batavia

A motor-vehicle accident with airbag deployment is reported on East Main Street, Batavia.

The vehicle may have struck the former Sunoco station in Eastown Plaza.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 7:30 a.m.: One vehicle. One patient. The vehicle did strike the building. No damage. The victim is out of the car. Engine 15 back in service.

GO Art! will be featured on WGRZ CH 2 at about 6:25 a.m. and 6:55 a.m. They are here to do a community segment on the great works that are currently at GO Art! 

Pictured above Kevin O'Neill, Tammy Hathaway, Gregory Hallock.

Press release:

Longtime Notre Dame football Coach Rick Mancuso (ND Class of 1976) has announced his retirement from coaching with the goal of spending more time with his family especially his grandchildren.

In announcing his decision, Rick said: “All of us reach a time of reflection on where we’ve been and where we are going. Over the course of the last 35-plus years my family, as all coaches families, sacrificed to allow me to be a part of something special.

"At this moment of my life I would like to spend more time being a part of our children and grandchildren’s lives and create memories that we will forever cherish.”

Coach Mancuso’s retirement ends a 37-year relationship with ND football during which he coached for 22 seasons and spent the other 15 as a key member of the football program’s support staff. Rick began his football coaching career at Notre Dame as the Head JV coach in the fall of 1981. In 2005, he took on the daunting task of replacing retiring HOF Coach Bill Sutherland as Varsity Head Football Coach.

This was the beginning of a very successful coaching career the highlights of which include qualifying for sectional competition in nine of his 13 seasons as Varsity Football Coach, winning Sectional Championships in 2006 and 2012, advancing to the title game on three other occasions and winning three GR League championships.

Although most recognizable for his football coaching role, Coach Mancuso has also been a successful coach at his alma mater in other sports as well. He coached Varsity softball for five seasons from 2011-2015 winning a State Championship in 2012 after advancing to the State finals in 2011.

His softball squads brought home “the Block” in 2011 and 2012 as well as earning three GR championships. He also was a successful JV and Varsity baseball coach and even coached Modified basketball where his squads only lost one game in two seasons.

Rick has had a positive impact on the lives of numerous Notre Dame athletes and has always been there for them both on and off the field. He has built relationships that have stood the test of time and has always been a resource for young coaches seeking mentorship as they begin their careers. He has always taken pride in the numerous alumni on his coaching staff.

A prominent local businessman who is a lifelong resident of Batavia, Rick and his wife, Julie, are parents of five Notre Dame graduates Morgan (’01), Alexandra (03), Rick (05), Pat (’08) and Maddie (’14). They have both donated countless hours to the betterment of the Notre Dame experience for all our students as well as helping to keep the school vibrant and an affordable option to any who would like to attend.

Photo: File photo

Press release:

Enrollment is open at Genesee Community College for the spring semester and it is focused on preparing students for the region's specific job opportunities.

The entire schedule of more than 500 courses is available athttps://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/. Search by subject, location, term or time of day. With classes starting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, the time to enroll is now!

A study by Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (EMSI) predicts an 18-percent increase in the number of medical assistant jobs in our region from 2016 to 2023. This semester, there are seven medical-related courses available to kick off a high-demand career by earning for Medical Office Assistant Certificate usually in one year, or a Medical Administrative Assistant, AAS degree in approximately two years.

GCC's other healthcare related degrees are also on the list of EMSI's high-demand careers. Physical therapist assistants, nurses, respiratory care therapists, sleep technologists and veterinary technologists are all great options for long-term career success.

"Healthcare education remains a priority here at GCC. We have excellent professors and instructors, and with state-of-the-art labs and our small class sizes, students' hands-on learning is second to none!" Virginia (Ginny) Taylor, Ph.D., vice president for Student & Enrollment Services said.

"Sometimes people forget that the spring semester is a great time to launch new career aspirations and academic goals."

For those interested in website development career, basic HTML coding and web page design is covered in Web Publishing (CIS113). Microcomputers (CIS116) and Programming and Problem Solving (CIS125) are also offered this spring semester. ESMI projects more than 125 new job opportunities in this sector in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Ontario and Wyoming) region in the next six years making a Web Design certificate or associate degree a perfect resume builder.

Supply chain management is a key element to every major industry today. To get started on this career, consider a Business Administration: Supply Chain Management, AAS degree which can be earned entirely online. Begin with Principles of Business Logistics (BLM101), which reviews the efficient and cost effective flow of everything from initial raw materials to finished products.

Specifically, students cover accurate and timely information sharing, purchasing, transportation and distribution management, warehousing and inventory controls and so much more. Register today as classes are filling up!

In addition to courses at all seven campus locations in Albion, Arcade, Batavia, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw, GCC offers more than 150 online courses.

With so many concentrations to choose from and so many online opportunities, making a personal appointment with GCC student success coach is a perfect way to start the conversation about what is best for you. Call 585-345-6805 to set up an appointment or email SSC@geneseee.edu.

The 25 projects vying for a piece of the $10 million prize awarded by the state to Batavia as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative are full of ideas for dining, entertainment and downtown living and this just what the committee considering the proposals should concentrate on, Steve Hyde said near the end of last night's review of the projects.

Hyde, CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, is co-chair of the Local Planning Committee for the DRI.

Quoting from a book he's reading on planning, he said, " 'If a place lacks attractive shopping, dining, and entertainment options, it may struggle to attract and retain workers and employers as a result.'

"Keep that in mind as another piece of this," he added. "It really is embodied in our goals and strategies. Shopping, dining and entertainment are very important considerations as we try to move from that millennials' complex of Blahtavia."

The projects range from $39,000 to expand downtown's art canvas to $5 million for the Ellicott Street Corridor or $5 million for proposed Healthy Living Center.

Altogether, the 25 projects total more than $24 million in requested DRI funding.

The committee will need to whittle down the requests to $15 million total and state officials will make the final decision on which projects get funded for how much, to a total of $10 million.

Here's a summary of the projects:

• Theater 56:
  • Total project cost, $701,750. Funding request, $546,000. Location, in City Center at the former location of Dent Neurological. Proposed by Batavia Players. It would create a theater, offices and storage. 
• BOA/BP2 Strategic Site Advancement
  • Total project cost $30 million. Funding request, $3 million. This project involves rehabilitation and new development at the mall, including extending Jackson Street.
• BOA/BP2 Strategic Site Advancement
  • Total project costs, $15 million. Funding request, $1 million. This funding would assist construction of the Health Living Center proposed by the YMCA and UMMC.
• BOA/BP2 Strategic Site Advancement
  • Total project costs, $15 million. Funding request, $1 million. This is for construction of new residential apartments off Evans Street and by the Tonawanda Creek. There is reportedly a developer with ties to Genesee County who has experience with large BOA projects in cities such as Corning who is interested in this project.
• Batavia Innovation Zones
  • Project cost, $400,000. Funding request, $200,000. This is a request by the BDC to create more business incubator space similar to the current construction of freshLab in the former Newberry's building. The new incubators would be planned for the Carr's buidling, the public market, and GO Art!
• Newberry Place Lofts
  • Project cost, $350,000. Funding request, $150,000. This is to assist with the existing project, which includes completion of three market-rate apartments in the building and the addition of a beer garden in Jackson Square.
• Ellicott Place
  • Project cost, $2.5 million. Funding request, $1.15 million. This project would create retail spaces on the Ellicott Street side of the current Sav-A-Lot building (currently vacant space in the building), the addition of apartments on the second floor, and the creation of interior parking for new apartments.
• Healthy Living Campus
  • Project cost, $22.5 million. Funding request, $5 million. This is a joint project of the YMCA and UMMC for new construction on the site of the current Y, the Cary Building and the vacant lot once occupied by the Elks Lodge. It would be an 85,000-square-foot building with more than 140 full-time equivilant employees. 
• Downtown Public Market
  • Project cost, $2 million to $3 million. Funding request, $1 million. This would create a permanent structure for the public market at Bank Street and Alva Place.
• 214 & 216 E. Main St.
  • Project cost, $150,000. Funding request, $90,000. This project would restore the facade to its vintage look of 216 E. Main, the former Montgomery Ward and upgrade the facade of 214 E. Main St.
•  Jackson Square
  • Project cost, $750,000. Funding request, $500,000. This would complete the Jackson Square project started in 2004 by removing the concrete in Jackson Square and replacing it with brick, including the entryways off Jackson and Center streets.
• GO Art! Arts & Cultural Center
  • Project cost, $2.2 million. Funding request, $1.98 million. This project would include upkeep and upgrades to Seymore Place at Main and Bank, including the addition of an elevator and performance space on the second floor.
• Ellicott Station
  • Project cost, $23 million. Funding request, $425,000. The money is requested to cover an unexpected environmental remediation expense -- the removal of an old drainage canal under the property.
• Ellicott Street Corridor
  • Project cost, $5 million. Funding request, $5 million. To help tie together two sections of the Ellicott Trail and to make Ellicott Street more attractive and safer for pedestrians and bike riders, this would add a median to the street and create a barrier between bike lanes and vehicle traffic.
• Batavia City Art Canvas
  • Project cost, $39,000. Funding requests, $39,000. A project championed by local artist Brian Kemp that is already underway, the money would be used to buy supplies for artists to create more murals downtown and create material for a walking tour of Downtown Batavia's outdoor art.
• Downtown Marketing/Branding
  • Project cost, $250,000. Funding request, $200,000. A request by the Business Improvement District for new marketing material and branding approach for Downtown.
• Carr's Reborn
  • Project cost, $7.1 million. Funding request, $1.5 million. A request to complete restoration of the Carr's building and the former Genesee Bank. These would be mixed-use developments with retail, a cafe and apartments.
• Batavia Showtime
  • Project cost, $250,000. Funding request, $250,000. The proposal is for a new marquee on the theater, lounge seating, and a 3D-movie system.
• Historic Masonic Temple 
  • Project cost, $750,000. Funding request, $290,000. This project includes adding an elevator to make the third and fourth floors more accessible. The owner, Dave Howe, could then potentially convert those floors to apartments.
• 206 E. Main St.
  • Project cost, $674,000. Funding request, $404,000. Rehabilitation of the second floor of the building, adding a banquet facility and bar for Main St. Pizza Company, and market-rate apartments.
• 315 and 327 Ellicott St.
  • Project cost, $120,000. Funding request, $80,000. Improvements to commercial and residential units.
• Waggoner Building
  • Project cost, $77,000. Funding request, $38,500. Renovations to second-floor office space. Location is School and Jackson streets.
• Game On
  • Project cost, $150,000. Funding request, $150,000. Owner is requesting funding for new equipment, marketing and working capital.
• Borrell's Gym
  • Project cost, $100,000. Funding request, $80,000. Improvements to the gym.
• Vance Group
  • Project cost $70,000. Funding request, $40,000. Improvements to the facade and residential units at corner of Liberty and Ellicott streets.

There were also requests for projects outside the DRI boundary, including upgrades to Faletti Ice Arena, two buildings on South Swan, and improvements to Austin Park. The committee seemed to not favor considering these projects.

Consultant Ed Flynn will need to work with some of the projects to get more details for the proposal and the committee will try to pick several of the most viable projects and perhaps ask the owners or project leaders to make a presentation to the committee.

Top photo: Consultant Ed Flynn.

Eric Fix and Craig Yunker

Tom Turnbull

Marianne Clattenburg, Susie Ott, Tammy Hathaway

Tops announced the same-day home delivery service being available across the chain’s footprint in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, as well as Erie, Pa., in the last quarter of 2017. Tops anticipates rolling out the service into most of its remaining stores by the end of first quarter of 2018.

As one of the region’s largest supermarket chains, Tops customers throughout the geographic footprint, whether residing in a larger city or a rural community, now have access to same-day home delivery from Instacart. 

Thousands of items including fresh meat, seafood, and produce literally are right at shoppers fingertips and delivered to their doors in as little as one hour. Customers will not only find a vast majority of Tops in store deals online, but will still find the brands they love, all while earning the gas points they value that they can redeem when they visit Tops fuel stations.

For more information on Instacart delivery from Tops please visit TopsMarkets.com/Instacart.

# # #

Tops Markets LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville and operates 169 full-service supermarkets with five additional by franchisees under the Tops banner. Tops employs more than 15,000 associates and is a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, Northern Pennsylvania, and Western Vermont. For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company's website at www.topsmarkets.com.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Water Department is on location of a water break in front of 53 Otis St. The water service will be interrupted on Otis Street from Ellicott Street to South Jackson Street.

We appreciate your understanding while this repair is made. Please avoid the area if possible. Every effort will be made to keep water service interruption to a minimum.

This work may result in a period of discolored water in this general area after service is restored. Residents should check to make sure water clarity has returned before resuming activities such as laundry which may be impacted. 

UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: The break is repaired. The crew did not need to turn off water to residents. The street should be open by noon.

A car has reportedly hit a pedestrian at West Main Street and Thomas Avenue, Batavia.

The victim has an injured foot.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 9:12 a.m.: The accident victim was reportedly told by somebody to leave the scene after being hit and is now at her job location. City fire is back in service.

Batavia High School Ice Blue Devils played Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a crosstown game tonight.

A packed arena was there to witness Notre Dame's total domination of Batavia HS. Notre Dame scored in the first few minutes of the first period and continued scoring until the end of regulation.

Batavia HS had a few shots on goal and at the end of the first period was able to control the puck for a few minutes. Outside of that, they did not offer much resistance to Notre Dame.

Final score, Blue Devils 0 Fighting Irish 10.

After the game players form both teams posed for pictures together for their parents. Hockey aside, the players from both teams are all friends and neighbors. 

Though there was no announcement to the media that she was coming, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand spent about an hour in Batavia this morning meeting with constituents at the Richmond Memorial Library.

A camera crew from CBS's 60 Minutes accompanied her.

After the meeting, she agreed to a two-minute interview with The Batavian.

The meeting, she said, was arranged by her staff, who reached out to local agencies that provide assistance to area residents and those agencies selected attendees to the discussion.

"I wanted to hear directly from my constituents about their lives and what's going on and what challenges they have because I often find that people in Washington are so disconnected from reality and the people we represent," Gillibrand said. "I think Washington is pretty much broken so I like to come into my communities and listen to their stories directly and hear exactly what their challenges are."

She said the conversation was productive.

"What we heard was really interesting," she said "There is a lot of strain on costs of child care, access to affordable quality daycare, lots of strain on just putting food on the table and having health care they can afford. There is a real need for higher wages or more job opportunities and then lowering costs for both child care and health care."

While this was not a campaign stop, we asked about the 2018 campaign when she's up for reelection.

"I just want to make sure I'm fighting for the right things, and what these listening opportunities do for me is let me hear directly from people about what really is troubling them," she said.

We asked her about the potential for an infrastructure bill in 2018 and what it might mean for Genesee County.

"I want to be optimistic about that because the one thing we all agree on is we really need to rebuild our state and rebuild our country," Gillibrand said. "There's such an eagerness for better roads, bridges, sewers, electric grid, high-speed rail, better rail. I mean it's an unlimited need in our state. We have, I think, the last number I heard was $70 billion of unmet sewer needs. We had over 2,000 bridges that needed some kind of structural repair. I'm hoping that this can be the one really good bipartisan things we can work on."

There is often speculation that Gillibrand is thinking about a run for president in 2020.

She said, "I'm focused entirely on 2018 and I really want to serve in the Senate. I feel privileged and honored to serve."

All the talk in political circles this morning was about Oprah Winfrey speech last night at the Golden Globes and whether she might be thinking of a run for president in 2020. 

With the mention of Oprah's name, Gillibrand said, "She did a great speech, inspiring and important." Asked if Oprah should run, Gillibrand said, "Whatever she wants to do. She's awesome."

Photos: Before Gillibrand entered the library this morning, she noticed a mother and her two children watching her enter, so she went over and greeted them and asked if they wanted to pose for a picture. They left before I could get their names.

Press release:

More than 200 local high school students will be participating in the inaugural Health Career Day at Genesee Community College in Batavia on Tuesday, Jan. 9^th.

The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will provide Genesee County students the opportunity to learn about high-growth and high-demand health careers and meet with medical professionals from over 10 different fields, including laboratory technologists, first responders, nurses, physical therapists, sonographers, radiologists and more.

Students will also participate in the Health Care College and Career Fair in the William W. Stuart Forum from 12 to 1 p.m., where they will meet with representatives from more than 20 colleges and health care providers.

The BEA Health Career Day is a special collaboration between the Genesee County Business Education Alliance (BEA), Rochester Regional Health United Memorial Medical Center, Genesee Community College Accelerated College Enrollment Programs, and the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.

Our mission is to promote employment opportunities with tomorrow’s workforce, as jobs in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The BEA Health Career Day will help secure the health and wellness of Genesee County for generations to come.

For more information, contact Genesee County Business Education Alliance Director Karyn Winters at KWinters@GeneseeNY.com or 343-7440.

Yesterday morning the 46-year-old Miles was arrested following a domestic incident at 207 Washington Ave., Batavia, where he allegedly tried to barricade himself in an apartment with a couch and then set it on fire.

After a standoff, because Miles had allegedly threatened to shoot police officers, Miles exited the burning apartment through a back window and refused to come down from a roof, before agreeing to climb down a ladder.

The District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case and has yet to recommend charges against Miles.

Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office announced that Miles is being charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd. 

Cases against Miles are still open from 2017 when he was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, torturing or injuring animals, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and criminal contempt.

Miles was arrested in August for allegedly putting his arm around the neck of another person and injecting a dog with an unknown purple liquid.

In July, he allegedly took a car belonging to another person without permission.

Following arraignment on the drug charges, Miles was returned to the Genesee County Jail without bail.

Dalton Chadwick Kelley, 20, of Chase Park, Batavia, is charged with attempted assault, 3rd, and harassment, 2nd. Kelley is accused of hitting another person in the forehead and of hitting a police officer during an incident at 11:03 p.m. Jan. 3 on Chase Park, Batavia. Kelley was jailed on $2,500 bail. Kelley is also accused of keying two vehicles at 6:25 p.m. the same day and was charged with two counts of criminal mischief, 4th.

Austin L. Wester, 23, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with four counts of possession of a forged instrument, 2nd. Wester is accused of forging four checks belonging to another person in order to cash them.

Devon Devonanir Rodgers, 30, of Pearl Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant out of City Court for alleged violations of the terms of his conditional release.

Alicia Michelle Gomez, 42, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with violation of probation. Gomez was released on a warrant stemming from a complaint in February. Gomez was jailed on $2,500 or $5,000 bond.

Frankie J. McQueen, 26, of Snipery Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, illegal signal, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. Officer Chad Richards was dispatched at 6:51 p.m. Dec. 27 to the area of Thomas Avenue for a report of a red Chevrolet Cobalt being driven erratically and at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was located and stopped at McQueen was identified as the operator.

Samuel A. Torrelli, 24, of Stage Road, Albion, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and inadequate headlights. Torrelli was stopped at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 28 on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Winston A. Lockhart, 22, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of harassment, 2nd. Lockhart was arrested on a City Court warrant after police were dispatched to 29 Holland Ave., Batavia, to investigate an unrelated disturbance. 

Zachary J. Marrow, 26, of Seven Springs Road, Batavia, was arrested on two warrants for alleged failure to appear in City Court after being served subpoenas. Marrow was located by Deputy Mathew Clor and turned over to Sgt. Eric Bolles and arraigned in City Court.

Levi Spikes Jr., 44, of Lewis Place, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 3rd, speed not reasonable and prudent, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, unlicensed operator, driving without insurance. Spikes was allegedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 9 a.m. Jan. 1 at 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia.

 Jacob J. Sponaugle, 18, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with driving while impaired by a combination of alcohol and drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, driving a vehicle without an inspection sticker, failure to keep right, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Sponaugle was stopped at 9:46 p.m. Dec. 29 on East Main Street, Batavia, by Officer James Prusak.

Joseph Michael. Smith, 41, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Smith is accused of stealing from his employer, a gas station and convenience store at 629 East Main Street, Batavia, in November. Smith was also charged with petit larceny for allegedly shoplifting from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Justin T. Gladney, 28, no permanent address, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal trespassing, 3rd.

James Derek Wert, 36, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Wert was allegedly involved in an incident at T.F. Brown's on New Year's Eve where he violated an order of protection and struck another person in the face. 

Jonathan R. Hyman, 45, of Drake Street, Oakfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving a vehicle without an inspection sticker, and criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Hyman was stopped at 4:08 p.m. Saturday on Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Christopher Patino, 23, of Eagan Boulevard, Henrietta, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlawful possession of marijuana, and following too closely. Patino was stopped at 7:11 p.m. Friday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Micheal Lute.

Kenneth Joseph Rumble, 28, of Maple Road, Alabama, is charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument. Rumble was allegedly found in possession of a needle during a search by a probation officer.

Michael A. Shetler, 27, of Stafford, is charged with menacing, 2nd, unlawful imprisonment, criminal mischief, criminal mischief, 4th, acting in a manner injurious to a child. Shetler was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident reported at 9:29 p.m. Saturday in Stafford. No further details released.

Ricky O. Cooper, 40, of Le Roy, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cooper was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident in Pavilion reported at 11:20 p.m., Nov. 21. No further details released.

James M. Caccamise, 29, of Byron, is charged with forgery of a deed or will. Caccamise was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

Snowy owls have returned to the area. There are currently an estimated three to five in Genesee County. We did not have any consistent sightings last year like we did a few years ago.

This year’s snowy owl irruption (a sudden sharp increase in the relative numbers of a natural population usually associated with favorable alteration of the environment) was caused by a four-year cycle of lemming births that lead to an abundant food supply for the owls in the Arctic Circle this last spring and summer. This large food supply lead to a larger than normal birth rate of owls. Because there are more snowy owls, the young ones need to go further away in the winter to find uncrowded hunting grounds. This is why we currently have so many birds here in Western New York.

The 2014-2014 snow owl irruption was the largest on record (records have been kept on snowy owls since 1890) Given the number of snowy owls that are currently in NY State, this year may surpass even the 2013-2014 irruption.

If you go out to see this winter's snowy owls or any of the other area raptors, please be courteous and safe when doing so. Respect all rules of the road and private property. If you are observing the birds with binoculars try to stay in your car to use it as a blind. If you are trying to photograph the bird, a lens over 400mm is suggested. Do not approach the bird any closer than 100 yards. If the bird is closer than 100 yards to the road it is considered OK to observe from your car. 

A Washington Avenue resident with a criminal history and wanted on a warrant was taken into custody this morning after police were called to a domestic incident where he allegedly threatened to shoot police and later set fire to his own apartment.

Eddie Miles eventually came down a ladder from the back of the apartment on his own, which allowed firefighters to begin attacking the fire in the second floor and attic of 207 Washington Ave., Batavia.

He was taken to the hospital for evaluation of injuries sustained in the domestic incident and the subsequent blaze.

Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence said the dispatch center received a call about a domestic incident at the upper apartment at 8:55 this morning. Two officers quickly responded and Miles allegedly smashed a window and threatened to use a firearm against them.

At that point, a perimeter was established in the neighborhood with the aid of the Sheriff's Office and State Troopers. There was a reverse 9-1-1 call placed to neighbors near the scene, telling them to lockdown, shelter in place. 

Police grabbed a ladder from neighbors at the scene, though the woman jump from the stoop roof into the arms of police officers. She was taken to the hospital for the evaluation of injuries sustained in the domestic incident, Lawrence said.

A fire, believed to have been intentionally set by Miles, broke out in the rear of the upper apartment. Miles refused to leave and kept calling 9-1-1, demanding to speak with the female, who had by then been transported to the hospital.

As smoke poured from the house, police were concerned for the safety of firefighters with a potentially armed suspect still at large. The firefighters could not approach the house. An unarmed Miles came out on the roof. Between the very cold weather and the house fire, Lawrence said the bare-footed Miles had some incentive to climb down the ladder unaided. 

He was taken into custody.

Fire scene commander Lt. Greg Ireland said it goes against a firefighter's nature to sit back and watch a house burn but until the suspect was in custody that was all city crews could do. They were initially called to the scene to assist with rescuing the woman from the house, which was not yet on fire when they were called. Once they were cleared to attack the fire, firefighters made quick work of it and contained the fire to the second floor and attack.

Lawrence said police are not certain Miles actually had a firearm; none was found.

At about 1 p.m., City Fire cleared the scene, but police and code enforcement remain on Washington Avenue and the duty sergeant has informed dispatch, this incident will tie up the officers who responded for much of the rest of the day. Additional patrols are on duty.

In addition to other arrests over the past few years, Miles was a suspect in a choking incident and the injection of a purple liquid into a dog in August.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: In response to rumors being spread on social media, we asked if the police used tear gas. Chief Shawn Heubusch said there was no tear gas used. Further, police believe evidence points to Miles starting the fire, not the police.

Photos by Howard Owens. Howard Owens contributed to the reporting of this story.

Video submitted by Jim Horncastle.

UPDATE: Photo submitted by Jim Horncastle.

Press release:

The third ARTiculations Ability Exhibition -- a forum for artists with disabilities in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties to display their work publicly -- will open at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in Batavia on Jan. 19.

Titled "8 X 10," it features the work of Chris Humel, who uses intensely hued acrylics, to depict postage stamps and other mail-related themes. Twenty years ago, he cofounded the still-active band BC Psychos; he will be teaching a five-week course, “Cartoons by Kids” for young people 10 to 15, at GO ART! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Art Council) in Batavia.

A product of a partnership between ILGR and the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), the exhibit will be on display through March 29^th. The opening reception, featuring Humel on his guitar, is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan.19th at ILGR’s office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia. 

In Humel's own words, "I am a person with disabilities. I am 55 years old. I have been battling schizophrenia and related depressing problems for most of my life. My work is about breaking out of isolation and 'going postal' in a good way, by making contact with artists, writers and through the Post Office."

Other artists with disabilities residing in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are encouraged to submit their work to this juried competition, as there will be additional ARTiculations planned quarterly exhibits in the future.

For over a year, ILGR has been “art partnering” for people with disabilities with the UHAA, a group of artists in North Buffalo with a commitment to community that places art in businesses and nonprofits through an established ARTpartnering program.

The organizers are pleased to note that the ARTiculations Ability Exhibitions has “mapped” into UHAA’s system by placing a plaque with a Quick Response (QR) code scatter bar graph that can bring up information about it when scanned by your smartphone.

For questions on the event, please call Patricia AbdusSalaam at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400. 

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

A reader provided these photos of a police barricade on Washington Avenue that is apparently in progress now.

For the past 30 minutes or so there has been a lot of encrypted/scrambled communication on the scanner. 

We have no further information at this time on the incident.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 9:50 a.m.: There's a structure fire here. Black smoke is billowing from the attic of a house. City fire and Mercy medics are responding, The location is between Tracy Avenue and Bank Street.

UPDATE 9:56 a.m.: One person is in custody. There are no life-threatening injuries. The address is 207 Washington Ave. Elba Fire Department is called to provide city firefighters with mutual aid. Sgt. Dan Coffey said this started as a domestic incident and that the subject in custody is suspected of starting the house fire.

UPDATE 10:13 a.m.: Officer Marc Lawrence said a female was rescued from the house fire; she did not have life-threatening injuries.