Police and Fire Report: SHS Students Confront Car Break-in Suspect in School's Gravel Lot

An assistant principal at the high school reported two students observed a man entering parked cars at the high school's rear gravel lot at approximately 11 a.m., Sept. 8. The students were in the lot and able to videotape the man and record his license plate number. The students said they first saw the man inside a student's dark-colored Mercedes Benz. The man then got out of the Mercedes and entered a white Jeep. Since the student witnesses knew the owner of the Jeep, they determined the man was most likely entering unlocked cars in an attempt to steal items from the cars. The student witnesses then started videotaping the man as they approached the Jeep and asked what he was doing. He said. "Just checking." The students told the man to not leave because they were calling the police. At that time, the man got into his car and fled. The students noted the vehicle's license plate number and words written on the side of the man's vehicle. Patrol and school personnel spoke with the owners of the cars that had been entered. The owners advised nothing had been taken, but one owner stated it looked as if her backpack and glove box had been gone through. Both cars were unlocked at the time of the incident. Police are following up.

Arrests
A Barry Road man called police because his intoxicated adult son was at his house, in violation of a stay away order, at 11 a.m., Sept. 6. As a result, police arrested the son – Jon M. Ghiozzi, 37, of Scarsdale – on the charge of first-degree criminal contempt, with a prior conviction within five years. Due to Ghiozzi's disoriented condition due to substance abuse, police escorted Ghiozzi by ambulance to White Plains Hospital Center for treatment. Patrol remained with Ghiozzi during his emergency room stay until Ghiozzi was released from the hospital and able to stay awake at 5:20 p.m. At that time, Ghiozzi was taken to headquarters. He was read his Miranda Rights and verbally said he understood them, but he refused to sign the acknowledgement document. He was not compliant with other police procedures and therefore required constant supervision. He was arraigned at Scarsdale Village Justice Court and remanded to Westchester County Jail, pending a scheduled court appearance.

White Plains police notified Scarsdale police of a car involved in a hit and run accident in their jurisdiction that was followed into Scarsdale and was observed in a second accident at Post and Dickel Road at 11 p.m., Sept. 7. As a result, patrol went to the scene and discovered a 2010 Nissan drove into bushes on Dickel Road. Additionally, police learned the driver – Leda Beechum, 32, of White Plains – was wanted by New Rochelle police. She was accordingly arrested on the strength of the active bench warrant, held at headquarters and picked up by New Rochelle police.

Stolen
A Bonnie Meadow Road man reported his $1,000 Trek bicycle was stolen from Depot Place Sept. 6. The lock was cut, and the red and silver bike was stolen.

A Sprague Road resident reported his $700 bicycle and helmet were stolen from the bike rack at East Parkway and Spencer Place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10:45 p.m., Sept. 7.

A woman reported a $400 glass jewelry display case with a light was stolen from the curb outside Scarsdale library before 9 a.m., Sept. 10. The woman said she dropped off the case to donate it to the library, but a man picked it up from the curb and put it in his white sedan before anyone was able to bring the case inside the library. It happened while the woman was parking her car after dropping off the case at the curb near the library building.

Not in our restroom
Starbucks employees reported two people going into the East Parkway location's restroom together and possibly conducting illegal activity Sept. 9. The individuals returned to the coffee house on Sept. 10 and again entered the restroom together. Patrol arrived and confronted the individuals – a man and a woman known to police – and escorted them from Starbucks. The individuals were told they were no longer welcome at Starbucks. Store management told police it has been an ongoing problem with the two individuals entering the restroom together and staying in there for long periods of time.

Criminal mischief
On Sept. 11, a Tunstall Road man reported damage to his property, incurred over the last few weeks. He said someone damaged his hedges and lawn while he was on vacation with his family from July 27 through July 31. Some hedges were missing and tires had damaged the lawn. A neighbor told the man that a driver fleeing from police had caused the damage. The man wanted to file a police report for insurance purposes.

Harassment
A Stratton Road homeowner of a house under construction reported that her neighbor was harassing her and her contractor Sept. 6. Since a previous incident involving police, the neighbor has stopped entering the property and making allegations of noise violations. However, the homeowner said the neighbor then started contacting village departments in an attempt to stop work at the site. Police told the homeowner they could not prevent the neighbor from contacting village departments. They advised the homeowner to report any future criminal actions to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

IRS scam
A Nelson Road woman reported someone called her alleging to be from the IRS Sept. 9. The woman gave the caller the last four digits of her Social Security number before realizing the call was most likely a scam. Police advised the woman to notify the credit reporting agencies and have her accounts flagged for possible identity theft alerts.

Concern
A Fox Meadow Road temple's security guard called police because he and the president of the temple were concerned about an unknown man who came to the temple asking to see the Rabbi at 1 p.m., Sept. 10. The man seemed "distraught based on his body language," the guard said. The president of the temple told the man to return in 30 minutes. He furthermore told police it was not the temple's policy to allow people to visit the Rabbi on Saturdays, because of religious reasons. The man left in a gold-colored Toyota Avalon. The man was described as white, of average build, approximately 30 or 40 years old, with short hair and glasses and approximately 5ft. 9 in. tall. Due to the upcoming Jewish holidays, the distraught nature of the man and the man's unknown purpose at the temple, extra police ridebys were requested.

Lost man
A Walworth Avenue resident reported a possibly intoxicated man on her front steps at 6 a.m., Sept. 11. The man seemed disoriented and told police he was lost. Patrol provided him a courtesy ride to the Hartsdale train station in order for him to return to his home in the Bronx. Patrol stood by to confirm the man successfully boarded a southbound train.

Welfare check
At a daughter's request, patrol checked the welfare of a Brown Road woman Sept. 9. The woman's car was not in her garage, and the daughter deduced her mother must have gone out.

Cars and roadways
Patrol issued a parking summons to an illegally parked car causing significant traffic congestion on Brewster Road Sept. 6.

Police advised the owner of an illegally parked car on Stonehouse Road to move his car Sept. 7.

A woman reported an incident of road rage 45 at Heathcote and Post roads minutes after the incident occurred Sept. 7. According to the woman, she was stopped at a red light, and a white male driver in his 60s approached her driver's side window. He allegedly knocked on the door, used profanity and threatened her. He was described as driving a four-door silver Toyota. Patrol advised the woman to call 911 immediately if a similar incident occurred in the future.

A Harvest Drive man reported truck driver "forced his way" onto the man's property Sept. 7. Police spoke with the man and truck driver and deduced that the driver had been dispatched to the house to pick up a car to deliver to the man's con in California. The dispatch was a duplicate dispatch and had been made in error by the person arranging the vehicle transport. The driver left, and all was in good order.

An Acura driver, from Heathcote Road, reported debris fell off a truck and hit her car while she was driving on Mamaroneck Road Sept. 8. She did not have a chance to note the truck's license plate number or company name. She tried to drive her car to Heathcote Gulf, but the car's engine shut off at the five corners intersection, across the street from Heathcote Gulf. Motor oil was leaking from the car's undercarriage. Patrol went back to the reported scene of the accident and did not find any debris in the roadway. The car was towed to an Acura service center for repair. The oil was cleaned from the roadway.

A traffic light at Post and Drake roads was not cycling properly Sept. 8. Police informed the department of transportation for repair.

A pedestrian reported a blue Toyota Camry almost hit him in the Popham and Garth Road crosswalk at 11:30 p.m., Sept. 9. The driver allegedly threatened the pedestrian from his car. The car was last seen travelling north on Garth Road.

Patrol issued summonses to illegally parked cars on Ferncliff Road Sept. 9.

Police notified Verizon about a low-hanging wire on Brite Avenue Sept. 9.

A roadside service plugged a hole in a police car's tire after the tire flattened at Mamaroneck Road and Harvest Drive Sept. 9. The car was driven to the highway department for repair.

Police removed branches from Post Road Sept. 10 and 11.
A Morris Lane resident had a village permit to close the road from 5-6:30 p.m., Sept. 10, for an event. Callers and drivers complained about the road closure. Patrol examined the permit and pointed out that it specified the road closure would only be permitted with the presence of police officers. Since no officer had been retained for the special event, police re-opened the road.

Optimum was notified about low wires on Franklin Road Sept. 10.

A caller complained about an occupied parked car with the car's lights off in a Palmer Avenue parking lot at 10 p.m., Sept. 11. Patrol spoke with the occupants of the car, a male and a female. They said they were friends and ha just finished eating dinner. They said they were looking for a place to hang out and talk. Patrol saw food containers in the car, in plain view. There was no evidence of criminal activity.
Four car accidents were reported in the village this week.

Raccoon, rabbit, fox
A Brite Avenue homeowner reported a raccoon with its head stuck in a jar on her property at 7:30 a.m., Sept. 7. She was concerned because children were walking to school in the area. Patrol arrived and saw the small raccoon with its head stuck in a peanut butter jar. Patrol was able to free the animal's head from the container, allowing the raccoon to run off into nearby bushes. It did not appear sick or injured.

A caller reported an injured rabbit on Fox Meadow Road Sept. 8. When patrol arrived, the rabbit was found dead on the scene. It apparently had been hit by a car.

A slightly mangy fox was reported in a Brookfield Lane yard Sept. 9. Patrol provided the homeowner with contact information for local trappers.

A 12-year-old girl reported an unknown animal fell into a sewer at Farragut and Lincoln roads Sept. 9. Patrol could hear an animal in the sewer but could not visually identify the animal. Patrol believed the animal was most likely a raccoon because raccoons are known to frequent sewers.

Dogs
A driver found two small, white dogs on Saxon Woods Road and temporarily put them in her car while she called police Sept. 7. In the meantime, the dogs' Saxon Woods Road owner approached police and stated her dogs escaped her house. Patrol reunited the owner and the dogs.

On Sept. 10, a Springdale Road resident reported a neighbor's dog repeatedly enters her yard. Patrol spoke with the dog's owner who said his electric fence had been having issues. He said he just installed a back-up electric fence to confine the dog to his yard.

Kids
After receiving a noise complaint at 10:30 p.m., Sept. 6, police dispersed a large group of kids gathering on the fourth floor of Freightway Garage.

After residents complained about kids gathering on the street, police stood by while kids were being picked up from a party in the area of Greenacres Avenue and Colvin Road at 10 p.m., Sept. 10.

Village code summonses
Patrol issued village code violation summonses to landscapers using gas-powered blowers on Whig and Webster roads Sept. 8 and Heathcote Road Sept. 10.

Lost and found
Police found lost car keys on a Chase Road bench and returned them to their owner Sept. 7.

A Greenacres Avenue couple reported their Republic of India passports were missing from their house Sept. 8.

A construction worker found a debit card on a sidewalk at Weaver Street and Heathcote Road Sept. 9. He gave it to police, and police contacted the issuing bank. A representative said to destroy the card because the bank would issue a new card to the owner.

A purse was found on Chase Road Sept. 10. Police contacted the owner, and she retrieved her purse.

A bag of purple Little League uniforms was found at the baseball field at Edgewood School Sept. 11. Patrol contacted the coach, who picked up the uniforms.

Firefighters
On Sept. 6, firefighters opened a locked car parked at Chesterfield and Shawnee roads in order to reunite an 18-month-old child with his mother. The mother said she accidentally locked the car with the keys inside. The weather was cool and cloudy, and the child was in good health when the car doors were opened. Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps checked the child as a precaution.

Firefighters helped a Cushman Road resident with a leaking hot water heater and advised the resident to call a plumber Sept. 6.

A water pump overheated in Scarsdale High School Sept. 6. Firefighters shut off the pump and let it cool down. They advised to have the unit repaired.

A malfunctioning dehumidifier was causing a burning odor in an Eton Road basement Sept. 11. Firefighters disconnected the appliance and advised the homeowner to replace the appliance.

This week, firefighters assisted at four car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to three false carbon monoxide alarms and nine false fire alarms caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, grill smoke and accidental keypad activation.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Sept. 5-11 was compiled from official information.

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