Hole in Fireplace Causes Fire to Char Wood Joists in Secor Road House

On March 6, firefighters responded to a reported inside smoke odor in a Secor Road house. Upon arrival, firefighters found the homeowners outside the house and smoke in the basement and coming from the first floor. Firefighters started to pull down the basement ceiling and found charring and burning embers. First-floor floorboards were still smoking next to the fireplace. The homeowners reported they had used the fireplace the night before and were about to clean out the ashes in the ash chute when they smelled smoke and called the fire department. Firefighters pulled up some floorboards on the first floor and found additional charring. They used pyrex water cans to extinguish the burning wood. Several layers of floor were pulled up to reveal the floor joists, which had been severely damaged by fire, with portions of the joists burned away. The fire department's investigation and initial determination was that the fireplace had a hole next to the marble hearth where embers could fall down onto the floor joists and flooring. The ash chute had not been compromised. Fireplace marble and blocking were also removed to reveal additional charring. Firefighters extinguished and soaked down the area. They confirmed there was no additional fire spread. Checking both visually and with a thermal imager, the Cause and Origin team was called. The team confirmed the fire department's determination. The basement and first floor were swept clean, and all rubbish was removed to the side yard. The fire department ventilated the residence and checked for carbon monoxide prior to departure. No carbon monoxide was present at the time of the fire department's departure. The homeowners were advised to call their insurance company, an electrician and a plumber for clean up and service. The oil burner and hot water heaters were shut off due to slight water damage. The building department was notified for follow-up.

DWI Arrests
Police arrested Aldo Sandro Morales, 35, of Stamford, Connecticut, on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level greater that .08 of one percent, and a stopping/standing/parking violation, at approximately 4 a.m., March 5. According to the police report, patrol noticed Morales's 2004 Toyota driving erratically, stopping and starting on Post Road. Patrol conducted a traffic stop and noticed signs of intoxication in Morales – glassy eyes, redness in the eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on Morales's breath. Morales said he was travelling home from a bar in White Plains. He said he had arrived at the bar at 10 p.m., had two beers and left at 3:40 a.m. Patrol administered field sobriety tests, which Morales failed. Police arrested Morales, and Morales was later released on $50 cash bail to his brother. He was issued an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court for March 9.

At 2:15 a.m., March 6, police pulled over a 2015 Honda Accord with non-operational taillights on Post Road. In speaking with the driver – John T. Carmody, 23, of Yonkers – police detected bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on Carmody's breath. Carmody said he was coming from White Plains and had a "few drinks" of vodka and orange juice. He said his last drink was consumed approximately 45 minutes to an hour in the past. According to the police report, Carmody appeared to be falling asleep while speaking with patrol. Patrol noticed a bottle of vodka standing up in plain view in a compartment of the passenger door. Patrol asked Carmody if the bottle was his, and Carmody said, "I'm not sure. I have no comment." Patrol administered field sobriety tests, which Carmody failed. Carmody agreed to take an alco-sensor prescreening test, and the test indicated a presence of alcohol on Carmody's breath. Later, a Datamaster test indicated Carmody's blood alcohol level was .22. Carmody was arrested and taken to headquarters. He was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense), aggravated DWI with .18 grams or more of alcohol in blood, operation of motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver and an equipment violation (no taillights.) Carmody was released with an appearance ticket to a friend, who was the registered owner of the car.

Burglary
On Feb. 29, a Johnson Road woman reported someone cut a screen and entered her house through a bathroom window on the ground floor. The suspect apparently went through closets and drawers in multiple rooms, leaving clothes and items strewn about. In one bedroom, a box of poker chips had been opened, and some chips were lying on the floor. The woman first noticed something was wrong when she returned home and saw the front door unlocked and second-floor lights on. A pillowcase was missing from one of the bedrooms. Detectives discovered footprints on the siding of the house, near the bathroom window, and a second cut screen near a basement door. Detectives are following up.

Exposed:

Greenburgh Police are searching for a man who entered Maria Regina High School and exposed himself on Thursday February 25. According to police at about 5:00 PM on Thursday, this white, or possibly Hispanic man entered the school at 500 West Hartsdale Avenue in Hartsdale.

He went into the men's bathroom next to the main lobby and got undressed. He then held the bathroom door open and intentionally allowed himself to be observed standing naked just inside the doorway. Then he put his clothes back on and left the school, fleeing the lot in a bright sky blue, late model, subcompact vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet.

The man was described as approximately 5'5" tall wearing a hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information that might assist with this investigation is asked to contact the Greenburgh Police Department Special Victims unit at 914-989-1735.

Identity theft
On Feb. 29, a Brewster Road woman reported several fraudulent website transactions on her debit card. The woman said she already notified her bank in China, and the money was returned.

On March 2, a Chesterfield Road resident reported fraudulent charges on his credit card. The charges were made in Germany for 4,000 Euros, which the man estimated to equate to approximately $5,000. The resident said he has not visited Germany since 2014, and he did not authorize the transaction.

On March 2, an Ardmore Road resident reported someone filed a fraudulent tax return and established a fraudulent online Social Security account in his name. The resident notified the credit reporting agencies.

Domestic matters
Police intervened in a dispute between a Quaker Ridge mother and her adult daughter. The dispute was over a health aide that visited the house for the mother. The daughter said she did not like the health aide, but the mother wanted the daughter to accept the aide's presence. The daughter said she would refrain from giving her input in the future.

A man called police and said his girlfriend was on the northbound MetroNorth train and her ex-boyfriend was waiting on the platform to assault her around 8 p.m., March 3. Patrol arrived at the scene and saw a man and woman talking in front of Dunkin' Donuts. They advised they did not call police, and they did not want any assistance.

At midnight, March 4, a Fox Meadow mother called police because she was having problems with her 21-year-old son. According to the mother, the son was not following the rules of the house, and she wanted him to leave. The son advised police he was on his way out and left the house without incident.

Police stood by as a Gatehouse Road man removed personal belongings from his house, as per a court order, March 5.

Group of men
Police questioned a group of men standing on Meadow Road around 6:30 p.m., March 1. They said their car had been towed from the Hutchinson River Parkway, and they were waiting for a ride in that location.

Footprints
Footprints around a Herkimer Road house were the result of a water department employee reading the meter Mach 4.

Doorbell
A person rang a School Lane doorbell at 10:30 p.m., March 5. After hearing the doorbell, the homeowner said he saw someone in his backyard. Patrol checked both the interior and exterior of the house and did not find any evidence of criminal activity.

Cell phones
A person found a cell phone near the intersection of Post and Edgewood roads March 6. It appeared to have been run over by a car but was still operational. Patrol was able to contact the owner who arrived at headquarters and picked up his phone.
A cell phone was found near the intersection of Mamaroneck and Catherine roads March 6. Patrol called a number that appeared on the screen and determined the phone belonged to a family member of the person who was called. The owner picked up the phone from headquarters.

Assistance
A woman sitting on a bench on Garth Road was crying and stating she wanted to hurt herself at 6:45 p.m., March 3. Patrol assisted Eastchester police, as Eastchester police took steps to help the woman.

On March 4, a Popham Road man gave his Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum firearm to police for safekeeping. He said he no longer wished to keep it in his house.
Police noticed an open window at an Edgewood construction site and closed it March 5.

During routine night patrol, police noticed an unlocked door of a Christie Place business, recently rented to a new tenant, March 6. Two items of value – a printer and a power drill - were moved to the rear of the store to make them less conspicuous.

Cars and roadways
Police asked the driver of a tractor trailer to move his vehicle from Richbell Road because it was blocking traffic flow March 1. The driver complied.
A parked car was left in Freightway Garage with its ignition running March 2. Using parking permit information, police identified the owner and called him. He responded and turned off the ignition.

An inactive cable wire fell on Heathcote Road March 2. Patrol rolled it up and placed it on the side of the road.

Police removed a paper bag from Palmer Avenue March 2.

A lane of traffic near Palmer Avenue and Heathcote Road was temporarily closed due to the emergency repair of a gas leak March 3. Patrol advised the workers they needed to have two flagmen, instead of one, to control traffic around the closed lane.

A parked car in front of an Olmsted Road house was occupied by a man who was waiting to pick up his wife March 3. She was working as a housekeeper on the street.
A truck, reported to be suspicious, was parked in a Cooper Road driveway March 3. Two men were seen carrying something out of the house and putting it in the truck. Patrol spoke with the men and the homeowner. The homeowner said the wife of one of the men works as her housekeeper. The homeowner said she gave a bed to the housekeeper, and the men were picking it up.

A woman parked in front of a Huntington Avenue driveway while she was in the process of rushing to attend an evening meeting at Greenacres School March 3. She apologized, said she did not see the driveway in the dark and moved her car. Police issued her a verbal warning.

Parked cars on Colvin Road and Walworth Avenue were obstructing traffic March 4. Police asked these drivers to move their cars.

Police blocked traffic around a car with a flat tire on Heathcote Road, while the driver was waiting for roadside assistance, March 4.

Four car accidents were reported this week in the village.

Help
On Feb. 29, a Johnson Road woman asked police to check her house after she heard noises that sounded like toilet flushing, footsteps and a door closing while she was home alone. Police checked the house, and everything appeared to be in good order. The woman deduced she might not be used to the sounds of her new house yet.
An alarm went off in a Greendale Road house Feb. 29. Police checked the house and determined the alarm was a "critter alarm" in the attic. Patrol turned off the alarm and secured the house.

A patient of the Ambassador residence facility on Saxon Woods Road called police and said she was being held against her will Feb. 29. Patrol contacted Ambassador staff and spoke with a nurse, who checked on the patient and reported her to be OK.

Animals
A woman walking her dog on Corell Road reported seeing a coyote in the area Feb. 29.
The highway department removed a dead deer carcass from a Colonial Road yard March 5. Police assisted.

Civil matter
A Sage Terrace woman reported an altercation with the owner of a moving company who was asking her for a commission that was never agreed upon March 2. According to the woman, she was in process of moving and requested an estimated from a mover. In addition to providing her with an estimate the mover said he knew people who might be interested in purchasing some items that the woman no longer wanted. The woman said she agreed to pay the mover a ten percent commission on any sales made to his contacts. The mover's contacts purchased items for $800, and the mover showed up at her house demanding a twenty-five percent commission of the purchase. The woman refused to pay him more than ten percent, based on their initial agreement. The woman said the mover became very disrespectful to her, and she asked him to leave her property. She was concerned the mover might continue to contact her, against her wishes. Patrol attempted to contact the mover but was not able to reach him.

Village code
Police removed an advertising sign posted at Boulevard and Post Road Feb. 29. Police issued a summons to the company responsible.

Firefighters

• A smoke odor in a Kelwynne Road house was caused by a washing machine belt Feb. 29. Firefighters disconnected the machine and recommended service.
• Firefighters found gas in a Murray Hill Road sewer Feb. 29. Nearby houses were checked, and a gas migration was found in one house. Firefighters stood by for Con Edison.
• An Ardmore Road oven was malfunctioning Feb. 29. Firefighters placed the oven out of service.
• Firefighters stood by for Con Edison due to a gas leak on Greenacres Avenue March 3.
• Firefighters identified a light ballast as the source of a smoke odor in a Varian Road house March 4. They recommended changing the light bulb.
• Firefighters shut power to a faulty electrical connection in a second-floor bathroom in a Greenacres Avenue house March 4.
• Firefighters determined a reported gas odor on Tompkins Road was actually a skunk odor March 6.
• This week, firefighters assisted at one car accident on the Bronx River Parkway. They responded to one false carbon monoxide alarm and seven false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, shower steam and cooking heat.

This report covering police and fire department activity from February 29-March 6 was compiled from official information.

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