Stories from

First responders, including personnel from the Elba Volunteer Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight, and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, conducted a DWI drill Thursday at Elba High School for the benefit of seniors prior to their prom and their first summer after graduation, which is the most deadly 100 days for teens.

Press release:

In response to the senseless criminal actions over the past weekend, the City offers its condolences to victims, thanks those who responded, and commits to decisive action.

“The City shares in the grief felt by the families and friends of the victims, acknowledges the selfless acts by our citizens, appreciates the tireless work of Batavia’s finest, and thanks those who aided in the quick identity and arrest of criminal suspects this past weekend. Out of respect for those who gave their lives, and work so tirelessly, we commit to decisive action that will aid community crime prevention,” said Martin Moore, City of Batavia manager.

“The City will implement effective ideas, expand on successful neighborhood actions, and continue ongoing efforts to promote and ensure the safety of our community. We will continue to work cooperatively with community leaders, law enforcement, criminal justice officials, media representatives, neighborhood groups and business leaders to target criminals,” said Moore.

“Criminal violence and the loss of life is never acceptable and my sincere condolences go out to all those in the community that were impacted. It was encouraging to see people come forward and help the police quickly apprehend those believed to be responsible. To prevent violent acts in the future we must stay involved. If you see suspicious activity please report it to the police so that they can intervene and possibly prevent a serious crime from occurring. Over the next few weeks, City Council will be reviewing ways to assist our first responders and strengthen our public safety. Together we can make a difference,” said Eugene Jankowski Jr. City of Batavia of council president.

“The City of Batavia Police Department would like to thank the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County Dispatch Center, New York State Police, Genesee County Local Drug Task Force, City of Rochester Police Department, City of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS, the Staff in the ER at UMMC and Police Chaplain Don Shirk for the assistance over this past weekend with the major crimes that took place in the City of Batavia. Because of the support received, the Police Department as able to quickly identify and arrest both parties responsible for these senseless crimes,” said Shawn Heubusch, City of Batavia police chief.

“The City extends its gratitude to witnesses that helped us to locate, identify and subsequently arrest both individuals involved in last weekend crime. With witness accounts, our job is much easier and we are heartened to see the public’s cooperation and willingness to get involved when a crime like this occurs in their neighborhood,” said Chief Heubusch.

“The Fire Department appreciates the opportunity to partner with City Police and assist in a support capacity. We were pleased to share specialized equipment and department personnel to aid in the investigative process, and acknowledge the outstanding work of the City of Batavia Police Department during these (last weekend’s) unfortunate events,” said Stefano Napolitano, City of Batavia Fire Chief.

Ongoing community safety is the first priority of the City of Batavia. All of the City’s departments are committed to keeping our City a healthy, violence-free place where our families can live, work and enjoy our City.

Every year, fourth-graders in Batavia get to try track and field to see if it's a sport they might enjoy. This year, because of the new stadium being built at Van Detta/Woodward Field, the track and field day was held at Oakfield-Alabama High School.

For our initial post about the fire, click here.

UPDATE: Video code corrected. It works now.

Evan Anstey performs his song, "Living in Reverse" in this edition of The Batavian Sessions.

Bands, to record for The Batavian Sessions, email howard@thebatavian.com

A house fire is reported at 6000 Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford.

All occupants are out of the house. There are animals in the house. 

The fire is at the rear of the residence and into the roofline.

Stafford fire and Town of Batavia fire dispatched.

Bergen, Byron, South Byron, and City of Batavia Fast Team also dispatched.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 9:03 a.m.: Flames seen in rear of structure according to callers to dispatch. Stafford's second alarm called. 

UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: Command on scene reports smoke showing from eaves, but no flames, of a single-story ranch house that's close to the road. Le Roy is called to Stafford's fire hall.

UPDATE 9:06 a.m.: Mercy medics are called to respond because of "slight smoke inhalation" by the homeowner.

UPDATE 9:08 a.m.: Elba is asked to fill in at Byron's fire hall.

UPDATE 9:09 a.m.: National Grid is called to the scene.

UPDATE 9:14 a.m.: Stafford command reports fire knocked down; checking for extensions. Stafford Fire Police are called in for traffic control.

UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Le Roy, standing by in Stafford's quarters, is called to the scene. Oakfield is asked to stand by in Town of Batavia fire's station #1; Pavilion is called to Stafford's hall. The homeowner signed off, declining medical treatment.

UPDATE 9:34 a.m.: Caledonia, which was standing by in quarters, is moved to Le Roy's fire hall.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: The fire appears to have started in the kitchen. The homeowner believes a space heater was plugged in and in use at the site where the fire broke out, but it remains unknown if that is indeed what started the fire, according to scene commander Mark Dougherty, 4th assistant chief of Le Roy Fire Department. The house is heavily damaged, but it is unknown at this point if it's considered to be a total loss. Two cats lived there and one of them perished in the blaze; the other is missing. The family that lives in the house plans to stay with family. Video T/K.

Habitat for Humanity, with new homeowner Lisa Paul-Kahn and her daughter Zahara, dedicated their 22nd home project in Genesee County. This one is on East Main Street, Batavia.

The house was donated by Susan Blackburn and Bill Baskin in the memory of a former employee, Jayson Dersham, who died in an automobile accident in February 2017.

A vehicle has struck a utility pole on Broadway Road at Bowen Road, Alexander.

There may be injuries.

Wires are down.

A second call reports it is a tractor-trailer and the driver is trapped in the vehicle because of wires down.

Alexander Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 8:19 p.m.: A chief on scene says the roadway is blocked. "There are wires down all over the place."

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.: The pole is down.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: The driver says he is uninjured but there are trucks backed up and the chief isn't sure which if any of the trucks have wires down on them. He can't get further down the road because of the wires and pole down to investigate.

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.: Darien dispatched to shut down traffic eastbound at Route 238.

UPDATE 8:25 p.m.: An officer on scene has been told that a truck with an over-sized load heading east took down al the wires and continued on.

UPDATE 8:29 p.m.: There are other poles involved, either down or snapped. Primary lines are down and secondary lines are down.

A local citizen came to the aid of a Batavia police officer who was attempting to apprehend a criminal suspect when the suspect pulled a handgun -- it turned out to be a BB gun -- from his pocket during the struggle.

The citizen stepped on the suspect's wrist causing him to drop the gun.

Brandon Fogg, 32, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, obstructing governmental administration, and trespass.

He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held without bail.

The incident began as a trespass complaint at 11:22 p.m., Tuesday, at a location on Ellicott Street.

Fogg was reportedly at a residence banging on the door against the complainant's wishes. 

Before patrols arrived, Fogg left the property. 

Officer Darryle Streeter observed Fogg in a passenger vehicle that was being driven with an illegal tire on it. 

Streeter initiated a traffic stop on Cedar Street near Ellicott Street. 

According to police, Fogg opened the car door and attempted to flee.

Streeter was able to grab Fogg and take him to the ground. Fogg allegedly fought with Streeter and during the struggle removed from his pocket what appeared to be a handgun.

At that point, an employee of a local business intervened and stepped on Fogg's wrist. When Fogg dropped the gun, Streeter was able to take him into custody.

Batavia PD did not release the name of the citizen at this time because the department has not obtained the citizen's permission to release it.

More than 600 students from every district in Genesee County visited Reyncrest Farms in Corfu this morning for the Farm Bureau's annual Kinderfarmin' Day, where kindergarteners get a chance to learn about where their food comes from and what happens on farms.

Formerly known as Dairy Days, when it focused on first-graders, it's been a regular event in Genesee County for more than 40 years, and Genesee County is the last county in the state still holding the event annually.

Students at Batavia Middle School made their annual civil rights presentations today for fellow students, teachers and parents.

Terry Hills hosted the 33rd Annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic.  

Featured in the video, QB Josh Allen, Jim Kelly, Chris Berman, Thruman Thomas, Eric Wood, and Commissioner Roger Goodell, who makes it clear, if Buffalo taxpayers want to keep the Bills, they're going to need to pony up for a new stadium.

Distracted driving is being blamed for a two-car collision this morning that sent two people to Strong Memorial Hospital, one by Mercy Flight.

Both patients are listed as "under evaluation."

The accident was reported at 11:10 a.m. in the area of 3646 West Main Street Road, Batavia.

According to the accident report by Deputy Kevin McCarthy, the driver of a 2011 Ford sedan was eastbound on Route 5 when the driver "became distracted by moving his phone" and crossed into the westbound lane.

His vehicle struck a 2012 Chevy SUV driven by Patricia G. Bunk, 35, of Graham Road, Elba. She was transported by Mercy EMS to Strong.

The driver of the Ford sedan is identified in the report as William T. Gibbs, 63, of West Main Street Road, Corfu; however, the hospital doesn't have a patient under that name. They do have a patient under a different name who is the same age and lives at the same address as Gibbs but the hospital spokesman said he couldn't disclose the name being used by the patient. 

Gibbs was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong and was conscious at the time of transport.

That driver was cited for allegedly crossing over into traffic, driving left of centerline markings.

(Initial Report)

A man involved in an ATV accident at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, is in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

A patient listed as "guarded" at Strong is in the Intensive Care Unit.

The Sheriff's Office identified the rider as Angel L. Claudio Lopez, 43, no address listed.

According to the accident report, Lopez was riding an ATV up a sand hill on property at 2750 Maple Avenue Road, Oakfield, when the vehicle overturned, ejecting Lopez, and then landed on him.

Lopez suffered a head injury but was described as conscious at the time he was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Le Roy beat Wellsville 7-1 on Sunday to win the Class B2 Section V Championship.

Video and photo by Tim McArdle.

A male and female physical altercation has resulted in a request for two ambulances in the area of 344 W. Main St., Batavia.

The first ambulance was requested for the female victim of an assault. The second ambulance was requested for a person having either a panic attack or seizure.

The male suspect ran from the scene and was later located near Denny's.

Benjamin Santiago Jr.

A suspect in last night's assault on Ellicott Street was arrested in Rochester and the allegedly stolen vehicle he was driving was recovered.

Benjamin J. Santiago Jr., 30, of Batavia, is accused of going to the home of Mark E. Collier, 35, at 9:15 p.m. to demand money of Collier, who has previously given charitable donations to Santiago, according to Batavia PD.

Collier denied Santiago's request and Santiago became upset, police say. He is accused of striking Collier several times with a blunt instrument causing significant injuries.

Santiago then allegedly stole items from the home and fled.

Collier was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, alert and conscious, and is currently in stable condition.

Police say Santiago stole a bicycle after fleeing the scene and then stealing a vehicle from a residence in the Town of Batavia. Santiago apparently made it to Rochester where he was apprehended by Rochester PD.

Santiago is charged with first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.

Santiago has been arrested previously in and around Batavia, including a case involving problems at a local hotel that led to a multi-agency manhunt 2011. The two brothers in the case were later accused of trying to hire somebody to kill Santiago. Eventually, that case led to a prison term for Santiago. He was most recently accused of stealing $800 in tools from Crocker's Ace Hardware in Le Roy.

Police say:

This is an ongoing investigation. Members of the Batavia Police Department will be in the area between State St. and Ross St. attempting to locate additional evidence. If anyone observes any items that appear suspicious or may be of evidentiary value, please do not touch or move them. Contact the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345- 6350 to inform them of the item. A member of our Department will respond to investigate the item.

Assisting Batavia PD were City fire, the Sheriff's Office, Rochester PD, State police, and Mercy EMS.

Previously: Person reportedly assaulted on Ellicott Street in the city

On Saturday, Assemblyman Steve Hawley hosted his annual e-waste recycling event, and as usual, there was a long line of cars going through the parking lot at 5130 E. Main St. all morning.

You may have noticed, since last fall, we've been ramping up our video production.

Last month, The Batavian published 46 videos.  

In the past week, I've received several favorable comments about our videos.  It's always helpful to get feedback so I appreciate hearing what people think.

I hope you've been enjoying them, though I know not all of you have been watching them, which is kind of the point of this post.

Longtime readers know I worked hard over the years to become a better photographer. I'm taking the same approach with video. I'm working hard to learn how to shoot and edit videos that don't waste your time, that are worth your time to watch.

My concern is that many people who consume online news have come across, over the years, a lot of poorly produced video from local news sites. My concern is that you associate local online news video with something that isn't worth your time so you don't even bother with it now.

I hope to convince you that the videos we're publishing on The Batavian are worth your time. And I do believe I've gotten better -- though I still have a lot to learn -- over the past several months; heck, even over just the past month.

So, please, if you haven't been inclined to watch our videos until now, give them a little time.  

Here are four videos from May that you might have missed.

A vehicle has flipped over a guardrail and into the water at 852 Bloomingdale Road, Basom.

Both occupants are out of the vehicle and have only minor injuries.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:54 p.m.: Reader submitted photo. According to a source at the scene, the location was at Judge Road and Feeder Road. The occupants self-extricated and obtained a ride to Two Eagles Smoke Shop where they were able to call 9-1-1 because of poor mobile reception at the location of the accident. Both patients signed off with minor injuries.