year-old Jonathan J. Connolly, of Darien, was sent to Genesee County Jail last night pending $1,000 cash bail and facing three charges and potentially more.

Conolly was accused of throwing a beer bottle at an on-coming vehicle on Sumner Road, causing damage. He was charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal mischief and two violations: consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle and throwing refuse on the highway.

Genesee County sheriff's deputies said that more charges may be pending.

Check out WBTA for this and other stories:

• Ellicott Street resident Desiree Moore, 37, was charged with menacing and disorderly conduct. Police were told that Moore had allegedly threatened to shoot his girlfriend with an air gun.

Police Blotter for Monday:

• 6:58am, 18 Thorpe St. (Lower Apt), trespass
• 7:37am, Oak Street, accident
• 11:58am, 376 Bank St., burglary
• 12:14pm, 111 Liberty St. (Lower Apt), identity theft
• 1:25pm, 8315 Park Rd., counterfeiting
• 3:24pm, 21 Wood St., larceny
• 7:48pm, 36 Elm St., harassment
• 8:57pm, Maple Street, harassment
• 10:06pm, 127 North St., assault

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

From the Daily News (Tuesday):

• Batavia's Board of Education appointed Shawn M. Clark as principal of Jackson Elementary School last night. Clark will begin July 1 at a salary of $80,000. For a short bio of Clark, see the article by Joanne Beck.
• At the same meeting, the board also looked at switching from paper agendas to a digital version accessed via laptop computers. The decision is still some time out, but the change could save about 200 pages per board member per meeting if it goes through.
• Reporter Scott DeSmit writes that Rochester resident "Anthony E. Sloan, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct. The conviction carries a manadatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison." Sloan was one of four men indicted for becoming involved over the Internet with the same 15-year-old boy from Genesee County, "who investigators said actively searched for adult men on an Internet Web site."
• With a little help from the clubs of Batavia's Mike Spiotta, the Section 5 golf team took home the state title, beating Section 11 by 14 strokes. It's the first title for the section in 31 years. Congratulations!

For the complete stories, the Daily News is available on local newsstands, or you can subscribe on BataviaNews.com.

Thursday:

1. 11:53am, 25 Liberty St., trespass
2. 12:57pm, 5130 E. Main St., possession of controlled substance
3. 4:50pm, 111 Liberty St., harassment
4. 8:21pm, 15 McKinley Ave., trespass
5. 9:33pm, 10 W. Main St., harassment
6. 10:30pm, 72 Birchwood Dr., harassment
7. 11:09pm, 30 Cedar St., harassment

Friday:

1. 1:23pm, 657 Ellicott St., larceny
2. 7:36pm, 17 Holland Ave., harassment
3. 8:10pm, 390 W. Main St., larceny

Saturday:

1. 1:01am, 390 W. Main St., larceny
2. 9:35am, 52 Tracey Ave., criminal mischief
3. 8:46pm, 27 Spencer Court, harassment
4. 9:18pm, 161 Bank St., trespass
5. 10:36pm, 214 E. Main St., trespass

Sunday:

1. 4:37pm, 312 Ellicott St., harassment
2. 5:22pm, 99 Jackson St., larceny
3. 6:43pm, 10 W. Main St., harassment
4. 10:58pm, 18 Thorpe St., trespass

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

Genesee County Sheriff's deputies got into a tussle with a suspect Saturday night outside the man's home in Batavia. Fifty-six-year-old William G. Horner, of 8013 Bank Street Road, allegedly shoved and kicked deputies when they tried to arrest him around 8:30pm Saturday based on reports that Horner had chased someone with a knife earlier that night. Horner was charged with second-degree menacing, resisting arrest and two counts of second-degree harassment. He was sent to Ontario County Jail on $1,000 cash bail.

Check out WBTA for these and other stories:

• After ten interviews over the phone, four candidates for the position of city police chief will come in for personal interviews with City Manager Jason Molino, who told WBTA that he hoped to have the position filled within the next month. Meanwhile, an ad was posted this week for a new fire chief.

• "A Batavia couple has separate cells in county jail this morning," says Dan Fischer. Police say that 22-year-old Ryan Krupp took prescription drugs from his girlfriend's apartment.  She didn't like that he was arrested and got belligerent with police. Now, she's in jail, too. No mention of the charges.

From the Daily News (Wednesday):

• Randall J. Peterson, 22, of Rochester was sentenced to 12 years in state prison Tuesday in Genesee County Court. Peterson was one of four men involved in the shooting death of 23-year-old Desean Gooch in October, 2006. He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery.

• Reporter Roger Muehlig writes: "Genesee County's Republican Committee is set to endorse Stephen M. Hawley for re-election to the state Assembly this year." The committee meets Thursday night. Hawley has already served one two-year term in the 139th District.

• Construction has begun on the Lowe's home improvement store off Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia. Representatives have said they do not know when it will be finished. The nearby Target should be completed by July.

• Officials with Creamy Creation and O-AT-KA Milk Products dedicated the new Creamy Creation's 5,000-square-foot facility in Batavia Tuesday. Reporter Matt Surtel writes: "Creamy Creation is part of the Netherlands-based Campina, which is one of Europe's largest dairy cooperatives. The company was started in 1979, and moved its U.S. office from Wisconsin to Batavia in 1999." Creamy Creations produces creme liqueurs and nutritional beverages, among other products.

• Reporter Scott DeSmit writes: "Phillip E. Kroft Jr., 20, was charged with first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and petit larceny, police Detective Todd Crossett said. Kroft is accused of stealing a cell phone from a woman ... in the early summer of last year." When the woman tried to get her phone back, Kroft allegedly punched her in the stomach, wearing brass knuckles, police told DeSmit. Kroft also faces unrelated charges of rape.

For the complete stories, the Daily News is available on local newsstands, or you can subscribe on BataviaNews.com.