Hit-and-Run Accident Reveals Trove of Prescription Drugs, Prescription Pads and Drug Paraphernalia

A hit-and-run accident resulted in the arrest of a man and a woman who were found with numerous prescriptions for controlled substances and prescription pads in their car on Feb. 5. At approximately 12 noon, police were called to Post and Crane Roads, on the report of a hit-and-run accident involving a 2010 Honda that allegedly rear-ended a 2007 Subaru. After getting out of his car to inspect the damage from the accident, the Honda driver – Anthony J. Melendez, 27, of New York City – switched seats with his passenger – Hershey P. Delapaz, 29, of Scarsdale – and they fled the scene. Police caught up with the damaged Honda on Chase Road and initiated a traffic stop. Delapaz was driving. Neither she nor Melendez was able to produce their license, and police soon discovered that both had been suspended. In Melendez's case, his license had been suspended twice – for possession and sale of drugs and for administrative reasons. While Delapaz was looking for her license in her purse, police noticed a prescription pad sticking out of an interior purse pocket in plain view. Questioned about the pad, Delapaz stated, "I work there and have to give prescriptions to my patients, like B12." Additionally, Melendez was found to be carrying a prescription pad in his coat pocket. A further search of the car uncovered a prescription bottle assigned to Delapaz as the patient, prescription bottles in other patients' names (including an empty bottle of 90 Oxycodone pills that had been filled on Feb. 1), several prescriptions for various medications written to people with different names, dozens of used blood vials, used butterfly needles (commonly used to draw blood) and used blood vials containing residual blood from unknown people, and a large bag of medical supplies. The medical supplies included latex gloves, rubber topped blood collection vials, butterfly needles and bandages. The Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps was called to pick up the new and used medical supplies and dispose of them through proper hazmat procedures. Police contacted the doctors' names listed on the various prescriptions and requested supporting depositions.

After consulting with the district attorney's office, Delapaz and Melendez were each arrested on the following charges: criminal possession of a forged instrument, fraud and deceit related to controlled substances, criminal possession of a hypodermic needle and third-degree unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle. Delapaz and Melendez were arraigned in Scarsdale Village Justice Court. Bail was set at $30,000 for Delapaz and $50,000 for Melendez. Unable to post bail, the pair was transported to Westchester County Jail. They are each due back in court on Feb. 11.

Cat custody
On Feb. 3, a woman asked police to help her retrieve her cat from a neighbor. She said her cat had wandered into a neighbor's yard, and the neighbor decided to keep the cat. Police advised the issue was a civil matter, and they could not repossess the cat. The woman asked police to stand by while she attempted to retrieve the cat, in case of a potential altercation. The woman called her neighbor and peacefully picked up the cat. Patrol advised the woman to consult with ASPCA police to inquire about avenues by which she could prosecute her neighbor.

Snow woes
Two White Road men who share a driveway were arguing about snow removal Feb. 2. One man, who already shoveled his side of the driveway, accused the other man of intentionally blowing snow onto his cleared side of the driveway. Police noted there seemed to be an even amount of snow dispersed across the driveway and advised the men their dispute was a civil matter.

Sheldrake Road neighbors were arguing about the alleged placement of snow on each other's property during snow removal efforts Feb. 2. Police advised the neighbors to resolve their differences or leave each other alone.

A Post Road resident's car got stuck in snow on the street outside his house Feb. 3. Police helped with traffic control while the man worked to get his car out of the snow.

No parking
A Bell Road man called police because a van, associated with work at a neighbor's house, was parked on the man's side of their shared driveway for more than 20 minutes Feb. 3. Police mediated the situation.

Wrong delivery
A UPS driver delivered an envelope to a Cornell Street house and left the envelope in the resident's mailbox Feb. 2. Soon thereafter, a U.S. postal worker removed the envelope from the mailbox and refused to return it to the driver. Police called a U.S. Postal Service supervisor to the scene, as the dispute involved a question about whether it was legal for UPS drivers to deliver packages and envelopes to mailboxes of private homes. The supervisor said he would investigate the question and speak with the UPD driver's regional supervisor. Police determined this was a corporate issue that would be handled internally.

Who's in charge?
A mother called police for help with her unruly child Feb. 5. Patrol arrived at the house and spoke with the child about the importance of behaving well and listening to his mother. The mother thanked police for the assistance.

Paint job
On Feb. 5, a Wildwood Road resident told police he was unhappy with a painter's work and fired him from the job. Shortly thereafter, the painter began placing "annoying phone calls" to the resident. The painter was asking to be paid for work already performed at the resident's house. The painter allegedly threatened the resident for not paying. Police called the painter and advised him to stop calling the resident. The painter was instructed to pursue claims for his outstanding bill in civil court. The painter told police he needed to go back to the house to pick up tools that had been left at the house. Police advised the painter to call them for assistance, should he return to the house for tools. The resident denied there were any tools left in the house. Police advised the resident to call them if the painter showed up at the house looking for money.

Welfare check
At the request of a family member who was concerned about an exchange of text messages, police checked the welfare of a man at 2:30 a.m., Feb. 6. The man was home and OK.

Cars and roadways
February 2: Police put caution tape on a low-hanging wire on Leatherstocking Lane. Dispatch notified Verizon.

Police asked several drivers to remove their parked cars from village streets in order to facilitate snow removal.

Police issued tickets to cars parked overnight at metered parking spaces in village center. These cars were hindering snow removal.

A car stalled on Heathcote Road, and AAA said they were too busy to respond quickly. At the driver's request, police called Heathcote Gulf for assistance.

Police advised construction workers to refrain from parking too close to the intersection of Cushman and Mamaroneck Roads

February 4:  Two drivers were arguing over the way in which one driver parked her car on Garth Road. Police advised the arguers to stay away from each other to avoid further incidents.

February 6: Police removed pieces of wood from the intersection of Griffen Avenue and Weaver Street.

A neighbor parked her car in an East Taunton Road woman's driveway without notifying the woman. Police tracked down the neighbor, and she moved her car.

February 7: Police put caution tape on a fallen wire on Johnson Road. Dispatch notified Verizon.

February 8: Cooper Road party guests parked their cars on both sides of the street, impeding the flow of traffic. Patrol asked the guests to move their cars to one side of the road, and they complied.

Eight car accidents were reported in the village and on parkways this week.

Raccoon
Police removed a dead raccoon from Post Road, near Lorraine Place, Feb. 4. The sanitation department was notified for pickup.

Lost and found
The owner of La Dentelliere found car keys on her store on East Parkway and gave them to police Feb. 3. Police vouchered the keys at headquarters for safekeeping.

A woman reported losing her wallet in Starbuck's on East Parkway Feb. 3. It contained an expired driver's license, one credit card and approximately $60 cash. Police advised the woman to cancel her credit card and monitor her finances.

Fire
Firefighters helped Con Edison workers check a Barry Road house for possible gas infiltration after a gas reading was detected on the street outside the house Feb. 2.

A malfunctioning oil burner released carbon monoxide in a Sprague Road house Feb. 2. Firefighters shut off the burner, ventilated the house and called Con Edison.

A delayed ignition of a stovetop burner caused a slight natural gas odor in a Stratton Road house Feb. 2. Firefighters advised the resident to call for service.

On Feb. 2, firefighters assisted Con Edison workers with a possible gas leak in the sewer system at Barry and Nelson roads.

A radon ventilation fan was making unusual noises in a Corell Road house Feb. 2. Firefighters advised the resident to service the fan.

A frozen pipe burst in a Springdale Road garage. Firefighters shut water to the affected line and recommended calling for service Feb. 3.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a problem with natural gas delivery to a Mamaroneck Road heating unit Feb. 6.

Firefighters helped Con Edison workers check Haverford Road houses for possible gas migration from a leak on the street Feb. 6.

An employee of the Scarsdale Alternative School accidentally burnt toast inside the building, on Wayside Lane, Feb. 6. Firefighters responded to the activated alarm and ventilated the building.

Food residue burned in a toaster oven at Scarsdale Public Library Feb. 6. A smoky odor spread throughout the building, causing evacuation of staff and patrons. Firefighters removed the toaster oven and recommended replacing it. They ventilated the building and declared it safe for re-entry.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of an outdoor natural gas odor on Stratton Road Feb. 6.

The compressor of a refrigerator from 1977 was malfunctioning and causing an electrical burning odor in a Marjory Lane house Feb. 7. Firefighters unplugged the refrigerator and advised the resident to call for service.

Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of a gas odor on Birchall Road Feb. 7.

Firefighters received a report of a railroad track fire near Scarsdale train station Feb. 7. Finding a small fire burning on the third rail of the southbound tracks, firefighters secured the area and stood by for Metro North authorities. Metro North workers stopped trains and de-energized the third rail. The fire self extinguished. Firefighters stood by for maintenance personnel.

This week, firefighters responded to two false carbon monoxide alarms and six false fire alarms caused by device malfunction and cooking smoke.

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