Police Report: BMW Engulfed by Fire in Pool Parking Lot Deemed Suspicious

On March 23, at 5:22 a.m., a caller reported a car on fire in the parking lot of the Scarsdale pool, near the Boulder Brook stables. Firefighters arrived and found a BMW sedan fully engulfed in flames. They extinguished the fire using foam and water from a hose line. A red gasoline can was found near the car, and the fire captain declared the fire suspicious. It was determined to be a case of arson, and patrol declared the site a crime scene. The car was taken to the police impound lot. According to patrol reports, no cars or people were seen in the pool parking lot when police patrolled the area at 4:30 a.m.

DWI arrest
On March 24, at 12:30 a.m., police arrested Nagazaki Iturriaga, 34, of Deerhurst Road, Scarsdale, on charges of speeding, having an open container of alcohol in a car on a highway, operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated (with prior convictions), operation of a motor vehicle without insurance and possession of marijuana. While conducting traffic enforcement on Post Road, police saw Iturriaga’s 2004 Jeep drive by at approximately 60 miles per hour. When signaled to stop, the Jeep swerved between lanes, hit the curb and stopped with its tires on the Post Road sidewalk. Iturriaga’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot and his speech was slow and slurred when talking with police. He said the strong odor of alcohol coming from his car and his person was due to some Bacardi he had spilled in the car the day before. He denied consuming alcohol that day. He was asked to perform field sobriety tests and told police, “If you want to arrest me, just arrest me.” A foot injury prevented some tests from being administered. An intoximeter test indicated the presence of alcohol on Iturriaga’s breath. He was arrested and taken to headquarters. There, he refused to submit to a Datamaster test and asked to call his lawyer. He attempted to reach his lawyer but was unable to reach him. Given a second and third attempt to take the Datamaster test, Iturriaga was not blowing properly into the tube for the test to be completed. Inside Iturriaga’s car, police found an open bottle of vodka behind the driver’s seat, two glassine envelopes of marijuana and a marijuana bong. A friend paid bail of $100, and Iturriaga was released with a future court date at Scarsdale Village Justice Court.

Stolen
On March 23, a Penn Boulevard woman reported numerous antiques and valuable items, worth approximately $100,000, were stolen from her house sometime while she was in Florida from Dec. 23, 2017, through March 17, 2018. Upon her return, she allegedly noticed items out of place and missing. Three sets of sterling silver flatware were among the missing items. The woman told police she had a bathroom remodeled in October and November, and during this time, unknown people were in the house.

On March 23, a woman reported more than $3,000 cash was stolen from a work bag at Scarsdale High School last week. She said she had brought the cash to work for future deposit at her bank. The cash had been inside an envelope, along with some checks, inside her bag. After noticing the envelope missing from her bag, she looked for it inside her office. She found the envelope on her desk, but it was missing the cash.

Identity theft
On March 23, a Morris Lane woman reported fraudulent AT&T accounts had been opened and cell phones were purchased in her name in February. She cancelled the accounts and reported the incident to the credit reporting bureaus.

Dead on arrival
On March 22, a 92-year-old Mamaroneck Road man died at home in his sleep. His son reported the matter to police.

Missing person
On March 20, a 91-year-old Elmdorf Road woman was reported missing by her husband. After reporting the incident, a family friend located the woman in Grand Central train station in New York City. The family friend was assisting the woman in getting home. The missing person report was cancelled.

Package
On March 20, a Claremont Road resident received an unexpected package that had someone else’s name on the address label. She thought it was suspicious and asked police to look at it. Police examined the package and noticed it was addressed to the woman’s next-door neighbor. Patrol delivered the package to the proper recipient.

Elevator
On March 19, police notified Village Hall about a non-working elevator on Christie Place.

Signs
A Morris Lane resident advised a white man, in his fifties, with a beard and glasses and wearing a reflective vest, sweatpants and sweatshirt, was removing political signs from her property March 19. Patrol canvassed the area and found the man. He told patrol he had not removed the signs. He only lifted them out of the ground and placed them flat on the ground. He said he did this because he had previously tripped over the signs while walking the night before and did not want to experience the same thing while out walking or be forced to step out into traffic on March 19. Patrol informed the resident who reported the incident.

Utility Pole
A Walworth Avenue resident reported her neighbor was involved in a verbal dispute with a Con Edison crew from Quebec that was installing a new utility pole March 20. The neighbor allegedly wanted the pole moved to a different location since it blocked her sightline. When police arrived, the pole had already been installed, and there was no longer a dispute.

Lock out, lock in
A Benedict Road woman reported being locked outside her house March 21. Police made contact with the homeowner who was able to let his wife back inside the house.

A Nelson Road woman accidentally locked her eight-month-old baby inside her car with the family dog March 25. The dog allegedly pushed the door lock button by mistake. Heathcote Gulf responded and unlocked the car. The baby and dog were unharmed.

Gun
A man brought his unloaded pistol to headquarters for safekeeping March 23. He said he was going out of town for two weeks, and there would be people in his house. Police verified the man had a valid permit for the pistol.

Civil matter
On March 23, a Bradley Road woman reported her ex-husband was inside her house without her permission, while she was on vacation in Florida. The ex-husband told police he was allowed, as per a court decree, to complete work inside the house to prepare it for sale. He said his ex-wife gave him a key to the house for this purpose. The ex-wife denied giving him a key and alleged he broke in. Police saw no signs of forced entry or tampering. Patrol reminded the couple that it was a civil incident that should be handled by their lawyers.

Scofflaw
Police identified a parked 2009 Toyota with scofflaw status, due to unpaid parking tickets, in Christie Place Garage March 19. The car was towed to the police impound lot. The registered owner is a Harrison man.

Suspended license
While conducting traffic enforcement on Fenimore Road, police identified a car with a suspended registration, due to a violation of toll collection regulations in January. Patrol conducted a traffic stop. The driver – James McDonald, 38, of Mount Vernon – was determined to be driving with a suspended license. The license was suspended on three separate dates for three scoffs. Police charged him with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was arrested, and the car was impounded. McDonald was released on his own recognizance with an appearance ticket for April 11.

Cars and roadways
On March 19, police notified Verizon about fallen wires on Popham and Whig roads.
Police placed temporary stop signs at the intersection of Greenacres and Walworth avenues due to a malfunctioning traffic light March 19. An electrician was contacted for repair.
A plate on Brewster Road was shifted by a snowplow March 19. The highway department was advised.
On March 20, a van reported as suspicious on Mamaroneck road was determined to belong to a person hired by the Village to keep geese out of the Scarsdale pool.
Patrol notified the NYS department of transportation about a traffic light cycling too fast on Boulevard March 20.
Patrol notified Verizon about fallen wires on Haverford Road March 20.
Water was observed leaking from an outdoor spigot valve on Brewster Road March 20. Patrol attempted to notify the homeowner but was unsuccessful. The water department is following up.
Patrol notified Verizon about fallen wires on Harvest Drive March 22.
Patrol notified the water department of a loose valve cap on Mamaroneck Road March 23.
Patrol notified Verizon about fallen wires on Cornell Road March 24.
Patrol removed debris from Heathcote Road March 24.
Patrol asked the drivers of illegally parked cars on Potter Road to move their cars March 24.
Patrol notified Verizon about fallen wires on Greenacres Avenue March 26.

Village code
Neighbors complained about a barking dog inside a Popham Road apartment March 21. Patrol spoke with the dog’s owner, who said the dog is friendly but barks when people are in the hallway. In order to quiet the dog, the owner put the dog in her bedroom. On March 23, a similar complaint was made against the dog again.

At 6:15 a.m., March 22, patrol advised a Fox Meadow Road snowplow operator of noise restrictions, as per village code.

Firefighters
Firefighters shut the water supply to a leaking water service line on Murray Hill Road March 19. While on scene, firefighters also detected a gas odor and stood by for Con Edison.
Firefighters stood by for Con Edison at the site of an outdoor gas odor on Leatherstocking Lane March 19.
Contractors were using a chemical sealant to seal kitchen counters in a Chesterfield Road house March 22. Fumes caused a gas alarm to accidentally activate. Firefighters ventilated the space and advised contactors to open windows while applying the sealant.
This week, firefighters assisted at three car accidents in the village and on parkways. They responded to 12 false fire and carbon monoxide alarms, caused by device malfunction, cooking smoke, shower steam, fumes from new carpet installation and wood-sanding dust.

This report covering police and fire department activity from March 19-25 has been compiled from official information.

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