Le Roy

A suspect in a series of burglaries in Le Roy and Batavia who was taken into custody during an alleged break-in a week ago has been charged with one count of burglary.

Russell P. Cessna, 24, of 18 Pleasant St., Le Roy, was arrested after being allegedly caught in the act on Summit Street, Batavia.

Investigators say Cessna made forcible entry into the residence and stole jewelry, cash and coins.

Following a series of similar burglaries in Le Roy, Batavia and other parts of Genesee County, the Le Roy PD, Batavia PD and Sheriff's Office cooperated on an investigation and set up a surveillance detail, which led to Cessna's arrest.

Cessna was taken into custody and held in jail on a warrant for alleged violation of parole.

Additional burglary charges are pending. He will be arraigned in Batavia City Court at 1 p.m., Tuesday.

An 88-year-old Le Roy resident, Marie Costa, died this morning in a single-car  accident in the Village of Le Roy.

Costa's vehicle reportedly jumped the curb in front of McDonald's Restaurant and traveled along the south sidewalk of Main Street and collided with the former Pontillo's Restaurant building.

The accident was reported at 7:46 a.m.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the accident and Costa's death.

Le Roy fire, Le Roy ambulance, Le Roy DPW and the Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team assisted Le Roy PD at the scene.

Photo: Reader submitted photo.

A serious injury accident is reported at 67 49 Main St. in the Village of Le Roy. A car reportedly struck a pole and the front of the McDonald's restaurant a building. The vehicle is smoking. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 7:51 a.m.: A Le Roy police officer on scene says the driver is an elderly female who is not trapped in the vehicle, but needs help to be extricated.

UPDATE 7:54 a.m.: There is structural damage to the building and a code enforcement officer is called to the scene. (The car struck the former Pontillo's building at 49 Main St.)

UPDATE 7:59 a.m.: An officer inquires about the availability of a member of law enforcement's Crash Management Team to respond.

UPDATE 8:04 a.m.: "We've exhausted all our resources in contacting code enforcement and the building owner," says a dispatcher, but they are continuing to try and make contact. A code officer from Stafford is en route instead.

UPDATE 8:10 a.m.: "We are forcing entry into the building and making sure everything is shut off. Le Roy PD has been advised," says the fire chief on scene. The driver is being transported to UMMC.

UPDATE 10:33 a.m.: We confirmed with dispatch the building struck was the former Pontillo's location.

A car and bicycle accident is reported at the intersection of Clay Street and West Main Street, Village of Le Roy.

There is an injury.

The bike rider is out of the roadway.

Le Roy fire and ambulance responding.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m.: The car will need to be towed. "The window is just demolished and it's not driveable," an officer tells dispatch. 

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Route 19 is reopened. Le Roy fire back in service.

An ambulance is requested to Route 19 and West Bergen Road where a member of local law enforcement has been bit by a raccoon.

The officer informed dispatch that if they receive calls of a gunshot in the area, it was him killing the raccoon.

A dispatcher asked, "you didn't shoot it in the head did you?" 

Officer: "I don't think so."

The raccoon will need to be checked for rabies.

UPDATE 10:53 p.m.: The animal is being transported to the shelter.

Almost as soon as the first reports of flooding came in I started getting texts and emails from readers of pictures they were taking. Of course, by this time, I was out taking my own photos, which I'll post later.

We also requested photos in our breaking news post on the storm.

Here are the photos we received so far. If you have any, email them to howard at the batavian dot com (of course, turn that into a properly formatted email address). If you have video, upload it to YouTube and email me the URL of the published video and we can post that, too. Get your photos in soon because we won't keep adding them indefinitely.

Above, photo of the Lehigh Avenue underpass from Greg Emerson.

Route 5 underpass, Le Roy, from Mary Margaret Ripley.

From Matt Hendershott, vehicle stuck under the bridge on Cedar Street.

From Tina Heartgrove, Spencer Court.

From Frank Bellucci, vehicle stuck under train bridge on Ellicott Street.

From Kyle Couchman, Swan Street.

Video from Jamie.

More photos after the jump (click on the headline):

From a reader on Vine Street.

From Janet, Liberty Street

From Robyn Silliman, backyard off Ellicott Street.

From Rita Towner, backyard canoeing.

From Kim Williams, canoeing on Ganson Avenue.

From Jennifer, Vine Street.

Lori Brickwood-Coles, Liberty Street. She included this note, "My sons Alex and Owen had fun in the flood, my Great Aunt told us the story of when Liberty flooded before in the '70s and people had actual boats on the streets because the water was so high."

Photo from County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens of the maintenance yard on Cedar Street.

A suspect in a series of burglaries in Le Roy, Batavia and other parts of the county was taken into custody this morning after he allegedly broke into a home on Summit Street while being monitored by detectives.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said the suspect was identified thanks to alert citizens in the City of Batavia and detectives began to monitor the man's activities.

The name of the suspect, who is being questioned at Batavia PD headquarters, has not been released, but Brewster said he is on parole and had allegedly been out of contact with his parole officer.

After a couple of burglaries in Le Roy where a person entered homes during the day and stole jewelry and other small items such as coins, there were a couple of similar burglaries elsewhere in the county, and then similar burglaries in the City of Batavia.

"This is a suspect in those crimes and I’m fairly confident that we have him," Brewster said. "I think you’re going to see a sudden end to those (types of) crimes being reported."

Detectives from Le Roy, Batavia and the Sheriff's Office cooperated in the investigation.

"This would not have been possible without the cooperation of all agencies," Brewster said.

The suspect's truck was impounded and will be searched once a search warrant is secured.

His name and the charges against him will be released following his arraignment in the proper court or courts of jurisdiction.

Somewhere in the Lake Street Road and Parmalee Road area a caller indicates he had a rollover accident and was unconscious for some period of time, perhaps as long as an hour.

He isn't sure of his location and said his vehicle is some distance off the road.

Le Roy fire and ambulance and law enforcement are in route.

UPDATE: While there was some chatter about this following our initial report, I never heard an ambulance transport (not saying there wasn't one, I just didn't hear it) nor did I hear Le Roy clear the scene.

Press release:

Le Roy American Legion Post 576 is asking that each club, church, society organization or individual submit a nominee to be considered as the 2012 Le Royan of the Year Award. Deadline is Aug. 22.

In Le Roy we have many outstanding events. It takes volunteers, hardworking individuals, many of them working behind the scenes that make each and every event a success.

The award recognizes people who demonstrate the following qualities:

• A man or woman who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country, regardless of race, color or creed.
• Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond what is expected.
• Service to the community, signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishments.

Applications can be picked up at the Legion Home 53 W. Main St. Le Roy, and any Le Roy Bank.
Mail application to:

American Legion Post 576

Attn: Catherine Stone

53 W. Main St. Le Roy, NY 14482

A hot circuit breaker has been reported inside an apartment at the Royal Apartments, 103 West Main St., Le Roy.

A Le Roy chief on scene reports, "we have a very hot circuit breaker."

He's requested a thermal camera into the building to see if it extends up the wall.

Bergen's ladder truck is requested to the scene mutual aid.

UPDATE 5:59 p.m.: A chief informs dispatch "we're all set here," just waiting on maintenance.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.: Le Roy and Bergen back in service.

Two Genesee County residents and one person from Rochester were arrested on suspicion of possessing -- with intent to distribute, and distribution of -- a controlled substance analog, synthetic marijuana.

U.S. Attorney General William J. Hochul Jr. announced this afternoon that Joshua Denise, 37, of Batavia, and Michelle Condidorio, 30, of Le Roy, were arrested and charged along with 22-year-old Austin Szczur, of Rochester.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a one million dollar fine, or both. If the substances as described in the criminal complaint caused serious bodily injury, the punishment will be a mandatory 20-year incarceration and a maximum of life in prison, if convicted.

A full report from Howard with information from the DEA and State Police will be published tomorrow.

An accident with unknown injuries is reported on the Thruway in the vicinity of mile marker 375.2. A box truck was westbound then crossed over the center divide and came to rest on the north side of the roadway. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 6:33 p.m.: A responder on scene says the vehicle is in the trees at the side of the Thruway.

UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: Injuries, if any, are very minor.

On Saturday the Tonawanda Valley Youth Ladies Fastpitch Softball League (TVYLFSL) hosted a Junior Division small ball softball tournament to benefit Crossroads House.

Four teams of 10-12-year-old girls participated, representing Batavia, Le Roy and Byron-Bergen.

Participants and their families were asked to bring donations from the Crossroad House wish list.

http://www.crossroadshouse.com/

"Crossroads House is a comfort care home for those who have a terminal illness and have been medically determined to be in the last three months of life. Crossroads House is an alternative to a hospital or nursing home when care can no longer be provided in the patient's own home."

Le Roy 2 coached by Micky Hyde won the tournament. Tied in points going into the last game with Le Roy 1, Hyde's team scored a run in the last inning to pull off the win.

More pictures from the games can be found here.

Le Roy residents should be on the alert for a daytime burglar who is looking for undetectable entry and taking easy-to-carry valuables, according to Le Roy Police.

The village has been hit by three burglaries in the past eight days

The burglar is forcing entry at a spot that is concealed from view, or finding quick/fast entry points.

He is stealing items that can be grabbed quickly, easily carried and easily sold.

Burglaries were reported July 14 on South Street, Friday on Wolcott Street, and yesterday on Exchange Street.

Police encourage residents to ensure all valuables are stored in a safe and secure location.

Anybody spotting suspicious activity is encouraged to call 9-1-1.

An unknown person or persons broke into a home on Wolcott Street in the Village of Le Roy sometime on Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to Le Roy PD.

Whomever made the unforced entry stole jewelery.

Anyone with information that might help Le Roy PD solve the crime are asked to call (585) 345-6350.

Somebody committed a daytime residential burglary on South Street in Le Roy on Saturday and the Le Roy PD is asking for assistance in solving the crime.

According to Le Roy PD, an unknown person or persons forced entry into the residence between 12:45 and 3 p.m. and stole jewelry.

Anyone with information to share with the police regarding the burglary can call the Le Roy PD at (585) 345-6350.