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GREENBURGH, N.Y. Three people were charged with prostitution offenses after Greenburgh police responded to a robbery report Friday afternoon at La Quinta Inn, 540 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, police said.
According to the report, Prince Watson, 20, of Brooklyn was charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution and unlawful possession of marijuana. Alexandre Tontchev, 50, of Bronxville was charged with third-degree patronizing a prostitute, and Latoyah Smith, 25, of Brooklyn was charged with prostitution. All the charges are misdemeanors.
Watson and Smith told police that a man grabbed $150 from Smith's hand and fled into a wooded area across the street from the hotel, police said. Officers found a suspect in the wooded area shortly afterward, and Watson and Smith identified him as Tontchev.
Tontchev told police he went to the hotel to meet a female prostitute and pay her $200 for sexual conduct, police said. Tontchev identified the female prostitute as Smith, police said. He told police that he tried to leave after seeing that Smith was not the person displayed in an ad, but Smith and Watson tried to prevent him from leaving.
A scuffle occurred, resulting in Tontchev's receiving minor injuries to his head, according to the report. He was treated at the Police Department, where he also was charged. Police said they found a plastic bag of marijuana upon searching Watson.
Smith and Watson were arraigned and posted bail, and are due back in court Sept. 14. Tontchev was issued an appearance ticket and is to return Friday for arraignment.
The following incidents also were reported by Greenburgh police:
Drug Possession: Two Pelham men were charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, after Greenburgh police found them with a yellow pill identified as alprazolam, a prescription anxiety medication. The men were identified as Salvatore Ficcarrotta Jr., 18, and Adonis Gjaka, 18. Police approached their vehicle about 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, after receiving an anonymous call about a suspicious vehicle and noticed a strong odor of burning marijuana emanating from the car, according to the report. The pair admitted to smoking marijuana, police said. Ficcarrotta told police the marijuana belonged to him, and he was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.
Suspicious Vehicle: Police responded Monday night, Sept. 10, to an anonymous call about a suspicious vehicle on Rosa Drive in White Plains. A dark-colored late-model Pontiac was parked on the street, according to the report. Police canvassed the area but found nothing amiss.
Coffee Thief: A person entered the Dunkin' Donuts at 182 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford on Monday morning, Sept. 10, and stole a bag of coffee and four boxes of cups from a coffee machine, police said. The incident was caught on video.
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