Bergen

Christopher C. Good, 19, of Cohocton Road, Pembroke, was arrested June 8 and charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, stemming from an incident that occurred earlier that day. He was arraigned virtually by Bergen Town Court and released on his own recognizance. A subsequent investigation led to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office executing a search warrant on his residence June 15. Good was allegedly found in possession of a firearm, in violation of a previously served order of protection, and in possession of a high capacity ammunition feeding device. Good was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal contempt, a Class A misdemeanor, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony. Good was arraigned virtually in Genesee County Court and remained in custody of the Sheriff's Office, jailed in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond. The county DA's office assisted in the investigation.

Stephen J. Rucinski, 38, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with three misdemeanors and a violation, respectively: criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; obstructing governmental administration in the second degree; aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree; and no or inadequate license plate lamps. At 12:59 a.m. on June 9, Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy David Moore attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle in the area of Selden Road and Route 19 in the Town of Le Roy. The operator, Rucinski, allegedly fled from the vehicle into a wooded area north of Selden Road. Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, Deputy Andrew Mullen and K-9 Frankie arrived on scene to assist locating the defendant. Following a successful track by K-9 Frankie, Rucinski was taken into custody without incident. It is alleged that he was in possession of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest and that he was driving with a suspended NYS driver's license. He was released with appearance tickets returnable to Le Roy Town Court July 6. Also assisting in this case were Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Hale and members of the Le Roy Police Department.

Press release:

Are you up for the Companion Retriever Hunting Challenge? 

There will be one at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26 at Godfrey’s Pond, located at 7925 Godfrey's Pond Road.

This is a fun event representing an actual duck hunt over water and a field goose hunt and is open to all sporting dog breeds that hunt waterfowl.

It is open to handlers age 12 and up.

All dogs should be familiar with multiple shots from a 12-gauge shotgun.

NO dogs that currently hold a hunt test or field trial title can enter.

NO professional trainers allowed to handle dogs; professionally trained dogs may participate.

Registration fee is $35 per dog. All fees for the event will be donated to the Godfrey’s Pond’s conservation programs.

Scoring will be done by Jim Beverly.

First-, second- and third-highest scores will receive plaques. All handlers (regardless of score) will be entered into a lottery for prizes.

The focus is on enjoying the experience with the dogs and networking with fellow waterfowl hunters. 

There is no pressure and plenty of help available -- Jim Beverly and Andy Merkel will assist each handler with any training or handling tips for those needing it.

Contact Jim Beverly or Andy Merkel via email to request a registration form and specific information on what the event consists of.

Jim:  jbeverly@retrievertrainer.com

Andy:  amerkel@retrievertrainer.com

Here's a video posted on The Batavian on May 25, 2019:

A two-car accident with injuries is reported in Bergen at the intersection of Clinton Street Road and West Bergen Road. One Mercy ambulance is called to the scene in emergency mode; a second ambulance is requested. Bergen Fire Department is responding along with law enforcement.

There are two patients; one is complaining of neck and chest pain and has an eye laceration.

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Command reports a property damage accident at the same scene. A tow truck backed into an ambulance. The Bergen assisgnment is back in service. Mercy BLS #5 is transporting one patient to UMMC.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m.: One patient is a female with an injured, bleeding right hand. She also has an injured left ankle. There was air bag deployment and heavy front-end damage to her vehicle.

An accident involving a motorcycle is reported in the area of 7218 South Lake Road.

Mercy Flight is on a ground standby.

Bergen Fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Mercy Flight won't be required. A Mercy ambulance that was also responding has been put back in service.

UPDATE 5:34 p.m.: Bergen ambulance is transporting a patient to Strong.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.: Bergen assignment back in service.

A motorcycle accident is reported in Bergen at 7218 S. Lake Road. No other vehicles are believed to be involved. The motorcyclist is up and walking around but is bleeding. Bergen fire and Mercy medics are responding.

"Same as yesterday," said the dispatcher.

Two little girls are reportedly going door-to-door in the Village of Bergen asking for money.

One is wearing pink pajamas. The other, blue pajamas.

Previously: Callers complain about little beggars in Bergen

Two callers to dispatch report a pair of unsupervised little girls, about age 5, going door to door in Bergen asking people for money. One call was for Clinton Street and the other for Rochester Street.

Sheriff's deputies are responding.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: A sheriff's deputy asks where the girls were last seen and is told southbound in the first block on Clinton Street. He says he's delayed by a train momentarily.

UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: The deputy reports "checking the entirety of the village" and not finding the girls. He is going to speak with one of the callers who requested an interview.

UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: A reader shared the following:

The two little girls rang my doorbell after two o'clock. The older girl, about 7 years old, had a white, plastic grocery bag stretched out (trick or treat style), "Will you give us some money; we're homeless?" she asked. I looked her and her companion (she was about 5) over: they were in hoodie pajamas, barefoot. Both had brown hair and brown eyes. "You're barefoot. Aren't you cold?" I asked. "No, I'm okay," she replied. So I gave her some one-dollar bills I had handy and watched to see where they went. I called 911 and looked out my windows to see if there was an adult around or a car waiting on them. Neither was in sight. Last I saw them they were on my next-door neighbor's porch ringing his doorbell.

And:

Well, here's an update. The girls with their Mom just came to my door to apologize and return the money I gave them. "We're sorry. We were trying to help our Mom. We're not homeless." I replied, "It's always good to help your Mom, and it's always good to be honest." Mom waved at me, and they left. I guess that's a happy ending. I'll never know what "helping our Mom" meant. You can use the information however you choose. I'm glad that two little girls aren't wandering around without shoes or soliciting money.

From Laura A. Wadhams, P.E., assistant county engineer:

Here are updates for construction and road work that will be happening in Genesee County in the next few weeks.

• The Tower Hill Road Bridge west of Searls Road in Byron will be closing June 1 for a bridge replacement project. This project is expected to take three and a half months. The road will not be passable to regular traffic or emergency vehicles.
• The County Highway Department will be doing work on June 1^st and June 2^nd on Swamp Road in Bergen between West Sweden Road and the Village line. The road will be closed during the day and reopened at night.
• On June 3^nd and 4^th the Highway Department will be doing work on Cook Road in Pavilion between Route 63 and Route 20. The road will be closed during the day and reopened at night.

Press release: 

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the bridge carrying Route 19 over the Black Creek overflow in the Town of Bergen, Genesee County, will be closed to traffic for approximately two days, beginning today, May 11, from 7 a.m. to accommodate repairs to the structure.

During this time, a signed detour will be in place guiding motorists to use Route 33, North Main Street in Churchville, and Peachey Road/Kendall Road. Local roads near the bridge will also be accessible during the closure.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 5-1-1 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley will host a series of town hall meetings in Genesee County in the towns of Pavilion, Le Roy and Bergen on May 22.

Residents are encouraged to attend to discuss local issues and share any questions or concerns they have with Hawley. Social distancing and other health and safety protocols will be followed during this event.

“After having to suspend last year’s town halls due to COVID-19, I am excited to have the opportunity to speak with residents and discuss their concerns directly,” Hawley said. “The budget that passed recently is the largest and possibly the most consequential in our state’s history, though frankly I fear those consequences will be negative, so I am eager to hear from people in the district in regard to how they feel about it and how it affects their lives.”

TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE for Saturday, May 22

• Town of Pavilion -- 10 to 10:45 a.m. / Pavilion Town Hall, 1 Woodrow Drive
• Village/Town of Le Roy -- 11 to 11:45 a.m. / Le Roy Village Hall, 3 W. Main St.
• Village/Town of Bergen -- 12 to 12:45 p.m. / Bergen Village Hall, 11 N. Lake Ave.

Aaron Michael Pawikowski, 60, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with failure to verify address withon 90 days -- with prior offense(s). At 1:20 p.m. on April 29, Pawlikowski -- a registered Level 3 sex offender with three prior felony convictions -- was arrested for failure to verify his address, which he is required to do every 90 days. He was taken to Genesee County Jail for fingerprints, arraigned in county court and put in jail due to his prior felony convictions. He is due back in county court on May 26. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy, assisted by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

William Richard Kapelke, 39, of Main Street, Batavia, is charged with second-degree contempt. The defendant was arrested at 11:28 a.m. on West Main Street Road, Batavia, for allegedly violating an order of protection by being at the residence of the protected party. He was issued an appearance ticket for Town of Batavia Court and is due there on May 27. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

John Edward Sackett, 54, of County Line Road, Hamlin, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; refusal to take a breath test; and moving from lane unsafely. At 10:45 p.m. on May 8, deputies responded to Route 19 in Bergen for a motorcycle crash with injuries. It is alleged that Sackett was northbound and went off the east shoulder of the roadway, striking a road sign. Sackett was treated for his injuries at a hospital and released with appearance tickets. He is due in Bergen Town Court June 2. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush, assisted by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.

Cheryl Figoura, 41, no address provided, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. May 1 and charged with petit larceny for allegedly stealing $800 from a coworker at a restaurant on East Main Street in Batavia where they worked. Figoura was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Zachary Russell Reed, 30, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. Reed was arrested at 12:20 p.m. on April 26 on West Main Street Road for allegedly being involved in a physical altercation with another person. He was due in Town of Batavia Court on May 6. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin McCarthy, assisted by Sgt. John Baiocco.

Roger Kevin Brinkman, 57, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with second-degree menacing. It is alleged that at 1 p.m. on May 6 Brinkman was involved in a property dispute about an air conditioner and during an altercation he displayed a knife and menaced the other parties involved. He is due in Oakfield Town Court on June 7. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. John Baiocco, assisted by Trooper Brackett Valleha Franz.

Andre Roberts, 28, no address provided, was arrested at 9:35 p.m. May 4 on three bench warrants and an arrest warrant -- all out of City of Batavia Court. He was taken into custody by the Rochester Police Department after being located by them during an unrelated matter. After arraignment in City of Batavia Court, Roberts was jailed on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in city court on May 20.

A motorcycle accident with what is believed to be serious injuries is reported in the area of 6545 N. Lake Road, Bergen.

Bergen fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 10:56 p.m.: Confirmed by a first responder, one person on the ground. Mercy Flight on ground standby.

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: Mercy Flight can stand down. The subject is conscious and alert.

Press release:

Jeff Nichols, host of the “History Comes Alive” podcast and member of Webster Bible Church, will speak for the Reformation Society of Western New York on May 13 at Bergen Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 38 S. Lake Ave. in Bergen.

The event, which begins at 10 a.m., is free and open to the public.

Nichols will present a paper entitled: "A Brief History of Some of the Popular Evangelical Presuppositions and Why They Matter." 

The Reformation Society of Western New York is in partnership with the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (alliancenet.org). For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/RefSocWNY/.

Qumane J. Santiago is indicted for the crime of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 23 in the City of Batavia that Santiago intentionally tried to prevent a police officer from perfoming his lawful duty and caused physical injury to the police officer. In count two, he is accused of the same crime involving another person. In count three, Santiago is accused of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly intentionally attempting to prevent a police officer from making an arrest. In count four, the defendant is accused of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, another Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly intentionally obstructing a public servant from performing an official function by means of intimidation, physical force, interference or any independently unlawful act. In count five, he is accused of fourth-degree criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly intentionally damaging another person's property -- a flat screen television, lights, lamps and picture frames.

Colleen L. Nelson is indicted for the crime of attempted murder in the second degree, a Class B violent felony. It is alleged that on July 29 in the Town of Elba that Nelson acted intentionally to cause the death of another person by engaging in criminal conduct to cause death. In count two, Nelson is accused of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly possessing a dagger, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, imitation pistol or other dangerous instrument that day to use intentionally and unlawfully against a person.

Derek Melendez is indicted for the crime of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 29 in the Town of Bergen that he stole a credit card belonging to another person. In count two, Melendez is accused of second-degree burglary -- illegal entry into a building, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged in count two that on that day he entered a dwelling on West Bergen Road with the intent to commit a crime. In count three, Melendez is accused of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, a Class D felony, for allegedly knowingly possessing stolen property valued at more than $3,000. In count four, the defendant is accused of driving while ability impaired by drugs for allegedly driving a 2020 Nissan Altima with Maryland license plates while his ability was impaired by drugs.

Greg R. Solomonidis is indicted for the crime of second-degree assault, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on July 22 in the Town of Alexander that the defendant intentionally injured another person.

Madalyn R. Muntz is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on Aug. 12 in the City of Batavia that Muntz knowingly and unlawfully possessed a narcotic drug -- cocaine -- with intent to sell it. In count two, Muntz is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, a Class C felony. It is alleged in count two that on that day she knowingly and intentionally possessed one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug -- cocaine, which had an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more. In count three, Muntz is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. It is alleged in count three that on that day she knowingly and unlawfully possessed a controlled substance -- buprenorphine and Naloxone.

Jose A. Rivera is indicted for the crime of second-degree burglary, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Jan. 10 in the City of Batavia Rivera unlawfully entered a building on Swan Street intending to commit a crime. In count two, Rivera is accused of second-degree criminal contempt for allegedly intentionally disobeying a court order of protection. 

James D. Weathers and Ayeola N. Williams are indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 31 in the Town of Stafford that they knowingly possessed a loaded firearm -- a Glock 19 handgun. In count two, only Williams is accused of driving while ability impaired by alcohol, in a 2019 Volkswagon Jetta on Clinton Street Road.

Mark D. Tooley is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony, for allegedly operating a 2007 Honda Nov. 19 on West Main Street Road, Town of Batavia, while he was intoxicated. In count two, Tooley is accused of DWI, per se, as a Class E felony, for allegedly having a BAC of .08 percent or more at the time. In count three, Tooley is accused of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, also a Class E felony, for allegedly driving that day while knowing his driver's license was suspended or revoked by authorities and while he was under the influence of alcohol or a drug. In count four, Tooley is accused of false personation, a Class B misdemeanor, for allegedly knowingly and intentionally misrepresenting his name, birth day or address to a police officer, after being informed of the consquences of doing so. In count five, the defendant is accused of unlawfully fleeing from a police officer, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged that on that day, when he was directed to stop his vehicle by a marked police vehicle, he allegedly attempted to flee, driving at speeds of 25 mph or more above the speed limit. In count six, the defendant is accused of speeding, a violation, for allegedly driving at speeds in excess of 55 mph -- to wit, 100 mph. In Special Information filed by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, Tooley is accused of having been convicted of driving while ability impaired by drugs, as a Class D felony, on Nov. 29, 2011 in Genesee County Court and that conviction forms the basis for the license suspension or revocation, which remains in effect, and is referred to in count three of the current indictment.

Sharada M. Crumpler is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 21 Crumpler drove a 2020 Nissan with Tennessee license plates on I-90 in the Town of Le Roy while in an intoxicated condition. In count two she is accused of DWI, per se, for allegedly having a BAC of .08 percent or more at the time. In count three, Crumpler is accused of speeding, a violation, for driving that day at a speed greater than was reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions. In count four, she is accused of the same violation for driving in excess of the maximum established speed limit for that public highway -- 118 mph in a 65-mph zone. In Special Information filed by District Attorney Lawrence Friedman, Crumpler is accused of having been convicted of DWI, as a misdemeanor, on Sept. 30, 2015 in City of Rochester Court, and that conviction was within 10 years of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

Jeremiah N. Walker and Samid P. Graves are indicted for the crime of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 28 at Tops Friendly Market on Main Street in Le Roy that they stole property with a value exceeding $1,000, to wit: $1,058.35 worth of property.