batavia

Missing from the Williams Street / Otis Street area in the City of Batavia is a beloved pet cat named Darrell.

Short hair, black, with a few white hairs on his chest.

No collar. Declawed and neutered male. Indoor cat.

Friendly, but may be afraid since he isn't used to being outside.

If you find him or even see him in your area, please call or text (585) 297-3009.

Haley Christine Keyser, 35, of Strasbourg Drive, Cheektowaga, is charged with aggravated harassment -- physical contact due to race, and disorderly conduct. Following a complaint at Six Flags Darien Lake at 5:28 p.m. May 30, Keyser was arrested. She allegedly subjected a victim to physical harm, yelled obscenities and racial slurs in a public place. She was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Darien Town Court on June 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Krzemien, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

Matthew Jacob Zon, 39, of East Main Street, Byron, is charged with criminal contempt in the first degree and criminal obstruction of breathing. He was arrested at 6:35 p.m. May 29 after a disturbance on East Main Street in the Town of Byron. Zon was arraigned in Town of Stafford Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash, $5,000 bond, or $15,000 partially secured bond. Zon is due in Genesee County Court on June 28. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Kyle Tower.

Tevin Bloom, 27, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, second-degree harassment and criminal mischief. At 9 p.m. on May 20, Bloom was arrested after an investigation into a domestic incident where Bloom was allegedly involved in a physical altercation. He allegedly damaged property inside the victim's apartment. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is due there June 23.

Dustin Wilcox, 36, was arrested on May 20 by Batavia Police Officer Peter Post and charged with disorderly conduct. It is alleged that he was involved in a fight on Washington Avenue. He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court today (June 1).

Lawrence Boone, 30, was arrested outside a Batavia residence after being located by police May 20; he is charged with disorderly conduct. It is alleged that he physically fought another male in the street. Boone was due in Batavia City Court on May 25.

Rachel Baehr, 34, was arrested May 21 and charged with second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. At 2:57 p.m. May 14 on Oak Street, it is alleged Baehr was involved in a physical altercation during a domestic incident. She was issued an appearance ticket for a future date in Batavia City Court.

Kevin Thomas, 32, turned himself in on numerous active warrants May 18 and was arraigned in Batavia City Court. He is charged with burglary in the second degree, criminal contempt in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal mischief in the third degree; endangering the welfare of a child; and first-degree criminal contempt. The charges stem from a domestic incident that occurred May 4 on Walnut Street. Bail was set at $1 and Thomas is due back in court June 22.

Ray Spencer-Lindqui Saile, 19, of Judge Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with second-degree menacing. On May 28 at 3:45 a.m., the dispatch center received a report of a domestic incident involving a knife on Bloomingdale Road in Alabama. An investigation at the scene allegedly revealed the defendant possessed a knife, which caused the victim to fear being injured. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Sgt. Michael Lute.

Ernest Jerome Heineman, 40, of Old Creek Road, Alexander, is charged with aggravated harassment in the second-degree. At 3 a.m. on May 30, Heineman was arrested for an incident that occurred at 7:30 p.m. May 1 on Old Creek Road. It is alleged that he sent threatening text messages to a person, causing them to fear for their safety. He was arraigned in Alexander Town Court and he was served with an order of protection. He is due in Genesee County Court July 13. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, assisted by Deputy Jordan Alejandro.

Stephanie Lynn Salcido, 31, of Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated; driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs and alcohol; driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk; failure to stop at a stop sign; and failure to keep right. At 11 p.m. on May 30, Salcido was arrested on the charges. She was issued appearance tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on June 16. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.

Zachari Morgan, 25, is charged with second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He was arrested May 26 at DeWitt Recreation Area after he allegedly threw a rock at another person, striking them in the head during an altercation. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Then on May 27, Morgan was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. It is alleged that at 5:11 p.m. on May 25, Morgan slapped and threw a person to the ground, causing injury, during a domestic incident at DeWitt Recreation Area. He was arraigned in city court and released on his own recognizance. Morgan is due back in court July 8.

Modesto Domingo-Cardenas, 27, is charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and harassment in the second degree. He was arrested after a domestic incident at 1:15 p.m. May 25 on Pearl Street in Batavia. It is alleged that he slapped a person and then attempted to prevent them from leaving the residence. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court July 1.

Thomas Martin, 80, is charged with third-degree menacing following a dispute at 5:04 p.m. May 26 on McKinley Avenue. Martin allegedly threatened another male. He was issued an appearance ticket for June 1 in Batavia City Court.

Eric Gant Jemison, 48, of West Center Street, Medina, is charged with: operating a motor vehicle while having a BAC of .08 percent or more -- first offense; driving while intoxicated -- first offense; operating a motor vehicle without stop lights. At 9:05 p.m. on May 28, Jemison was arrested after deputies responded to Judge Road in Alabama for a complaint of a vehicle that struck a stop sign and drove away. Deputies located the vehicle a short time later. Jemison was released with appearance tickets for June 8 in Alabama Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Kyle Tower. 

Timothy James Passage, 37, of Squire Court, Amherst, is charged with possession of a forged instrument in the first degree. At 12:22 p.m. on May 28, Passage was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Pembroke Court. He allegedly passed a fake U.S. $20 bill while at Tim Hortons in Pembroke. He was transported to Genesee County Jail to be arraigned virtually. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Deputy Chad Cummings.

Joseph Freeman, 38, and Lynn Homer, 48, were arrested on warrants out of Batavia City Court at 3:38 p.m. April 28. It is alleged that they stole while together at a local business. They were arraigned in city court then released under supervision of Genesee Justice. Freeman is due back in court June 23; Homer is due back in court June 24. 

Kyle Shea, 26, was arrested May 20 on a warrant out of Batavia City Court for failure to appear after appearance tickets were served. It is alleged that Shea was driving a motor vehicle on Aug. 9 on Willow Street while his driver's license was suspended and so was the vehicle's registration. Shea turned himself in, was arraigned in city court, and the matter was resolved by plea. No further court proceedings are pending.

Paul Schwartzmeyer, 42, was arrested and charged with having a dog running at large. It is alleged that at 8:05 p.m. May 18 at an apartment complex parking lot, Schwartzmeyer allowed his dog to run at large and it attacked another dog. He was issued an appearance ticket to be in Batavia City Court on June 15.

Goats are in the roadway at 7015 Townline Road, Byron, east of Tripp Road.

"The caller's trying to keep them out of the roadway," says the dispatcher.

Genesee County Sheriff's deputies are responding.

Meanwhile in the city, police are asked to respond to Summit Street near North Street for a report of a vehicle parked on the wrong side of the street.

UPDATE 11:09 a.m.: In the city, the responding officer says "All the vehicles are legally parked; I'll be clear."

Press release:

On May 31st at 3:51 p.m., the Batavia Police were dispatched to Otis Street for the report of a 6-year old female who had been struck by a vehicle. Upon patrols arriving on the scene, the child was conscious and speaking with officers. City of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy EMS crews responded and evaluated the child on scene. 

The child was then transported to the Mercy Flight helipad, where the child was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The accident occurred on private property at the residence on Otis Street, not on the roadway. Batavia Police interviewed the residents that were present at the time, including the driver. The operator, after disconnecting a trailer from his pickup truck, moved the vehicle striking the child who was in the yard on the passenger side of the vehicle. No impairment or intoxication is suspected, and no charges are pending.

At this time the child remains at Strong Memorial Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Previously: 6-year-old run over by a vehicle on Otis Street in the city

A 6-year-old child was reportedly run over by a vehicle at 117 Otis St. in the city. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: Police are on scene.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: Command asks that the availability of Mercy Flight be checked.

UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: A 6-year-old girl who lives at the address was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Before the accident occurred, a man at the address backed a trailer loaded with ATVs into the side yard and unhooked the trailer. After unhitching the trailer, he got back into his truck and pulled forward. That's when he heard the girl scream. He told police he knew the girl was outside playing with her dog but thought she was on the other side of the house.

Here are photos from the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Veterans Hospital, the NYS Vets Home, the Upton Monument, and the War Memorial at Jerome Center.

This is Scarlett, a nearly 6-month-old cat who lives on Monclair Avenue in the city. She has never been outside, until now of course, and her household is up in arms over her sudden disappearance.

Naturally, you are expected to keep your eyes peeled and find this feline, who by the way, was named after the fictional heroine Scarlett O'Hara and not Hollywood's Scarlett Johansson.

"She almost looks Chinese, but she's not," says her mom, Tracey Cook. (Did she mean Siamese?)

She suspects Scarlett may have darted out last night around midnight when her son, who lives happily in the basement, left to walk his girlfriend home from work.

This morning at 8 o'clock, the neighbor lady in the adjoining duplex reported seeing a slim snip of a white and gray cat on her back porch but had no idea it was Cook's cat -- since it had never been outside, until it got outside, you know.

The neighbor heretofore was only aware of Scarlett's big brother, who is neutered and goes in and out as he sees fit.

"I would've scooped her up," lamented the neighbor about the lost opportunity.

The neighbor said Scarlett was laying on the back porch. We say she was languidly lounging, oblivious, in a sunny spot before dashing off someplace in search of naughty fun.

"I'm afraid she'll get hit by a car ... we live close to Main Street," Cook wrote in her email, which also noted the prospect that someone might try to steal the kitten!

"She’s an emotional support animal and is in process of being registered as same," according to Cook.

Where's that emotional support when you need it most?

Scarlett's family and friends have scoured the neighborhood, peered up trees, beat the bushes and even went over to -- "Holland Ave," a known "hot cat spot," Cook says, to see if she wound up there.

Meanwhile, there are three "cat ladies" (they know who they are) who have been informed of this breach of security -- unauthorized access to the outside world --and they are quite skilled in cat-luring techniques.

Hopefully, it's just a matter of time. And it is ticking. Scarlett is due at the vet's in a couple days to be spayed.

An unspecified reward is being offered. 

​If you see Scarlett, call or text Tracey Cook at (585) 356-6082, or email:   brewertracey@aol.com

Photos courtesy of Tracey Cook.

Bryan Bartholomew submitted this photo of sunset over Lehigh Avenue, Batavia.

JoAnne Meiser submitted this photo of sunset in Indian Falls.

A dog is reportedly locked inside a red Ford Escape in a handicapped parking space across from Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel on Park Road. An animal control officer is responding.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: The officer is in the parking lot with the vehicle; she's waiting for a security guard from the Downs and has called for a zone car -- patrol car -- to the scene.

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Didn't hear an update other than the officer is clearing the scene at the Downs and heading to a dog-bite call received earlier today.

Marc C.J. Cook Sr., 30, of Church Street, Alabama, is charged with third-degree bail jumping, a Class A misdemeanor. Cook was arrested on May 27. In 2019 Cook was arrested for criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree. At that time, he was instructed to appear in Batavia City Court Sept. 15, 2020. Not only did he not appear in court on that date, he did not voluntarily turn himself in within 30 days of the required court appearance, according to the report from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office. Cook was arraigned virtually in city court and put in jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. He is due back in city court on June 15. Members of the GC Drug Enforcement Task Force made the arrest with assistance from Sheriff's deputies. The GC DA's office also assisted in the case.

Brandon D. Forsyth, 29, of Corfu, was arrested at 8:01 p.m. May 21 by Troopers out of SP Warsaw and charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to stop at stop sign. Troopers arrested Forsyth after a motor-vehicle accident involving a ATV on Schoellkopf Road in the Town of Bennington. Forsyth was issued traffic tickets returnable to Town of Bennington Court in June.

Darrin Mitchell Brown, 31, of West State Street, Albion, is charged with: driving while ability impaired by drugs; driving while intoxicated -- first offense; and failure to signal within 100 feet. On May 25 at about 2:45 a.m. on Clinton Street in Batavia, Brown was arrested following a traffic stop. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and issued appearance tickets to be in Batavia City Court on June 6. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, assisted by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Press release:

Horses and carriages! After skipping 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northampton Driving Society will hold its annual pleasure driving show on June 13 at Silver Shoe Farm, 3336 Pratt Road in Batavia.

Time is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The judge will be Jeff Morse, current chair of the American Driving Society’s pleasure driving committee and a longtime Morgan breeder and driving competitor. 

As always, there will be classes for both novice and experienced whips, and for equines from very small to horse. Marathon vehicles will be permitted as well as more traditional carriages.

Competitors are judged on “turn out” – the overall visually pleasing and appropriate combination of driver, horse, and vehicle – driving skill, and equine responsiveness. There will be cones classes in the afternoon which add the dimensions of patterns and speed.     

A food truck and vendors are planned to add an extra dimension to the showing and spectating experience.

There is no admission charge for spectators. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the day!

File photo by Howard Owens, taken in June 2015 at Silver Shoe Farm's annual pleasure driving show.

A caller to dispatch reports that a dog who resides in the 7800 block of Lewiston Road in Batavia is "always outside" and the caller is concerned about whether the dog has any food or shelter.

"It's been an ongoing issue for over a year now," says the dispatcher.

A two-vehicle accident is reported in the median in front of Arby's at 212 W. Main St. in Batavia. One driver is complaining of whiplash. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

The location is between Holland Avenue and Oak Street.

"I figured I was one of the lucky ones who didn't have to carry a rifle," Boyer said. "I was in the Signal Corps. I just did what I was supposed to do."

At 101, Boyer is likely to be the oldest veteran taking part in the City of Batavia's Memorial Day Parade on Monday. He will be part of the veterans contingent marching and riding with the Batavia Lions Club.

Boyer served in the Army Signal Corps, first in Italy, and then after the war ended in Europe, he was shipped off to the Philippines, arriving there the Friday before the war in the Pacific ended. He then participated in the occupation of Japan until his service time ended.

He said there was nothing remarkable about his time in the Army, repeating, "I just did what I was told to do."

The parade starts at Eastown Plaza at 9:45 a.m. and will proceed down Main Street to Bank Street before wrapping up at Alva Place. The current forecast for Monday is partly cloudy and a high of 70 degrees.

Submitted photo.

A National Fuel crew is at the Agribusiness Child Development Center at 18 Brooklyn Ave. in the city to fix a slight leak in a natural gas pipeline in the kitchen.

There were no ill effects.

The children in the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program were dismissed for the day about a half hour ago. 

The faint smell of natural gas was detected in the kitchen, where some work had recently been completed, but city fire's monitors could not get a reading. National Fuel did and it was decided to dismiss the children, rather than have them wait outside until repairs are complete, because of the possibility of rain.

The city fire assignment is back in service and the National Fuel is in charge of the scene.