Report of Sleeping Driver and Idling Car Leads to DWI Arrest

DWI: Responding to a report of a blue 2020 BMW idling at the intersection of Coralyn Road and Reynal Crossing with the driver apparently sleeping at the wheel around 10 p.m., Dec. 3, police checked on the driver and discovered a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. His eyes were also red and glassy, and his speech was slurred. When asked if he had been drinking, the driver – Patrick McHugh, 57, of Yonkers, said he had consumed two beers in White Plains. Police asked McHugh to perform a field sobriety test, and he failed it. At that time, he was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. At headquarters, a Datamaster test revealed McHugh’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle. His arrest was processed on the following charges: driving while intoxicated (first offense), aggravated DWI with a blood alcohol level of .18 or more with no priors, and a stopping/standing/parking violation. McHugh was released on his own recognizance and issued an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court.

Stolen
On Nov. 30, a Garden Road resident reported a Chase bank check had been stolen from her last month while it was in postal service transit. She said she last saw the check when she placed it in her mailbox on Oct. 15, for postal service pickup. On Oct. 24, she learned the check had been deposited on Oct. 21. However, since the intended recipient never received the check, it was revealed that an unknown person who stole the check had deposited it. She wanted police to document the incident while she followed up with her bank.

On Dec. 1, a Haverford Road resident reported a package containing $250 worth of wine had been stolen from the front of her house sometime in the past. Investigation revealed that FedEx had delivered the package at approximately 12:45 p.m., Nov. 28. At approximately 5:40 p.m., that day, a white SUV was observed stopping in front of the house. A woman exited the car and walked halfway up the resident’s driveway before returning to the SUV. The SUV drove away and returned approximately two minutes later, facing the opposite direction on the road. The woman walked up the driveway to the front door, stole the package and left in the SUV. The woman was described as wearing black pants with a pink Nike emblem on the side, a hoodie sweater and a face covering. Police are following up.

Identity theft
On Dec. 1, a Ridgecrest North woman reported someone used her Social Security number and maiden name to apply for fraudulent Social Security benefits. She was advised to contact the NYS Department of Labor.

On Dec. 3, a Fox Meadow Road man reported someone used his Social Security number and name to apply for fraudulent Social Security benefits. While checking his credit report, the man detected someone with a similar name and a Westchester County address also showing up on his report, as well as several fraudulent attempts to open credit accounts in his name.

Criminal mischief
On Dec. 2, a Chesterfield Road resident reported the rear windshield of his 2019 Honda had been smashed while the car was parked on the street in front of his house. Nothing was missing from the car, and there was no clear motive for the smashed widow. Police cleaned up broken glass from the roadway.

Silverware
On Dec. 1, at 5:30 a.m., a Norma Place man reported someone might have stolen silverware from inside his house. He said he heard a “jingling” sound coming from his neighbor’s property while he was outside smoking a cigarette around 5:15 a.m., while his rear door was also unlocked. After hearing the noise, the caller checked his house and looked in a small drawer in the dining room, where he thought the silverware had been placed. It was not there, and he called police. Police arrived on scene and interviewed the man and his wife. The wife was not certain that their silverware had been placed in that dining room drawer. After searching the house, the wife found the silverware in the kitchen. No theft had occurred.

Generator
On Nov. 30, a Cushman Road contractor reported a generator owned by his company was damaged at a Cushman Road construction site. In particular, the contractor alleged the wires had been cut. After some investigation, it was determined that the wires had been disconnected, not cut. The generator had been the source of a Village code violation the preceding week, and firefighters had been called to the scene to disconnect the device after hours, after numerous complaints and multiple summonses, so it would comply with Village code.

Suspicious
A Wheelock Road woman reported an elderly, heavyset, white man was taking pictures of her house Nov. 30. He was last seen driving a small car. Police canvassed the area but did not find the man.

Wrong number
A woman from Australia called police to report she had been assaulted Nov. 30. She did not realize she had dialed internationally, and once this became clear, she did not request any help from Scarsdale police.

Leaves
A Reimer Road resident reported he saw a “dump truck” empty out a large pile of leaves on the street in front of his house Dec. 2. Police asked the highway department to remove them. No summons was issued to residents on the street because an unknown landscaper reportedly placed the leaves there.

On Dec. 4, a Chesterfield Road resident reported a neighbor’s landscaper was blowing leaves onto his property. Police facilitated a conversation between the neighbors, and it was decided that the neighbor responsible for the leaves would speak to his landscaper to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Accident and more
A Fenimore Road homeowner reported a car “crashed into his front yard” around 6:30 p.m., Dec. 6. The driver – a 33-year-old New York resident – said he attempted to avoid an oncoming car, swerved and ended up on the Fenimore Road yard. A license check showed the license had been suspended seven different times on two separate dates. Also, the car’s registration sticker showed that the car’s license plate was improper, as it actually corresponded to a different car – not the driver’s 2008 Saturn. Police impounded the car and issued the driver summonses for unlicensed driving, an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to use a designated lane, operation of a motor vehicle with improper plates and operation of a motor vehicle without insurance.

Cars and roadways
The highway department was contacted about a leaning tree near the Mamaroneck Road underpass Nov. 30.

Verizon was notified about a low-hanging wire on Hamilton Road Dec. 1.

A driver reported a pothole on Weaver Street caused a flat tire in his car Dec. 1.

Police informed the highway department for repair.

Police helped a Black Birch Lane woman remove a thin, fallen telephone wire from her driveway Dec. 1. Verizon was notified.

A Carthage Road woman was having difficulty backing out of her driveway due to a car parked across the street Dec. 2. Police contacted the owner of the parked car and asked for it to be moved as a courtesy.

A motorist reportedly knocked down a street sign on the Bronx River Parkway exit ramp and Ogden Road after midnight Dec. 3. Police notified Westchester County police and checked the area. The motorist was not found.

Con Edison and Verizon were notified about fallen wires on Heathcote Road Dec. 3.

A food delivery truck dislodged a low-hanging Verizon wire on Scarsdale Avenue Dec. 3. Verizon was notified.

The building department was made aware of vines growing up a crooked tree and spreading to wires on Richbell Road Dec. 4.

Police reported a dislodged manhole cover to Verizon Dec. 4. The cover was located somewhere in the Village.

Police received reports of a red Jeep Cherokee involved in a BB gun incident with another car on the Bronx River Parkway Dec. 4. Police began canvassing the area for the car and noticed a red Jeep Cherokee backing out of a Griffen Road driveway. They followed the driver at a safe distance as the Cherokee entered Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle. New Rochelle police conducted a traffic stop, and it was determined the car was not involved in the incident and the offending vehicle was not found.

The highway department was informed about a pothole at Weaver Street, near Crossway, Dec. 5. Later that day, a caller reported the large pothole had ”caused several vehicles a flat tire.” Police placed four traffic cones around the pothole to prevent drivers from encountering it. The State Department of Transportation was notified, and they said they would send a crew to fix it.

Police interviewed a man sitting in a parked car behind a Palmer Avenue establishment after midnight Dec. 6. The man said he had an argument with his wife and was in the process of planning to go to a hotel.

A caller reported an aggressive driver on Mamaroneck Road Dec. 5. Police canvassed the area but did not find the driver’s car for follow-up.

Dog
Early in the morning of Dec. 7, a Benedict Road woman reported her dog named “Lucky,” a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, had escaped her yard. She was out looking for him but asked a patrol car to assist her in canvassing the streets. Approximately 10 minutes later, the dog reportedly returned home and was reunited with the woman.

Lost and found
A passerby found a wallet at Scarsdale train station and gave it to police Dec. 4. Police contacted the owner, checked his identity and returned the wallet. Nothing was reported missing.

On Dec. 4, a Cambridge Road woman reported she lost a pair of white gold, diamond stud earrings while moving. She needed to report the loss for insurance purposes. The earrings were valued at $10,450.

A Brite Avenue resident reported losing a credit card at a local business Dec. 4. He realized he had left the card there the next day and went back to retrieve it, but it was reportedly not there. The card has been cancelled.

Village code
Responding to a noise complaint about loud music on Carthage Road Dec. 4, police found about 10 kids playing music outside and talking. They were wearing masks and social distancing, but police broke up the gathering because of the noise complaint.
A caller reported a large group of adults playing baseball on an Edgewood School field and using profanity Dec. 6. Police investigated the call and observed approximately 20 adults on the field. Police advised them that school fields were closed and that they needed to leave. Police did not hear any foul words but advised the adults to please refrain from using vulgar language.

Firefighters
On Nov. 30, firefighters assisted at a two-car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway. One occupant was taken to the hospital, and both cars were towed from the scene.

On Nov. 30, firefighters were dispatched to a Springdale Road house because of a reported gas leak. There, firefighters found a slight leak at the kitchen stovetop. Con Edison confirmed firefighters’ findings and shut gas to the house because the stove valve could not be isolated.

Firefighters assisted Hartsdale firefighters with a structure fire in their jurisdiction Dec. 1.

A mini school bus was rear-ended by a black sedan, which had been rear-ended by a Westchester County Department of Public Works truck on the Bronx River Parkway Dec. 3. The bus had no passengers and sustained only minor damage. The driver was not injured either. The sedan sustained major damage to the front and rear. It was carrying the driver and one passenger. The DPW truck had minor damage to the front bumper only. The pile-up collision occurred in the right lane, and firefighters used rigs to block this lane from traffic. The passenger of the sedan was treated on scene by Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and refused further medical attention. Firefighters disconnected the sedan’s battery and stood by until the sedan was towed from the scene.

A two-year-old child accidentally locked himself in a master bathroom in an Oak Lane house Dec. 5. Firefighters were able to open the door to release the child unharmed.

Firefighters confirmed that kitchen smoke set off a fire alarm in a Spencer Place establishment Dec. 5. They examined the established and confirmed its safety.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 has been compiled from official information.

Artwork by Brooke Goldstein

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their websiteThis police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.