Police Department: News of the Week June 5th, 1999

Rye Police
News of the Week ©

Subject: News of the Week for 06/05/1999.

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to "The Rye Police Department News of the Week". This is a news and information program brought to you by Police Commissioner William A. Pease and the City of Rye Police Department. I'm your host Officer Gary L. Olivier.

These are the news and information stories leading up to the first week in June. This first item up I would like to dedicate it to my good friend Bill "Wild Bill" Williams who E-mails me regularly with suggestions and comments. He has recently inquired about some past crime stories that have aired on our program so Bill, This one's for you..........................

Back on August 8th 1997 a Queens man was arrested after a high speed pursuit by Rye Police after he and two accomplices where chased from a Thorne Place home following a burglary of a residence. The chase began in the Oakland Beach / Chamberlain Street area and was terminated after the car being pursued by Rye police crashed near exit 20 on I/95. The three occupants of the car fled on foot into the Grandview Avenue area of Rye, but not before they threw the proceeds of the burglary into a grassy area near the exit ramp where their car had crashed. Officer Jeffery Golanec recovered the proceeds from the burglary, jewelry and a video camera while Officers Scott Craig and James Boland continued the chase. One suspect was captured immediately after a foot pursuit and the second was captured as he ran through yards in the New Street and Purchase Street areas of town. The third suspect escaped on foot. Lets move the clock up to May of 1999. One of the suspects a Michael Anderson of 92-31 Springfield Boulevard in Queens was sentenced to 16 years to life by Judge Joseph West in Westchester County Court.

Anderson is also serving a 5-10 sentence for a burglary in Nassau County that had occurred three months before the incident in Rye. Anderson has eight previous felony convictions in Queens and Nassau.

Great work by Officers Boland, Craig and Golanec who brought this matter to a swift close. Because of what these officers did that night there's one more criminal of the streets for a very long time. A quick foot note on that story, the officers involved in this chase and apprehension where honored with awards from the Rye Police Association..........................

Congratulations go out to Rye Police Officer Michael Kenny who netted two of the top awards of the Westchester Police academy class from which he graduated. Officer Kenny brought home the gold with the classes valedictorian award as well as the firearms award. Good going Mike Kenny............................

The "Kick in" burglar struck again on the 21st. The punk kicked in a rear door at a residence on Oakland Beach Avenue. An unknown amount of cash and jewelry was taken in the burglary. Evidence processed at the scene by Rye detectives possibly ties this burglary in with others that have occurred around the area. That's all I can comment on at this time. As I receive information on this and other cases of the same nature I will keep you advised.......................

A Rickburn Street resident was a victim of "The BB Gun Vandal" back on the 16th. A windshield was damaged by a BB or rock sometime over night. Rye police will give the area extra patrol as time and manpower allow..............................

A Bridgeport man was arrested by the squad 5 boys back on the 16th. Jesus DeJesus was arrested by Officer Robert Vogel and Officer Julio Rossi after DeJesus allegedly failed to pull over after Vogel pursued him for traffic violations. Officer Rossi and Vogel chased the suspect down Theodore Fremd Avenue until he was forced to stop at Playland Access Drive. Upon speaking to the defendant, it was ascertained that he did not possess a drivers license and was arrested for that charge as well as reckless driving. DeJesus has appeared in Rye City court to answer the charges.....................................

A Stuyvesant Avenue man was the victim of a larceny also on the 16th. A set of golf clubs valued at $1100.00 dollars were stolen from his vehicle sometime overnight. Rye police are investigating this and other crimes of this nature that unfortunately continue to occur in town...............

A Norwich, CT man has some explaining to do in Rye City Court. Juan Ortiz was arrest for DWI by Officer Julio Rossi after he was stopped for alleged traffic violations on the Boston Post Road near Old Post Road. Upon speaking to the defendant after the stop, Officer Rossi noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and after investigating further placed the suspect under arrest. Ortiz has Rye Court appearances...........................

A Rye Road resident has some contracting bills to pay. A white suburban type vehicle crashed through the hedges in front of the residence and damaged a brick wall on the property. The knuckle head driving the suburban took off before the owner could get a plate # from the vehicle. Rye police responded and checked the area for the vehicle to no avail..........................

A Rye man was the victim of a robbery at the Rye train station on the 15th. Two black males around 14 to 15 years of age ripped the mans wallet from his hands and then fled on a south bound train. Metro North police where called and took over the case from there. I'll update on the outcome of this when I can get more information...................................

While we're on the subject, people, remember now that the good weather is here we have to keep on the alert for crimes of this nature. Crime goes up around here this time of year so keep your eyes open and your guards up.......................................

A resident at 225 Purchase Street reported to police that a diamond necklace valued at $5500.00 was stolen from her sometime in the last year. It is unknown how entry was gained to the home or by whom. Rye police do have a possible lead and will follow up on the crime...............................................

Now a story with a happy ending. At 10 minutes to 3 in the morning on the 16th of May, Officer Anthony Rosace was dispatched to a residence on Rye Beach Avenue on a report of a working fire. Officer Rosace found that the fire which began on the deck, was beginning to engulf the rear of the residence. Now instead of me telling you about it, we'll now go to Officer Anthony Rosace who picks up the story........

"I received the call from dispatch of a structure fire in the rear of 287 Rye Beach Avenue. Upon my arrival at the residence, I saw that the rear deck was involved in flames and that they where spreading up the back of the home. PO Olsen arrived and we banged on the doors of the home hoping to raise someone but it was to no avail. While waiting for the fire department which had been immediately dispatched by HQ, I kicked in the door of the home. Myself and Officer Olsen ran inside and alerted the persons in the home who where sleeping on the third floor and unaware of the fire. We got them out of the house unharmed....."

The fire department along with the assistance of Rosace and Olsen extinguished the flames. Great job by Rosace, Olsen and the Rye Fire Department who are always ready to go when you need them...................

The Rye Police will be hosting a National Safety Council defensive driving course on Tuesday July 22nd and Thursday July 24th. The classes begins at 630 PM sharp and the cost is 45.00. Now, by successfully completing the course you are eligible for up 3 points off your driving record as well as a 10% discount on liability insurance. To reserve you place in the course you can do so by calling 967-1234 and give your information to the friendly Rye Police officer who answers the phone............................................

The squad 4 boys got into a dangerous one back on the 21st. Portchester police responded to a residence in Portchester on a call of a stolen vehicle. A description of the vehicle was broadcast to the surrounding police agencies. A few minutes later, Rye Brook Police called out a pursuit of the stolen vehicle as well as an alleged accomplice who was driving a second car. Rye Brook Police apprehended a black male after the second car crashed near the Cerebral Palsy building on King Street. The stolen vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Montero continued down King Street and away from the pursuing officers. 15 minutes or so later, Officer Robert Vogel spotted the white Montero speeding down I/95 south. Vogel radioed Rye HQ and Officers G. Olivier and Scott Craig joined in the pursuit which ended in the Baychester section of the Bronx. Unfortunately the thieves got away.

Rye Police and surrounding police agencies in the county are currently working on this stolen car ring and have several suspects. An arrest was made recently involving one of the suspects so I'll have more on this later on. Good police work by those involved in this investigation..............

Onward...........................................

A student at Rye High School was the victim of another larceny which have been occurring in the school lately. A Panasonic CD player, 2 CDs and Panasonic headphones where taken from his locker sometime during the day on the 23rd. The value of the property stolen is 170.00. Rye police are investigating this and the other larcenies that have occurred in the High school in recent weeks............

Rye Police responded to exit 19 on I/95 south on the 23rd. NY State Police called Rye HQ stating that they had lost contact with one of their troopers who was on a car stop on exit 19. The troopers requested that Rye dispatch a unit to see if the trooper needed assistance. Officer Robert Vogel responded and found that the trooper was O.K.. Vogel stood by with him as he finished up his business with the motorist. All well that ends well............................

Credit cards, cash, a cell phone and a check book where stolen from the weight room at the YMCA on the 24th. The items where in a navy blue knapsack which was also taken. It just goes to show you folks, you can't turn your back for 1 minute.

Keep an eye out...............................

A Portchester man landed himself in Rye City Court last week to answer a set of driving charges. Anthony Italiano of Westchester Avenue was arrested by Officer Mike Larkin after he was stopped for allegedly speeding on the Playland Parkway. Upon speaking to the defendant, Officer Larkin ascertained that his license to drive in N.Y. was suspended. Mr. Italiano was placed under arrest and transported to Rye Police HQ for processing. He has appeared in Rye City court to answer the charges......................................

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments we'd love to hear from you. You can reach me by E-mailing me at the address you see on your screen, golivier@ryepd.ci.ryeny.us. Or you can reach write me at Rye Police Department News of the week, C/O City of Rye Police department, 21 3rd Street Rye NY 10580. Or if you don't feel like E-mailing or writing you can grab me when you see me around and tell me what's on your mind. It's always great to get feed back from the viewers on how to make our program better.................

While we're on the subject of E-mail I received one from a retired member of the police department. It involves an arrest of a murder suspect. In the late 1970's a concerned Rye resident called police to inform them that a NY City taxi was parked and idling on VanWagenen Avenue for quite sometime. The caller also stated that there was a man in the drivers seat and could possibly in need of some assistance. Officer Frank Decarlo was dispatched to the scene and arrived a few moments after receiving the call. No other police unit is dispatched because after all, this is just a "routine" call and it will be resolved by the lone officer in a matter of minutes if not seconds. Officer DeCarlo pulls up and parks his cruiser at the rear of the taxi. He's been on these type of calls a hundred times but being a veteran police officer, he still approaches the taxi with caution. As he walks up to the car in the dark he looks into the sideview mirror of the taxi to get a look at the drivers face. He notices that the driver looks as if he's pretending to be asleep. Officer DeCarlo senses danger and puts his hand on his service revolver. As he nears the drivers door the feelings of danger that he sensed proved to be true. The taxi driver has his hand on a M-16 rifle as well as his finger on the trigger with what turned out to be loaded with a 15 shot magazine.

Using good police tactics, (unlike TV cops who wouldn't last a minute in a real police situation) Officer DeCarlo drops down and moves swiftly back to his patrol car for cover. In doing so he has now moved himself out of the taxi drivers line of sight and his gained himself precious seconds to get behind his patrol car and draw his service revolver. He now orders the man to throw the rifle out of the car, surrender and also during this time call for police back up. After a brief exchange of words the taxi driver is taken into custody safely and with no shots fired.................

Later during questioning the suspect reveled to Rye Police that he lived in Queens NY and had come home unexpectedly to find his wife in bed with another man. He shot both of them to death and then as it turned out, stole the taxi. The taxi belonged to the man whom he had shot to death. With his life now in shambles he fled to Rye where he was sitting in the taxi contemplating what to do with himself. He knew he didn't want to go to jail and was in a desperate state of mind when he was come upon by Officer DeCarlo. If not for the professionalism of Officer Frank Decarlo, the ending of this story could have turned out tragically.

Past, Present, Future. The Rye Police have always been there for you and will continue to be as long as we are here................................

Thanks go out to retired Rye Police Sgt. Joseph Banahan for submitting that story.

Anyway, that's all there is, there is no more. Let's all work together to make Rye a safe place to live and work. Watch out for one another and report any suspicious activity you see to the Rye police. So until we meet again, for Police Commissioner William A. Pease and the City of Rye Police Department, this is Gary L. Olivier saying take care, be safe and we'll see you next time...............

Rye Police News of the Week ©

Rye Police
News of the Week ©