A Deceased Jogger, Assault on the Bee Line and a 5 Year-Old Left Behind
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Deceased jogger found near Saxon Woods: The body of Thomas Schlierer, age 62 of Larchmont was found by another jogger on a bike trail off the Hutchinson River Parkway on Thursday around 12:30. According to the police report Schlierer was found lying on his back on the path. When SVAC arrived, they tried to revive him with a defibillator but it was too late. Schlierer had parked his car in the Saxon Woods Parking lot and ran down the trail before he collapsed. The cause of death was determined to be heart failure and police say that Schlierer had not been on the path long before he was found.
Attack on the Bee Line: A disturbed Mount Vernon man assaulted three passengers on a Bee Line bus at 8:30 am on June 13th. The victims reported the incident as the bus was travelling on the Post Road at Huntington Road. The assailant was wearing a blue shirt, white undershirt and white and orange sneakers and fled the bus at Montrose and Gorham Roads. Police put out a call and the man was found at the intersection of Fisher and Highland in White Plains. He identified himself as Walt Runcie, age 31 of Mt. Vernon and admitted that he had been on the bus. According to police Runcie said, “ I haven’t taken my medicine and I just snapped. I’m really sorry.” The victims identified Runcie and one victim had scratches and bruises on her face and another was in pain from a slap on the face. After he was arrested for attempted assault, Runcie told police that he was diagnosed with paranoia and had just been released from Presbyterian Hospital. Runcie was released on $200 cash bail and given a court date.
Tickets: During two week-long initiatives aimed at getting drivers to buckle up, the Scarsdale Police Department issued 217 summonses to motorists. The programs took place from March 23 to March 31, 2011 and again from May 23 to June 5, 2011 as part of the New York State Seat Belt Enforcement program.112 motorists were cited for not wearing seatbelts and an additional 19 were cited for not having their children properly secured by seatbelts. Among other violations, 14 were issued for using a cell phone while driving, 25 were issued for disobeying traffic controls and 47 other assorted violations were issued.
Vandalism at the Girl Scout House: On the morning of 6/15, an exercise instructor who was teaching at the Girl Scout House on Wayside Lane noticed that the fence around the bbq pavilion was damaged and empty beer cans and broken glass had been left on the grounds. In addition, one of the soccer nets had been removed and placed on top of the BQ chimney. There was also human feces and toilet paper left at the bottom of the stairs at the back entrance of the Girl Scout House. The damage was done sometime between 9:30 pm on 6/14 and 12:30 am on 6/15. Though police had encountered a boy at the Girl Scout House with alcoholic beverages on June 10, his Dad said that his son was home on the night of the incident and would not allow him to be questioned by the police.
Strange letter: Scarsdale Synagogue received a suspicious letter on June 14. The letter was handwritten on an 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper that appeared to be a photo copy. The letter questioned “the emergency preparedness” of schools and other agencies in the Hudson Valley. The letter was postmarked Mid-Hudson, New York and did not have a return address.
Prank calls: An 83 year-old Aspen Road woman alerted police that she has received several calls and letters advising her that she had won substantial amounts of money. The letters requested that the woman send $20 for a service fee. In addition, she got a phone call from a man who said that she won $965,000 but needed to provide $400 to secure the prize. The woman agreed to meet the man at the Chase Bank on Palmer Avenue on 6/14 and alerted the police who assigned a detective to the case.
On June 15 a Greenacres woman complained that she was receiving annoying phone calls from a private number. The caller seems to know her family and makes references to her daughter’s college applications and her husband’s job. Thought the calls are not threatening she wanted to report them in the hopes of stopping future calls.
Identity Theft: A Brookfield Road man lost his ING debit card and subsequently found that 18 unauthorized charges, totaling $1,33.96 had been made on the card. He reported the incident on June 13th.
Wrong way: County police stopped the driver of a car who was travelling the wrong way on the Bronx River Parkway on the night of 6/13. County police asked Scarsdale police to check the driver, a Fox Meadow woman, who said that she was confused by the Crane Road exit ramp.
Fire: Trash caught fire at the park across from the Greenacres Elementary School at 10 pm on 6/17. A woman who cleans the school spotted the fire and called police. By the time police arrived, the fire was extinguished.
Noise at Chat: At 11:30 pm on 6/18 a resident of Chateaux Circle called police to complain about noise from Chat American Grill. However, when the officer arrived, no music was playing outside. Police spoke to the complainant and advised him to address Village Hall regarding the construction of barricades behind the restaurant to decrease the nose.
Raccoon: A sick raccoon was reported on South Woods Lane at 4:20 pm on 6/16. Police found the raccoon, waited for it to move away from the house, fired two rounds and killed it.
Greenburgh Police Report:
Bobcat: Neighbors on Elizabeth Street in Scarsdale continue to feud. On Monday morning June 13, Audrey Pierot of 13 Elizabeth Street came outside and found that Micha Marom was using his bobcat to dump large amounts of dirt behind her cars in the driveway. She took out her video camera filmed him in an attempt to stop him from dumping more dirt in the driveway. However, Marom countered by driving the bobcat straight at Pierot, forcing her to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Pierot recorded the incident on videotape.
Formula theft: On Monday afternoon, 6/13, the security officer at Shop Rite on Central Avenue caught Steven Fournier, age 42 of the Bronx stealing three cans of Enfamil. When police picked him up they found that there were already two outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was booked, fingerprinted and arraigned and bail was set at $7,500. Fournier was taken to the Westchester County Jail.
Fight!: Two men got into a fistfight at the Nijiya Market at 18 North Central Avenue in Hartsdale on the morning of 6/16. Wilmer A Hernandez was assaulted by Noe De Jesus of Ferris Avenue in White Plains. De Jesus is the estranged husband of Emiliana Orzuna who also works at the market. She has an order of protection against De Jesus who was not supposed to be at the store. When Hernandez approached De Jesus, De Jesus kicked Hernandez in the legs, and punched him in the face and head. De Jesus then fled the scene on a Bee Line Bus, but police eventually found him on Battle Hill Avenue and arrested him for assault and for violating the order of protection.
Benjamin Salzano Jr. was arrested for violating an order of protection against an ex-girlfriend who lives on East Hartsdale Avenue, when he went to her residence to pick up his car on the night of 6/14. After he was arrested he called the woman from the Westchester County Jail, despite the fact that he had been ordered not to contact her. He was rearrested for the second offense.
Markdowns: On 6/17 two employees at Marshalls were caught unlawfully marking down prices on merchandise and removing it from the store. Working together, Royce P. Lora of the Bronx and Nicholas D. Clarke of the Bronx marked down the price of three polo shirts, each from $79.99 to $7.99, shortchanging the store $216.00. When the suspects were searched, a small bag of marijuana was found on Clarke.
Beer heist: Two men stole two 12-packs of Bud Lite from the Rite Aid store in Hartsdale at 9 pm on 6/17. The men left the store with the beer without paying and drove off in a black Escalade.
Left behind: A five year-old girl was left in the Boston Market on Central Avenue around 5 pm on Sunday 6/19. Unable to find out the girls address or phone number, employees of the Boston Market called the police. The video camera showed the mother leaving the store with approximately seven children. Police broadcast the incident over a law enforcement hotline and at 10 pm that night, the girl’s father came to Greenburgh Police Headquarters to retrieve his daughter. Police report it did not appear to be a case of neglect or abuse.
Missing Jesus, Downed Wires and Noise from the Scarsdale Police
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Has anyone seen Jesus? On June 6 a Meadow Road man reported that six months ago, an unknown person stole his white stone statue of Jesus and St. Anthony. The statue, valued at $1,800 was kept on his backyard patio. At this time, there are no suspects in the statue’s disappearance.
Inebriated fish man: Sean McQuinn, the manager of Decicco Marketplace in Scarsdale Village, called police around noon on 6/6 when an employee arrived at work drunk. The employee, Carlton Beckford of the Bronx, works in the fish department. He was ordered to leave the supermarket, was terminated from his position, and told not to return to the store. Police warned Beckford that if he returns, he will be arrested for trespassing.
Parents: Dr. Scott Houseknecht, the principal of Edgewood School, called the police on 6/9 to report that an Edgewood Road woman was in his office acting irrationally. She was making accusations and causing a scene. The school psychologist, Dr. Janelle Brown, backed up the principal’s claims. Houseknecht believed he smelled alcohol on the woman’s breath. The resident said she had been at the school but did not feel her behavior was extreme and denied drinking.
Animals: Police received a call about a sick raccoon from the Arnow residence on Butler Road on June 6th. When they arrived, they found the raccoon foaming at the mouth and falling over while walking. Police shot the raccoon and placed the animal in a garbage bag.
Black Hawk Road residents called to report a coyote in their area on the night of 6/12. However, when police arrived they saw a large husky on a neighbor’s lawn and the caller thought she may have mistaken the husky for a coyote.
Noise: Police received a complaint about noise on Popham Road on the evening of 6/6 and found two boys on Spencer Place singing Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. They were asked to leave the area.
A resident of School Lane called police on the evening of 6/11 to report that youths in a white Toyota were setting off fireworks on his street. He stated that a white Toyota SUV and an orange Dodge Challenger drove by his house twice and threw fireworks at his car. Police could not find cars matching the description.
Kids: A resident of Stonehouse Road called police on the morning of 6/8 when his two-year-old was locked in the bathroom. By the time police arrived the child had gotten out.
A mother on Post Road called police on the evening of 6/11 when her 16-year-old son failed to return home. Police learned that the boy was probably at one of his friend’s houses and found him on Heathcote Road. Police drove the boy to SPD dispatch to reunite him with his mother.
Downed Wires: Police responded to a call at 6 PM of 6/8 about a downed wire blocking Wayside Lane. They saw wires burning on a utility pole at the intersection of Post Road and Wayside Lane. Police closed Post Road between Wayside and Heathcote Roads and assisted with traffic control until the power could be turned off and the fire could be brought under control. About 45 minutes later, the situation was under control and police reopened traffic in both directions.
Residents of Ridgecrest West called police on the evening of 6/9 about downed wires in the area. Some residents had lost power. Police found tree branches in the road, which were subsequently picked up.
On the evening gof 6/9, a caller at 1 Tompkins Road stated that she saw a transformer explode across from the library. Police checked and found everything in good order in the area.
A tree fell on Woodland Place on 6/9, landed on a parked car and knocked down power lines. The car, a 2007 Honda, belonged to Robert Jensen of Warren Avenue in Tuckahoe. Con Edison was called to remove the wires so that the car could be moved.
Accidents: Brian Turner of Yonkers parked his 2010 Infiniti on East Parkway in Scarsdale on the afternoon of 6/10. When he returned to his car he found that a shopping cart had rolled onto East Parkway and struck his car. He reported the incident for insurance purposes.
A Tunstall Road man passed out while driving his 1994 Honda on Saturday afternoon 6/11 on Palmer Avenue. The car drove off Palmer Avenue and hit a sign in front of 15 Palmer. The man was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Theft: Three bicycles, together valued at $750 were taken from the garage of a Rock Creek Lane home on 6/11. The garage door had been left open. A skateboard was found in the bushes and police suspect that the thieves arrived on the skateboard and left on the bikes.
A policeman from the Eastchester Police Department said that one of his residents received a call from the 711 store in Scarsdale. The caller made derogatory remarks about his daughter.
Arrest: Michael Arciuolo age 32 of Cambridge Avenue, White Plains was arrested in Scarsdale on a bench warrant on 6/8. He was processed and given a court appearance date of 6/15. He was also found to be wanted by the city of Beacon – and Beacon police travelled to Scarsdale and took Arciuolo into custody.
Unwanted guests: At The Search for Change Residence at 1241 Post Road, a counselor called the police on the evening of 6/6 when a man arrived to see his girlfriend. She refused to see him for personal reasons and the counselor asked him to leave the property. Police warned the man that if he returns, he will be arrested for trespassing. At the boyfriend’s request, his girlfriend returned the man’s credit card to him.
A yellow cab driver requested police assistance to find a Scarsdale address at 3:20 am on 6/11. Police escorted the cab to the address.
Family Offers $100,000 Reward for Information in Spierer Case
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It’s now been seven long days since Edgemont’s Lauren Spierer disappeared in Bloomington, Indiana where she recently completed her sophomore year. Though police, family, friends and over 400 volunteers have been scouring the area the investigation has failed to lead to Lauren.
Here are the latest developments in the case:
A New York Post article updated on Thursday morning June 9th reports that a male friend, Corey Rossman was seen entering her apartment building with her at 2:40 am. According to witnesses, Spierer was drunk and Rossman was “overly aggressive” and “belligerent.” Rossman took a polygraph test and gave conflicting reports in the news about what happened that night – in one report he says he last saw her walk away at 4:30 am.
However, in another report he says he was punched in the face and “has no memory of their last moments together.” His first memory was of the following morning when he woke up in his bed.
Lauren Spierer’s father announced that the family is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to her safe return.
Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, has offered a $10,000 reward for information.
In a press briefing, Lieutenant Bill Parker said that police and volunteer searches will continue, and that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will provide resources and help to coordinate the search.
Police obtained a search warrant and broke down the doors at the Smallwood Apartment Building on the night of 6/7 and seized the security camera footage.
Still No Sign of Spierer
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It’s now been a week since Lauren Spierer’s disappearance – and despite a full-fledged search, lucrative rewards and intervention by many agencies, she has still not been found.
However her parents and the police are keeping the spotlight on the case and marshalling hundreds of volunteers who are participating in search parties that go out three times a day.
Here is the latest update:
Police say that though there was an altercation involving a companion of Lauren’s on the night she vanished, she herself was not in the fight. So far the identities of the aggressors in the fight have not been revealed though the people who were involved were presumably among the last to see Lauren Spierer.
In a press conference shown on the Herald Times Online website , Spierer’s Dad urged private landowners in the area to check their barns, sheds and garages and invited them to contact Bloomington police for assistance in these searches of private properties,
Monetary rewards for information continue to grow:
The Spierer family offered $100,000 reward for information leading to the return of their daughter.
Bloomington attorney Ken Nunn pledged $25,000 “for the apprehension and conviction of the people responsible” in Spierer’s disappearance. Nunn said that he’s convinced someone knows what happen to Spierer.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay provided a $10,000 reward
The owners of Smallwood Plaza, John and Kara Jacobs, established the “Help Find Lauren Fund” at Old National Bank with $10,000 on Thursday. As of Thursday afternoon, that fund had grown to an estimated $20,000.
The “Help Find Lauren Fund" has been created by the Hillel Foundation at Indiana University, and donation can be made via this link. Checks can also be sent to the Hillel Foundation at Indiana University with “Help Find Lauren Fund " noted on the memo line and mailed to the following address:
Hillel Foundation
730 East 3rd Street
Bloomington, IN 47401
Check this link daily for updates.
Day 6: Update on the Search for Lauren Spierer
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Wednesday, June 8th: According to published reports, Bloomington, Indiana police issued a search warrant at Smallwood Plaza, the apartment complex where missing Indiana University and Edgemont resident Lauren Spierer resides.
The police seized two computer hard drives from rooms off of the lobby believed to contain security camera footage from the night Lauren Spierer went missing.
According to the local Fox News affiliate, at about 8:25pm local time, police used a battering ram to knock down two doors near the lobby of the apartment building since a Smallwood Plaza staff member was not on-site to provide a key to gain access.
Lauren’s parents, Charlene and Robert Speirer were reportedly present when the police searched the complex but left before the police did.
Bloomington Police will hold a press conference later this morning.
Developing….
Tuesday June 7th: About 400 people are continuing to search for Edgemont’s Lauren Spierer on Tuesday June 7th. According to the Indiana Daily Student, searches are scheduled for 10 am, 2 pm and 5 pm today in Bloomington for the Indiana University student who was last seen on Friday June 2 at 4:30 am.
In addition, police released new details about the case on Tuesday morning.
- Though there is no suspect, police do have the names of people of interest
- Lieutenant Bill Parker of the Bloomington Police Department confirmed that someone saw Spierer at 4:30 am on Friday
- Police suspect that foul play was involved
- Her hair may have been cut or colored
- Police have her cell phone, which she left with her shoes at Kilroy’s Sports Bar on the night of her disappearance
- Police also found a small purse along with Spierer’s key on the path between her friend’s apartment and Smallwood Plaza
In Scarsdale concerned neighbors and friends will gather for a prayer service for Spierer at her temple, Scarsdale Synagogue on Ogden Road at 7 pm on Tuesday. An email from Rabbi Klein, Rabbie Gordon and Cantor Becker says, “In such a situation, there is little we can do, and yet we feel the need to “do something." Whether or not you know the family, we can come together as one community to share our concern and pray for this family.”
As so many in Edgemont and Scarsdale know Lauren and her family and have children her age, the news is terribly troubling. A Help Find Lauren Spierer Facebook page has over 8,700 followers.
In Bloomington the Jewish community has organized as well and Hillel at Indiana University is helping to coordinate the search. Visit their web page here.
Lauren Spierer, age 20 of Edgemont is a student at Indiana University who vanished at 4:30 am on Friday June 2nd. The plight of the 4’11” college sophomore has captured national attention and hundreds have mobilized in an effort to find her. Now in its fifth day her story is being reported far and wide. Her parents were interviewed on the Today Show on Tuesday morning – see the interview here:
See the original post on Spierer's disappearance here.
