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Alexander Fire hosted a DWI drill on Thursday at its Rec Hall for Alexander High School seniors.

The fatal accident simulation is designed to remind the students of the dangers of drinking and driving and the impact one poor decision can have on the lives of friends, family, and the community.

Area volunteer fire departments from throughout the county hold DWI drills at this time of year in advance of prom nights.

Photos by Philip Casper.

On Wednesday, the Genesee Country Decorative Painters presented more than two dozen hand-painted decorative boxes for staff at the VA Hospital in Batavia to hand out to patients.

Helen Ronin said that every year, the group selects one or two community projects. This year, they decided to give back to the VA for its ongoing support of the group. The VA allows the group to meet regularly in the hospital's auditorium.

"We did this to present to the veterans because e of their service and what they've done for us," Ronin said. "And they let us meet here every time we need it."

The boxes contain a couple of useful items. Veterans might receive them on their birthdays or other special occasions or just because they need a "pick-me-up."

"They just need to know sometimes, if somebody is having a really hard time, that people do care," Ronin said.

The Decorative Painters are hobbyists who paint on objects.

"We paint pictures, wood, furniture, whatever. Whatever is in our way we get rid of it by painting on it," Ronin said with a laugh.

Cindy Baker, volunteer services specialist for the Batavia VA, said the VA is grateful for the donations.

"These are beautiful," she said. "They are gorgeous. I'm happy to be able to hand these to veterans and they will be very, very happy to receive these."

Photos by Howard Owens.

Elba Fire, with assistance from Mercy Flight/EMS, the Sheriff's Office, Emergency Dispatch, Byron Fire, H.E. Turner Funeral Homes, and the Office of Emergency Services, staged the annual pre-prom DWI drill for seniors at Elba High School on Wednesday morning.

The drill stages the scene of a DWI-related fatal accident. The purpose is to give students a realistic view of what happens at a serious injury/fatal accident scene and how it impacts family, friends, and community members.

Photos by Howard Owens

A major telecommunications company's application to erect a new mobile device cell tower is a fairly straightforward approval process for local planners, and on Tuesday evening, Robert W. Burgdorf of Rochester, an attorney representing Verizon, provided several useful nuggets of information.

It was an initial meeting in the regulatory process with the Town of Batavia Planning Board. The application must still undergo an environmental review and a public hearing, but Burgdorf was happy to discuss the process and some of the technical issues involved in installing a cell tower.

Cell towers are extremely location-sensitive because they have to be high enough to reach the neighboring towers but not so high that there is a spillover of signals into the neighboring cells.

"They've got to be placed so that they can hand off to the neighboring cells, again without interfering," Burgdorf said.

They wind up in a honeycomb-like grid, not too close but not too far apart.

Cell towers generally serve a one or two-mile area and can't be too close together or too far apart.

If the tower is under 200 feet tall—this one will be 154 feet tall—the Federal Aviation Administration does not require lighting or striping.

This down will be a matted steel gray.

"We've learned, and we've actually done studies, that this blends in with our skies in Western New York," he said.

An observation a couple of board members quipped was a depressing thought.

Oh, and 5G doesn't cause COVID.

A board member's question prompted the discussion of health concerns about cell towers. Burgdorf said federal law preempts that as a concern for local planners, which he regrets because it also preempts an opportunity to educate the public.

"This is a radio signal, that's all this is," he said. "It is an incredibly weak radio signal. We've had radio signals around since the 20s, the 30s. The only difference between this and a television or radio station is that those operated tens of thousands of watts, sometimes megawatts. So the power levels, from radio and television, just radio signal is much, much stronger than these. These are incredibly weak. They have to be incredibly weak for two reasons. One is they can't interfere with neighboring cells, which are often a mile, two miles away, and we have to be able to get a return path from the user"

He said that if anybody is concerned about cell phone signals, the first thing they should do is seek to do is shut down radio and television signals.

"The issue does come up, but anybody who looks into it, who's being rational, will see that that's not really an issue," Burgdorf said.

The tower will be located at 9300 Wilkinson Road on a 100x100-foot leased parcel. It will be fenced, and a small gravel road will connect it to Wilkinson. There will be minimal traffic to the location—maybe one maintenance worker a month will visit the site.

The board voted to seek lead agency for coordination purposes under the state's SEQR regulations (pronounced seek-ur, it stands for State Environmental Quality Review Act) even though Burgdorf informed lead agency designation for this project is not strictly required.

The board did it as a matter of course, because that is its standard practice, but board members said they will seek their attorney's opinion.

"It's not a fatal error to declare yourself lead agency," Burgdorf said, so he didn't object.

He said a lead agency is only required when there are other "involved" agencies. In this case, other agencies, such as the Genesee County Planning Board, are only "interested" agencies, so there is nothing in the SEQR process to coordinate with other involved agencies.

"Look, the SEQR regs are a pain. They really are," he said. "They're pretty convoluted and they force a lot of municipalities to really become an expert. It is a pretty intense set of regulations, so for what it's worth, if you declare yourself lead agency, that's not the process, but it doesn't make it defective, so whatever you want to do."

Proceeds from the sale of a children's book developed by the Chamber of Commerce --  “Genny Sees the Eclipse” -- will help feed rescue animals and even enable a couple of sanctuaries to give a couple of horses a safe place to retire.

On Tuesday, Brian Cousins, president of the Chamber, presented $28,653.56 to Jonell Chudyk, Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary; Marcy Colantonio, Volunteers for Animals; Maryanne Arena, Mary Land Haven for Horses; Pamela Harmon, Cherry Hill Sanctuary.

Each organization is receiving  $7,163.39.

"This is truly life-changing," said Chudyk. "I know for us from Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary, that amount, that total amount, will pay for the amount of hay that we need through winter. So thank you so much."

Harmon said the $7,000 would help Cherry Hill rescue more horses, and Arena, at Mary Land, said her rescue for retired racehorses would be able to add two horses to its stable.

"It may sound like, 'Oh, two horses,' but that means two lives saved," Arena said.

The book was produced to educate children about the April 8 total eclipse of the sun in Genesee County.  The chamber received orders from 28 states -- including Hawaii -- and 165 cities.  Forbes named it one of the best five books for people to buy to learn more about the eclipse.

It was written by Colleen Onuffer and illustrated by Andy Reddout.

"We talked to the agriculture community, and we talked with the scientific community to make sure the book was true to life," Cousins said. "Then we thought about how we could commemorate this book to our community, and we thought of you and your selfless devotion to these animals. If you take a look at the book, you will see each one of the animals that you take care of day in and day out are represented in that book." 

When a criminal suspect with mental health issues enters the justice system following an arrest, that defendant has a constitutional right to understand the proceedings, whether the defendant eventually ends up accepting a plea offer or facing trial.

In New York, that right is protected by statute as well in Article 730 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Officials in Genesee County want to see the law changed because it is antiqued, and complying with it is expensive and less effective than more contemporary options for dealing with a defendant's mental health capacity.

To that end, the Genesee County Legislature is preparing to pass a resolution asking the State Legislature to amend Article 730.  The Human Services Committee on Monday recommended the resolution be presented to the full Legislature.

"We're in a new era, and things need to change," Lynda Battaglia, director of Mental Health & Community Services, told the committee. "We have more innovative services; we have diversion; we have mental health treatment courts. All of that can be utilized before a person even gets to court. We have mental health treatment courts and drug treatment courts. All of those (options) will assist with lowering the cost of restoration."

With four defendants currently in state mental health hospitals undergoing restoration services, the county is facing a potential expense for 2024 of $1.2 million after budgeting only $300,000 for such services.

County Manager Matt Landers explained that he knew the expense could be higher when he was preparing the budget. The annual expense is impossible to predict because there is no way to guess at how many people arrested will have potential competency issues. If he had included even just another $300,000 in the budget, the property tax rate for the county would have gone up.  With the conservative approach, he could avoid raising taxes, he said, and if the unanticipated expense hit, find the money elsewhere in county coffers -- for example, higher than anticipated sales tax revenue or fund reserves.

On Monday, the Human Services Committee also approved a resolution transferring $300,000 from personal services and the medical line item to contracted mental health care. The resolution still needs to be approved by the full Legislature at its next meeting.

The purpose of Article 730 is to ensure a defendant is able to understand the charges against him or her and participate in his or her own defense.

The state operations "forensic" hospitals solely for the purpose of trying to restore a defendant to competency so they can participate in the legal proceedings.

While competency restoration provides medication, the primary purpose is to help the defendant understand the proceedings in the courtroom.

It is not mental health treatment and does nothing to help alleviate or manage the defendant's mental health issues.

Judges, according to the proposed resolution, often do not understand that competency restoration is no substitute for mental health treatment. 

Restoration can take from 90 to 150 days at a cost to the county of $1,300 a day.

Some defendants in New York have been in restoration for three, six, or even 10 years, though by legal precedent, the state cannot hold a mentally incompetent person indefinitely. 

"They do have a right to restoration," Battaglia said. "They have to understand what's happening, what charges are being brought against them and to understand the trial process. That's their civil liberties." 

Landers hopes that the four defendants currently receiving restoration services will be found competent to proceed with legal proceedings well before the county's bill approaches that $1.2 million mark.

He said he met with other county administrators from throughout the state a month ago, and competency restoration costs were a common concern.

All are pushing for changes in Article 730, including ensuring judges understand the 730 process is not mental health treatment and that the professionals conducting competency exams inform judges whether there is a reasonable chance of restoration, allowing judges to explore diversion programs and mental health treatment.

The change would also require counties to invest any savings realized from reform into community-based mental health services.

"It makes too much sense and I guess we're frustrated because from a clinical and from a financial side, we don't understand why there isn't movement on this," Landers said.

“The Whirligig of Time,” the newest production from the Batavia Players at Main St. 56 Theater, melds the fantasy of time travel with the magic of William Shakespeare to captivate an audience's imagination.

Written by Rick Bingen, Whirligig (itself a reference to a line in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night), the play is the story of a woman who visits London on vacation and then returns to complete the journey he longed to take before they returned home. Her husband, a software engineer obsessed with Shakespeare, had planned a visit to a tavern known for its authentic recreation of a watering hole from the Bard's time. Alas, when they arrive on that last night, the tavern is closed.  

The husband begs his wife, Olivia (another allusion to the Twelfth Night), to stay in London a few more days and catch another flight home. After all, he argues, you never know if their plane might roll off the runway or he might die of boredom in his job.

After he passes, Olivia returns to London and that tavern. After a brief visit to contemporary times, she is magically transported back four centuries and meets Shakespeare and his friends and associates, Richard Burbage, Will Kemp, Rebecca Heminges, and John Heminges.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Le Roy Jr-Sr High School held its annual art show this past week, and on Friday morning, Principal David Russell invited The Batavian to meet with three senior art students, Savannah Harms, Abby Rose Root, and Paityn Cooper.

Savannah Harms
Harms said she's been an artist "ever since I was a baby, practically.

"I mean, my mother has always loved art, so I was looking up to her since I was a child. She was drawing, she was tattooing, she was doing everything, so when I was looking up at her, I was watching her do her drawings, and I'd be in the back corner trying to draw exactly what she was.  I've loved it ever since I could even learn to draw."

To her, art is a form of freedom.

"In every artistic piece that you look at around here, you can see the emotion, the feelings that are put into the piece," Harms said. "What was targeted behind that? So, for example, my Edward Scissorhands, what I think about I did this the time that Johnny Depp was going through all of the things he was going through (in his legal case) case. You could just see the emotional distraught. I did that piece, kind of just reflecting that this was a very vulnerable moment. In that movie, it was acting, but you can see just that vulnerable moment. So, I mean, I just love the emotion that can be put into pieces. And you can just see somebody's raw feelings when you look at their artwork."

As for artists she admires, it's no surprise her mom tops her list.

"A lot of people always pick very famous or popular artists, but it's always I always go to my mother," Harms said. "She's somebody who I could not see anybody surpassing her level."

After graduation, Harms will become a full-time tattoo artist.

"I love tattooing," Harms said. "It's a different type of art. I love creating something that I can put on somebody's body forever."

Abby Rose Root
Root's mother is also an artist.

"I grew up with furniture all about me being painted by her, paintings of hers on the wall, and watching her do color pencils, oils, gouache and all different types of mediums," Root said. "She's definitely been a key component in keeping me motivated during my process because she always gives me reassurance when I need it and helps when I need it."

The work on display in the show displayed an interest in fantasy.

"I just like to draw it," she said. "I love this idea of a magical world where you can space whenever you like, and whatever you imagine can come true."

At the top of the artists who inspire her is Le Roy HS art teacher Antonio Ieon Koukides.

"He inspires me because I love the way he can teach all different people, and no matter where they come from, not matter their background, no matter what their skill level is, he's always able to help them improve," Root said.

After graduation, Root plans to attend Genesee Community College for two years for a fine arts degree. Then, she will see where she wants to go after that, whether to continue to pursue art or maybe get a degree in business. 

"Then maybe I could become a teacher or own my own studio or maybe do both," Root said.

Paityn Cooper
Cooper figures her art journey began when she was about nine years old, inspired by her dad, who is an artist.

She said she likes art because "it expresses things that I usually wouldn't be able to say in words."

She said she tried to make her paintings unique and not fit into any specific genre.

Cooper isn't planning a career in art.

"I want to use it as a hobby and to express what's going on through my life throughout my life," she said.

Additional photos of some of the art on display from the show below.

Post-game fireworks for the Batavia Muckdogs home opener on Saturday were set up in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth inning when the home team erased a 3-2 deficit to win 4-1 on a squeeze bunt with the bases loaded.

The Elmira Pioneers had high school senior Bryce Mashanic making essentially his baseball debut at the collegiate level to start the ninth, after he entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning. 

Mashanic faced adversity in the inning early after second baseman Tim Haftl made a bad throw on a routine grounder for an error, allowing Anthony Greco to reach base.  Greco advanced on a wild pitch to Sean Mindas, who would get a free pass on the next pitch. Mindas then stole second, and Pioneers issued an intentional walk to Caleb Walker. 

Greco scored on a sacrifice fly by Cooper Romich, tying the game.

That brought Travis Hammond to the plate with one out and Walker on third.  Walker inched down the line as Mashanic went into his wind up, dashing toward the plate and scoring standing up after Hammond laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line.

The walk-off sacrifice improved Batavia's record on the young season to 2-1.

DH Trevor Dutra, a sophomore at Lafayette College and from Rye Brook, was 2-3 with a walk. He had the only multi-hit game on the night for the Muckdogs.

Josh Livengood, a senior attending Center College and from Lexigton, Ky., got the win in relief, going 3 1/3 innings giving up no hits or runs and fanning six Pioneers.  It was his first appearance of the season.

Starter Gavin Chandler went four innings, giving up two runs on four hits and fanning three. Chandler is a sophomore at Marion Military Institute and is from Alabaster, Ala.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

On Friday, city firefighters, members of IAFF Local 896, held their annual MDA "Fill the Boot" fundraiser in Downtown Batavia.

The results of the fundraising effort have not been released.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

Construction may have begun six weeks ago, but the "groundbreaking" -- a dignitary-studded event on Alva Place -- on a new home for the Batavia Police Department was held late Friday morning under clear blue skies.

The new police headquarters on Bank Street will be 20,000 square feet and cost more than $15 million. According to officials, the facility will be "state-of-the-art," compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and provide all the features necessary for a 21st-century police state.

It replaces a 167-year-old building, the Brisbane Mansion, once the home of one of Batavia's most historically important wealthiest families, then City Hall, then the police station.

Police say it is dilapidated, outdated, and totally inadequate to handle the demands of modern policing.

On Thursday afternoon, Danielle Rotondo, general manager at Terry Hills, presented JT Turnbull with $16,228.55 -- the total of funds raised at a charity golf tournament held at the course on Saturday.

The funds will assist Turnbull with expenses related to lifestyle adjustments following a spinal injury while skiing in January.

Rotondo set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the event.

There is also and ongoing GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $100,000 to assist Turnbull.

Previously: Terry Hills hosts golf tournament to assist JT Turnbull on his new journey

The Batavia Police Department honored the men and women who served the city of Batavia as peace officers on Wednesday at Officer Arthur J. Luplow's graveside.

Luplow served the city for 26 years, from the incorporation of the city in 1915 until his retirement in 1941.

He likely served as a village constable prior to incorporation.

He's described as a gentle giant—a big man who filled a big uniform once on display at the Holland Land Office Museum but whose final on-duty photo shows him holding the hands of two children, helping them cross a street.

Following his retirement, he was an exempt fireman and served as the organization's president. He was also active in Elks and a "formidable" cribbage player.

Luplow is buried in Grandview Cemetery.

There are approximately 50 people who retired from the police department buried in various cemeteries in Genesee County.

Police Officers Memorial Day was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.

It is observed across the nation annually on May 15.

Troop A holds an observance each year at a memorial at the Batavia Barracks for troopers who have died in the line of duty.

At the start of every season, when asked, "Who are the players fans should really watch this season?" Batavia Muckdogs Manager Joey Martinez has the same trouble answering the question

He just can't seem to narrow the response down to two or three players.

"It's not fair to just pick just one. I can pick them all. I love all my guys," Martinez said. "I bet on them. I bet on us. You know, that's all I can do. That's all I know. I like them all."

He did try to single out a few players, starting with, "We've got a couple of arms out there that are pretty impressive."

There's Michael Benedict, Matt Misiti, Reed Marcum, and Garrett Brunstetter.

"Liam Ryan is pretty nasty. He's pretty nasty," Martinez said. "I watched him yesterday. He's pretty nasty."

He added, "I like the arms that we have, and we still got three or four guys coming. I'm looking forward to our William and Mary guy getting here. Anthony Greco. It looks like he's going to be a good guy.

Yet to arrive yet is a projected third baseman, Jake Butler.

"He's a very young guy with a very high IQ," Martinez said. "He has a great feel for the game."

Then he mentions Justin Austin and says, "I mean, the list goes on and on. We have got some really good players. I'm not even sure who else to say. The list goes on and on."

There are also a half-dozen or more returners, including local pitchers Bryceton Berry and Ty Woods. Trey Bacon, Garrett Beaver, Isidro Rosario, Lucas Lopez, and Tucker Beving are also returning.

James Bolton, from Webster, will make his Muckdogs debut this season. 

"I always have a lot of surprises and tricks up my sleeve, but I think our team is a little younger this year, a little bit more athletic, a little bit more speed," Martinez said. "We tried to make some adjustments in the offseason. So I would say more bats and balls skills. The pitching staff is looking good on top of that; I think, you know, with the Dogs, we are always gonna be competitive, man, you know, that's the only way I like it -- win or go home."

The Muckdogs open the season on Thursday in Jamestown, followed by an away game on Friday in Elmira, before the home opener against Elmire at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday. Fireworks will follow the game.

The team's first day game at Dwyer is on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against Niagara Falls Americans, a new team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, and like Batavia and Elmira, the team is owned by Robbie and Nellie Nichols. The next home page after that is June 6 at 6:35 p.m. against Newark.  For the complete 2024 schedule, click here. For the current roster, click here.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Water Department will shut down the water around Jackson Street on Thursday, May 30, for a valve replacement.

The length of time the water will be off is unknown.

Water will be shut off on Ellicott from Liberty to Jackson and Jackson from Main to Ellicott.

As always, when the water is restored, it may be discolored.  Please refrain from doing any laundry until the water runs clear.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and the public’s patience is greatly appreciated.

Philip Klein is a successful film composer in Hollywood; still, it's nice to come home again and visit your alma mater.

Especially if the same high school orchestra that helped mold your talent is preparing to debut a piece you wrote and arranged.

"It's very meaningful to me, it's very special," Klein said. "My world in L.A. now. It is so fast-paced. Kind of crazy. So to come back here and just kind of have this moment that feels like a community again, you know, you don't really get that, and to share it with students. It's really special. It means a lot to me that they would even want something from me and that they would take the time to play it so well."

The piece is Flight of the Voyager, which tells the story of Voyager 2. The spacecraft was launched in 2018 and is the first craft to reach Uranus and Neptune and is the second craft to reach interstellar space.

The piece was written specifically for the Pembroke Concert Orchestra to perform.  It makes its international debut on May 30th at 6:30 p.m. in the Pembroke Junior-Senior High School Auditorium.

Klein graduated from Pembroke in 2003. He studied trumpet performance and composition at Northwestern University. In 2011, he was selected as one of six fellows with the Sundance Institute's Film Composing Lab. In 2009, he won Best Composing from the ATAS Foundation's College and Television Awards. He was a nominee in 2022 for best original score for an animated film, for Wish Dragon, from the International Film Music Critics. The same group named him Break Through Film Composer of the Year in 2021. He won the Alan Parsons Award in 2022 for Best Original Score Short Film (Who Goes There).

His film credits include Joker, The Mandalorian, Medieval, The Last Full Measure, Cicero in the Winter, and Clones Gone Wild, along with dozens of others where he participated in the scoring or orchestration.

"It's amazing to us that Mr. Klein wrote the piece for Pembroke, and our band director,  John Bailey, is wildly excited for our students to get to meet and work with him," said Superintendent Matthew Calderon.

At the rehearsal on Tuesday, Klein was clearly enjoying himself.

"It's a lot of fun for me to be back," Klein said. "First off, I mean, just to be in, in school with them again, and just the energy of seeing a group like that play together. And it's always fun to hear your piece of music played live for the first time. They did great; they worked really hard. And it's not an easy piece."

For Tom Turnbull, it was good to have his son, JT, back out at the golf course having a good time and to see all of the people who showed up to support JT on Saturday enjoying themselves despite the rain.

"That's what's important," Turnbull said.

It's also important, said Danielle Rotondo, general manager at Terry Hills, to help raise money to assist with JT Turnbull's adjustments to a changed life.

JT sustained serious injuries in a skiing accident on Jan. 27.  He suffered a spinal injury and can no longer walk.

Rotondo said the goal was to raise $10,000.

Tom Turnbull said all of the money—including donations through the ongoing GoFundMe campaign (now up to more than $76,000 with a goal of raising $100,000)—will help with home modifications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, any equipment he needs and any unpaid hospital bills.

"Every dollar will go to his journey to get better, and get adjusted to life," Turnbull said.

Tom Turnbull is amazed by Rotondo's support, saying the Rotondos are like a second family. Turnbull, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, works part-time at Terry Hills. He's also in two leagues. His wife, Michelle, plays in two leagues, and JT also plays in two leagues.

"This is our second home," he said.

Rontondo shared a similar view of the Turnbulls.

"The Turnbulls have been part of our family for years, whether through leagues, the Ladies' Association so I worked with Tom at the Chamber," Rotondo said. "When this happened, we all came together and said this is something we wanted to do for them. What better way (to help) than to put on a golf tournament?"

Turnbull said that JT has been doing well.

"He has got the most fantastic attitude," Turnbull says. "He's kept Michelle and me going for these last three months. He hasn't had hardly any bad days the whole time. He's looking forward. He's driving a car and being out here, and he's going to want to play wheelchair sports, and it's just really amazing. He still has a sense of humor. He still gives his parents a hard time."

JT said seeing all of the community support for him left him nearly speechless.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "The support we've received from my family and my friends, the entire community, it just goes to show you what a great place this is to live here in Batavia."

An 81-year-old man whom investigators believe was injured during an attempted burglary of his residence on Tuesday morning reportedly exchanged gunfire with a deputy who responded to 7924 Lewiston Road at 3:41 a.m. to a reported burglary.

Neither the deputy nor the resident, identified as Gregory Poole, were injured in the incident.

According to the Sheriff's Office, a deputy -- not identified -- responded to the call and was approaching the home when he confronted a person outside the residence. The deputy identified himself, and the person fired a gunshot in the direction of the deputy. The deputy returned fire while continuing to identify himself, but the person continued to fire his gun.  

The deputy took cover and called for backup. 

Upon the arrival of a second deputy, the person was taken into custody without further incident. 

The Sheriff's Office says that neither the deputy nor the subject were struck by gunfire, and neither sustained an injury as a result of the gunfire.

The type of firearm used by the subject has not been released.

Poole was reportedly injured in a struggle with the burglary suspect.

It's believed the burglary suspect fled the scene before the deputy arrived. The area was searched, but the suspect was not located.

Once Poole was released from the hospital, he was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree and menacing a police officer. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

The Sheriff's Office states that the investigation into both the burglary and the gunfire is ongoing.