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Police & Fire
Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say
Trio In Stolen Maserati Lead Police On High-Speed Chase In Westchester: 2 At Large, Police Say A high-speed chase involving a stolen luxury car in Northern Westchester ended with one arrest of a Fairfield County man and an ongoing search for two suspects, police announced.  The incident began around 10:40 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, when troopers tried to stop a 2018 Maserati reported stolen from Connecticut that was speeding on Interstate 684 North in Bedford, New York State Police said on Tuesday, Jan. 14.  The Maserati refused to stop and exited the highway at Exit 6A, heading onto Route 22 in North Salem. Due to the reckless operation of the car, troopers discontinu…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester Sergeant Admits Using Excessive Force In Mental Health Crisis Response: Feds Westchester Sergeant Admits Using Excessive Force In Mental Health Crisis Response: Feds
Westchester Sergeant Admits Using Excessive Force In Mental Health Crisis Response: Feds A former sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department has admitted to violating constitutional rights by using excessive force during a mental health crisis call, federal officials announced.  Brooklyn resident Mario Stewart, age 46, admitted in federal court to deploying his taser-like-device seven times within two minutes against a handcuffed individual during an incident on March 26, 2019, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Friday, Jan. 10.  According to officials, on the day of the incident, Stewart and six other Mount Vernon o…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester K9 Hangs Up Her Leash After Sniffing Out Justice For Decade Westchester K9 Hangs Up Her Leash After Sniffing Out Justice For Decade
Westchester K9 Hangs Up Her Leash After Sniffing Out Justice For Decade After more than a decade of dedicated service, a Westchester County Police K9 has officially retired.  K9 Madison, known for her exceptional tracking abilities, was honored on Wednesday, Jan. 8, her final day with the department.  Madison and her handler, Sgt. Hicks, have been instrumental in countless cases over the years, tracking fleeing suspects and locating lost or missing persons, the department announced on Wednesday.  Originally from Blount County, Tennessee, Madison joined the department as an 8-month-old pup. She quickly excelled in her initial 10 weeks of training…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison
Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison A former Putnam County anesthesiologist will spend years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing and assaulting a victim, officials announced.  Paul Giacopelli, a Southeast resident and former chief anesthesiologist at Putnam County Hospital, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to four years in state prison, according to the Putnam County District Attorney's Office.  Giacopelli's sentencing follows his guilty plea on Aug. 21, 2024, to charges stemming from an incident in which he used a chemical substance to render his victim unconscious before sexually abusing her. Th…

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by Ben Crnic
News
AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent AI-Enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent
Ai-enhanced 'Virtual Kidnapping' Scam Targets Westchester Families: Superintendent A Northern Westchester school district is alerting families after two local households received virtual extortion calls involving scammers who claimed to have kidnapped loved ones.  In a letter to families on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Peekskill City School District Superintendent David Mauricio said two households received "Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Calls," a sophisticated scam where perpetrators falsely claim to have kidnapped a loved one and demand ransom payments.  Using artificial intelligence (AI), these scammers are now replicating family members' voices to make the threats…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Fourth Suspect Nabbed In Fatal Shooting Of 22-Year-Old In New Rochelle (UPDATE) Fourth Suspect Nabbed In Fatal Shooting Of 22-Year-Old In New Rochelle (UPDATE)
Fourth Suspect Nabbed In Fatal Shooting Of 22-Year-Old In New Rochelle (Update) A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Mount Vernon man at a public housing complex in New Rochelle, police announced.  Ali Mohammed, age 21, of Mount Vernon, was taken into custody on Wednesday, Jan. 8, after turning himself in with the assistance of community members, according to the New Rochelle Police Department.  Mohammed is accused of being the gunman in the fatal shooting of David Smith, which occurred at the Heritage Homes complex on Rhoda Quash Lane on Monday, Jan. 6, around 10:45 a.m. Smith was found by police sufferi…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
HS Put Into Lockdown During Police Chase In Hudson Valley: Suspect In Custody HS Put Into Lockdown During Police Chase In Hudson Valley: Suspect In Custody
HS Put Into Lockdown During Police Chase In Hudson Valley: Suspect In Custody A vehicle pursuit that began on Interstate 84 led to a temporary hold-in-place at a Hudson Valley high school as a precautionary measure and also resulted in the arrest of an Orange County man. The incident started around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8 when a man was reported to be on the highway on I-84 West near I-684 trying to stop cars. When a Sheriff's Deputy and a New York State Trooper arrived at the location, the man got in a vehicle parked nearby and began driving away, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.  The man, 34-year-old New Windsor resident Ian Assad …

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Former Westchester Police Officer Edward Patane Dies At 75 Former Westchester Police Officer Edward Patane Dies At 75
Former Westchester Police Officer Edward Patane Dies At 75 A Northern Westchester police department mourning the loss of retired Patrolman Edward Patane, a former officer who served the public for more than two decades.  Patane, a former officer with the North Castle Police Department, died on Monday, Dec. 30 at the age of 75, according to his obituary.  The North Castle Police Department announced the loss in a post on social media on Monday, Jan. 6, saying that the former officer was a longtime Armonk resident.  According to the department and his obituary, Patane served North Castle for 21 years beginning in April 1971 before his…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police 'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police
'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police A person was arrested for trespassing on the grounds of a Putnam County middle school after refusing to leave and becoming combative, authorities said.  The incident happened on Monday, Jan. 6, around 9:20 a.m., at Mahopac Middle School, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The individual was observed by the school’s Resource Officer (SRO) on the campus and was approached for questioning. The man refused to provide a legitimate reason for being on the property and declined to leave, officials said.  As the SRO attempted to gather more information, the individual becam…

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by Ben Crnic
News
22-Year-Old Killed In New Rochelle Shooting: Suspect At Large 22-Year-Old Killed In New Rochelle Shooting: Suspect At Large
22-Year-Old Killed In New Rochelle Shooting: Suspect At Large A 22-year-old man was fatally shot at a public housing complex in Westchester, prompting an active investigation, police announced.  New, updated report - ID Released Of 22-Year-Old Killed In Westchester Shooting: Suspects Caught, Police Say (UPDATE) The shooting happened on the morning of Monday, Jan. 6, at the Heritage Homes complex on the block between Horton and Lincoln Avenues and Brook Street to Dewitt Avenue, according to New Rochelle Police Captain J. Collins Coyne.   Officers found the victim, a Mount Vernon resident, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Poli…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Hours-Long Standoff In Port Chester Involves Barricaded Person: Police Hours-Long Standoff In Port Chester Involves Barricaded Person: Police
Hours-Long Standoff In Port Chester Involves Barricaded Person: Police An emotionally distressing incident in Port Chester involving a barricaded individual ended peacefully thanks to police and first responders.  The incident began around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 at a home on North Regent Street in Port Chester, when police were called to the scene after reports of an individual barricading themselves inside, according to the Port Chester Police Department,  Officers quickly began working to ensure the safety of all people both inside and outside the residence, the department said.  After several hours of negotiations, the situa…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Deaths Of Former Police Commissioner, Current Sergeant In Westchester Announced On Same Day Deaths Of Former Police Commissioner, Current Sergeant In Westchester Announced On Same Day
Deaths Of Former Police Commissioner, Current Sergeant In Westchester Announced On Same Day A police department in Westchester is mourning both its former commissioner and a sergeant whose deaths were announced on the same day. The deaths of former Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Glenn Scott and Sergeant Murashea Bovell were announced by the department on Wednesday, Jan. 1.  The department did not release more information about their causes of death. Mount Vernon Director of Communications Tim Allen also did not release more information on Thursday, Jan. 2.  Scott retired from his position as Commissioner in May 2023 after three years on the job. Du…

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by Ben Crnic
News
42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver 42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver
42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver This story has been updated. An Army veteran has been identified as the man authorities say rammed a pickup truck into a crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans early on New Year's Day morning, leaving 15 people dead and injuring approximately 35 others. Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, age 42, who was killed in a shootout with police officers after the incident at around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 on Bourbon Street, was a US citizen born in Texas, where he lived at the time of the incident, the FBI said. The Ford truck, rented through an auto sharing company, displayed an ISIS flag on the tr…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA
New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA A groundbreaking investigation has identified two new suspects in a 1996 double homicide in Westchester, clearing a man previously charged in the case, officials said. In an announcement on Monday, Dec. 30, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office said that its Conviction Review Unit identified two new suspects in the November 1996 double homicide of 79-year-old Archie Harris and 35-year-old Betty Ramcharan at Harris’s Eastchester home.  Harris, a millionaire, and Ramcharan, his home health aide, were both killed at Harris's mansion.  Follow…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month For the second time in a month a stowaway was caught on a Delta Air Lines flight, sparking concerns. The flight, from Seattle to Honolulu, was preparing for takeoff when crew members discovered the unticketed passenger onboard, leading to the plane returning to the gate on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Delta Airlines said that safety protocols were followed, resulting in the passenger’s removal and subsequent detention by law enforcement. The identity of the person has not been released. “As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Murdering Dog, Dismembering It In 'Disturbing' New Rochelle Animal Cruelty Case Man Accused Of Murdering Dog, Dismembering It In 'Disturbing' New Rochelle Animal Cruelty Case
Man Accused Of Murdering Dog, Dismembering It In 'Disturbing' New Rochelle Animal Cruelty Case A 39-year-old Connecticut man is facing felony charges after allegedly dismembering a dog that he took from its owner in Westchester, authorities said. The arrest stemmed from an investigation that began on Friday, Dec. 6, when a 41-year-old New Rochelle man reported to police that his dog had been taken and killed by an acquaintance staying at his apartment, New Rochelle Police Captain J. Collins Coyne announced on Monday, Dec. 23.  Coyne said the suspect, Litchfield County resident Benjamin Tyler, age 39, of New Milford, allegedly dismembered the dog and disposed of its remains …

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by Ben Crnic
News
CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days
CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Mangione is charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder. Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland native, had fled New York City after the high-profile targeted assassination outside the New York Hilton in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 4.  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. UnitedHealthcare After a days-long manhunt, Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsy…

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
Police Sergeant From Westchester Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love' Police Sergeant From Westchester Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love'
Police Sergeant From Westchester Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love' A Westchester community is mourning the loss of a beloved police sergeant and son of a city leader who leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and dedication.  Patrick Breen, a Sergeant with the Yonkers Police Department and the son of Yonkers City Councilman Mike Breen, died at the age of 41 on Sunday, Dec. 15.  In an emotional post on Instagram, Mike Breen shared his family’s heartbreak, saying Patrick “brought immense joy and love into the lives of everyone who knew him” and would be “profoundly missed.”  “Being Patrick’s father has been the greatest honor of my life, an…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Grand Jury Clears New Rochelle Police Lieutenant Accused Of Misconduct: Suspension Remains Grand Jury Clears New Rochelle Police Lieutenant Accused Of Misconduct: Suspension Remains
Grand Jury Clears New Rochelle Police Lieutenant Accused Of Misconduct: Suspension Remains A grand jury has declined to indict a Westchester County police lieutenant accused of deliberately mishandling evidence during a drug investigation, officials announced.  In a statement on Friday, Dec. 13, New Rochelle city officials said a Westchester County Grand Jury cleared New Rochelle Police Lieutenant Sean Kane of criminal charges connected to a misconduct investigation.  Kane was originally suspended in early August when the New Rochelle Police Department announced an investigation into his alleged mishandling of evidence.  According to the department, …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport In Hudson Valley To Shut Down Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport In Hudson Valley To Shut Down
Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport In Hudson Valley To Shut Down Following an incident at a New York airport that disrupted operations, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. The announcement follows a significant disruption in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, where a drone forced a temporary shutdown of the airport’s runways, delaying flights. State and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident. After that event, Hochul called for additional resources to bolster drone detection and response …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Drones To Be Seen In Westchester Skies: Here's Why Drones To Be Seen In Westchester Skies: Here's Why
Drones To Be Seen In Westchester Skies: Here's Why Amid a rise in drone sightings along the East Coast, the devices will be seen in the skies over Northern Westchester—although these will be flying for a specific reason, police said. Drones will be used in the area of Route 134 west of the Taconic State Parkway in Yorktown during the daylight hours of Thursday, Dec. 12, the town's police department announced. The reason? The drones will be used for a movie shoot, according to authorities.  The department said it wanted to warn the public "due to the current uncertainty involving recent drone sightings in New Jersey."  In the Gar…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
49 New Officers Graduate From Westchester Police Academy: Here's Where They'll Serve 49 New Officers Graduate From Westchester Police Academy: Here's Where They'll Serve
49 New Officers Graduate From Westchester Police Academy: Here's Where They'll Serve After months of training, dozens of new graduates of the Westchester Police Academy will soon begin serving communities throughout the county. The 49 new recruits graduated from the Westchester County Police Academy during a ceremony held at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center, the Westchester County Police Department announced on Friday, Dec. 6. They will now go on to work at seven departments in the county.  The new recruits will now be sent to the following Westchester departments: Westchester County PD: Shaun Blute, Frank Caparelli, Devin Furphy, Steven Hartog, Autumn …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY An Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian from a privileged, politically connected family has been charged with the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers after a days-long manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery New York prosecutors have formally charged 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a native of Towson, Maryland, with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.  The incident occurred outside the New York Hilton in midt…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Pets Endangered: 100 Tacks Found Scattered in Hudson Valley Dog-Walking Area Pets Endangered: 100 Tacks Found Scattered in Hudson Valley Dog-Walking Area
Pets Endangered: 100 Tacks Found Scattered in Hudson Valley Dog-Walking Area A troubling discovery in the Hudson Valley has sparked an investigation after nearly 100 metal thumbtacks were found scattered in a grassy area commonly used for dog walking, authorities said.  The incident occurred at Twin Brook Manor in the Putnam County town of Southeast, according to the Putnam County SPCA, which received a report from a resident on Tuesday, Dec. 3.  The resident, who frequently walks their dog in the area behind the 200 block of houses, noticed dozens of metal tacks scattered across the grass and notified the SPCA. Upon further investigation, SPCA officials …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Man Who Bit Girlfriend’s Face In Westchester Attack To Serve Prison Time Man Who Bit Girlfriend’s Face In Westchester Attack To Serve Prison Time
Man Who Bit Girlfriend’s Face In Westchester Attack To Serve Prison Time A 27-year-old man who brutally assaulted his girlfriend by biting her face and choking her in a Westchester parking lot will spend years in prison, officials announced. Bronx resident Christian Rosado will serve six and a half years in state prison in connection with the assault, which happened in Pelham Manor in August 2023, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 4. According to the DA's Office, the attack happened at around 9:15 p.m. on August 14, 2023, inside the victim’s parked vehicle on Pelham Parkway in Pelham Manor. Rosado, sitting i…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Federal Oversight Ends For Police Department In Westchester After Major Reforms Federal Oversight Ends For Police Department In Westchester After Major Reforms
Federal Oversight Ends For Police Department In Westchester After Major Reforms A police department in Westchester has implemented enough major reforms to result in the conclusion of federal oversight after years of monitoring, officials announced. In an announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York revealed that oversight of the Yonkers Police Department has officially ended following significant reforms made to improve its policies, training, and community engagement. The federal oversight originally stemmed from an investigation that began in 2007 and a subsequent agreement in November 2016 aimed at address…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Attacking Co-Worker With Knife At Westchester U-Haul Locale: Police Man Accused Of Attacking Co-Worker With Knife At Westchester U-Haul Locale: Police
Man Accused Of Attacking Co-Worker With Knife At Westchester U-Haul Locale: Police A dispute between co-workers at a Westchester U-Haul location escalated into a violent confrontation involving a knife, leaving one man injured, police said. The incident happened on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the U-Haul Moving & Storage of Homefield on 937 Saw Mill River Road (Route 9A) in Yonkers, according to Yonkers Police Sgt. Robert Spink. During a dispute between two employees of a third-party moving company, 55-year-old James Tindal of the Union County city of Elizabeth, New Jersey, allegedly took out a knife and swung it multiple times at his co-worker, 42-year-old Jameel Sirman of …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Lee Zeldin, Elise Stefanik Among Trump Admin Picks From NY Targeted With Bomb Threats Lee Zeldin, Elise Stefanik Among Trump Admin Picks From NY Targeted With Bomb Threats
Lee Zeldin, Elise Stefanik Among Trump Admin Picks From NY Targeted With Bomb Threats Several New York politicians received bomb threats as part of a widespread attack targeting President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks and administrative appointees. The attacks, which ranged from bomb threats to prank “swatting” calls meant to dispatch a large number of armed police officers to a target’s residence, were made Tuesday night, Nov. 26, and Wednesday morning, Nov. 27. “Last night and this morning, several of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-America threats to their lives and those who live with them,” said K…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections and administrative appointees were the targets threats the last two days, a spokesperson said, calling the acts "violent" and "un-American." According to a statement by the Trump-Vance Transition Team on Wednesday, Nov. 27, several individuals associated with the incoming administration were subjected to threats ranging from bomb scares to "swatting" incidents, in which false reports are made to dispatch emergency responders to someone's location. Law enforcement responded swiftly to ensure the safety of those targeted, the team s…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Woman Injured In Hit-Run At Westchester ShopRite Parking Lot Woman Injured In Hit-Run At Westchester ShopRite Parking Lot
Woman Injured In Hit-Run At Westchester ShopRite Parking Lot A woman was injured after being struck by a vehicle in a supermarket parking lot in Westchester County, with police now searching for the driver, authorities said. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 26 at the ShopRite supermarket parking lot at 278 Tuckahoe Rd. in Yonkers, according to Yonkers Police Sgt. Robert Spink. The elderly victim, who was walking through the parking lot, was hit by a vehicle that was backing up, Spink said. She complained of head and back pain and was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.  The driver did not remain at the scene and may…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Officer Violently Attacked By Inmate At Westchester Prison Officer Violently Attacked By Inmate At Westchester Prison
Officer Violently Attacked By Inmate At Westchester Prison An officer suffered serious injuries after an inmate attacked him in a stairwell at a maximum-security prison in Northern Westchester, officials said. The assault occurred on Monday, Nov. 18, just after 10:30 a.m., as inmates were returning to their cells from morning recreation, according to the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA). The incident began when an inmate was seen yelling in the stairwell between two cell blocks. The officer ordered the inmate to return to his cell, but he refused. When the officer approached and repeated the order,…

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by Ben Crnic