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Port Chester Police Department

Obituaries
Beloved Village Employee Dies Suddenly In Westchester: 'True Ambassador' Beloved Village Employee Dies Suddenly In Westchester: 'True Ambassador'
Beloved Village Employee Dies Suddenly In Westchester: 'True Ambassador' A community in Westchester is mourning the sudden loss of a senior center employee who dedicated herself to caring for others and organizing activities to make her home a better place.  The untimely death of Nina Jones, a well-known staff member at the Port Chester Senior Community Center, was announced by the village on Sunday, Nov. 10. Her age and cause of death were not made public.  According to village officials, Jones was "an integral member" of the center and worked to "make each day in the center a great one" for seniors. To do this, she often helped organize trips and programming l…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines
Scammers Posing As Police In Westchester, Asking Victims To Pay Fines A police department in Westchester is warning residents of scammers posing as officers over the phone and claiming that victims face criminal charges unless they pay up.  According to an announcement made by Port Chester Police on Friday, Oct. 11, residents in the village have been receiving phone calls from those claiming to be officers from the department.  The caller ID will often show as the Port Chester Police Department for these calls, police said. According to the department, the caller will state that the victim is under indictment or faces criminal charges while adding …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Concerned Citizen Helps Catch Duo Accused Of Robbing FedEx Driver In Westchester Concerned Citizen Helps Catch Duo Accused Of Robbing FedEx Driver In Westchester
Concerned Citizen Helps Catch Duo Accused Of Robbing FedEx Driver In Westchester Two suspects were apprehended after stealing packages from a FedEx driver in Westchester and threatening a concerned citizen who tried to catch them, police said.  The incident began on Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, when a citizen in Port Chester saw two suspects steal from a FedEx driver making deliveries, according to the Port Chester Police Department. The citizen followed the suspect's vehicle and tried boxing them in to stop them from leaving. However, the suspects took out a handgun and threatened them, police said. At this point, the citizen gave officers a description of the vehi…

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by Ben Crnic
Traffic
Oversized Tractor Trailer Knocks Down Wires At Westchester Intersection, Causes Closure Oversized Tractor Trailer Knocks Down Wires At Westchester Intersection, Causes Closure
Oversized Tractor Trailer Knocks Down Wires At Westchester Intersection, Causes Closure A busy Westchester intersection is closed thanks to fallen wires knocked over by a tractor-trailer, officials said.  The intersection of South Main Street and Grace Church Street in Port Chester is closed to traffic following a crash, village officials announced on Tuesday, Sept. 3 around 7 a.m.  According to officials, an oversized tractor-trailer struck the overhead Optimum Cable lines in the intersection and knocked them to the ground.  As a result of the crash, residents and businesses in the area should expect to be without television, internet, or landlines for most of…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
'Happy-Go-Lucky' Westchester Police Officer Killed In Crash 'Happy-Go-Lucky' Westchester Police Officer Killed In Crash
'Happy-Go-Lucky' Westchester Police Officer Killed In Crash A 23-year-old Westchester County police officer was killed in a Hudson Valley crash. The crash occurred in Orange County at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, July 7, in the town of Highlands on Route 9W northbound according to Trooper Steven Nevel of the New York State Police. Port Chester Police Officer Christopher Bernal, who was driving a 2004 Honda motorcycle northbound on SR 9W, was killed when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, Nevel said. The vehicle exited the highway and struck a parked, occupied 2023 GMC Acadia in a scenic pull-off.  Bernal was transported to M…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Police To Conduct Training With Simulated Weapons At School In Westchester Police To Conduct Training With Simulated Weapons At School In Westchester
Police To Conduct Training With Simulated Weapons At School In Westchester A police department in Westchester is advising residents that it will be conducting training with simulated weapons at a school in the county.  The Port Chester Police Department will be conducting the training on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Park Avenue School, authorities said.  The training exercises will include the use of simulated weapons, but there is no concern to the public, the department added.  "We thank the Port Chester School District for use of the building," the department said. 

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Retired Detective Who Served In Westchester For 25 Years Dies Retired Detective Who Served In Westchester For 25 Years Dies
Retired Detective Who Served In Westchester For 25 Years Dies A community in Westchester is mourning the loss of a retired police detective who served with dignity for decades.  Keith Dooley of Little River, South Carolina, who served as a detective with the Port Chester Police Department for 25 years, died on Monday, Feb. 5 at the age of 71, according to his obituary.  Born in 1952, Dooley graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains in 1970 and joined the Air Force before eventually beginning a career in law enforcement with Port Chester Police.  He remained with the department for 25 years and was recogni…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Nabbed After Threatening Women With Pink Handgun In Westchester Man Nabbed After Threatening Women With Pink Handgun In Westchester
Man Nabbed After Threatening Women With Pink Handgun In Westchester A 24-year-old Connecticut man faces charges after menacing a group of women with a fully loaded handgun in Westchester, police announced. Fairfield County resident Diego Victorino of Norwalk, age 24, was arrested on Friday, Jan. 19 in connection with an incident in Port Chester, the village's police department announced.  On the day of the incident, police received a report of a man menacing a group of women who had been leaving an unnamed downtown establishment. A car believed to be connected to this incident was soon seen leaving the area, and officers were able to pull this veh…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Retired Sergeant, Former Youth Coach In Westchester Dies Retired Sergeant, Former Youth Coach In Westchester Dies
Retired Sergeant, Former Youth Coach In Westchester Dies A retired police sergeant who served a village in Westchester for close to four decades is being remembered for his lifelong dedication to the youth of his community.  The death of retired Youth Sgt. Rocco Plateroti was announced by the Port Chester Police Department on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in a post on social media.  Plateroti served the village of Port Chester for 36 years before retiring, the department said.  During this time, he became known for his willingness to help the village's youth, becoming both a mentor and a coach.  He was also often seen at Port…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester
Scammers Posing As Court Officials, Claiming Victims Owe Parking Ticket Fines In Westchester A police department in Westchester is advising residents of a scheme involving scammers posing as court officials and asking victims to pay hundreds of dollars after claiming they owe parking ticket fines.  The scam was detailed in an announcement by the Port Chester Police Department on Thursday, Jan. 11.  According to the department, victims of the scheme have reported being called by someone claiming that they owe several thousand dollars in parking ticket fines to the Port Chester Courts.  The victims are then offered a "plea deal" in which they can pay several hund…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Shooting Suspect Caught In Westchester: Incident Prompts Schools To Delay Dismissal Shooting Suspect Caught In Westchester: Incident Prompts Schools To Delay Dismissal
Shooting Suspect Caught In Westchester: Incident Prompts Schools To Delay Dismissal Local schools were asked to delay the dismissal of students as authorities worked to apprehend a shooting suspect in Westchester, police said. The delayed dismissals occurred as a result of an incident on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when the Port Chester Police Department was notified that a suspect involved in a shooting in Yonkers may have been in the village. According to the department, the suspect's vehicle was then soon found in Port Chester by FBI Safe Streets Task Force members. It was then discovered that the suspect had a local address, prompting authorities to begin surveilling their home.…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Duo Apprehended After Stealing $10K In Pharmaceuticals At Costco In Westchester: Police Duo Apprehended After Stealing $10K In Pharmaceuticals At Costco In Westchester: Police
Duo Apprehended After Stealing $10K In Pharmaceuticals At Costco In Westchester: Police Two people face charges after stealing $10,000 in pharmaceuticals from a Westchester Costco store, including a woman who led authorities on multiple pursuits in several municipalities, police said.  The incident began on Thursday night, Oct. 26, when Port Chester Police were alerted that a stolen vehicle had entered the village. This vehicle was soon found in the parking lot of the Costco Wholesale store at 1 Westchester Ave., police said.  According to the department, while officers were investigating the location of the car's occupants, a woman came out of Costco's side exit wit…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Student Hospitalized After Altercation Breaks Out Following HS Football Game In Westchester Student Hospitalized After Altercation Breaks Out Following HS Football Game In Westchester
Student Hospitalized After Altercation Breaks Out Following HS Football Game In Westchester One student was hospitalized after an altercation broke out following a varsity football game in Westchester. The incident happened at Port Chester High School, which hosted Poughkeepsie High School on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21. According to authorities, officers from the Port Chester and Rye Brook police departments were able to separate the parties involved and restore order. Further information on the injured student has not been released. All those involved in the altercation were juveniles, Port Chester Police detectives said, noting that  they are working to "identify th…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester
Woman Victimized By Scammer Posing As Family Member Over Phone In Westchester Residents are being warned to be cautious after a woman in New York was contacted by a scammer who posed as her family member in an effort to solicit money from her.  The Westchester County incident happened to a member of the Port Chester Senior Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when she was victimized by a "grandparent scam," according to an announcement from the center shared by the Port Chester Police Department. According to the community center, the woman received a call from someone who sounded like her grandchild, who said that they were in trouble and needed money …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Fatal Crash: Speeding Car Strikes Rock, Lands In River In Westchester, Police Say Fatal Crash: Speeding Car Strikes Rock, Lands In River In Westchester, Police Say
Fatal Crash: Speeding Car Strikes Rock, Lands In River In Westchester, Police Say A 31-year-old was killed after their speeding car struck a large rock and landed in a river near the Westchester and Fairfield County border, police said.  The incident happened on Thursday, Aug. 3 around 1:40 a.m., when authorities were notified that a vehicle had driven into a river near Purdy Avenue in Port Chester, according to the village's police department. Arriving officers soon found a 36-year-old man sitting on rocks near the location of the car. Police later discovered that this man had been a passenger in the vehicle.  With the help of the New Rochelle, Greenwich, and…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
New Update: Car Arson Suspect Caught With Armor Piercing Bullets In Westchester, Police Say New Update: Car Arson Suspect Caught With Armor Piercing Bullets In Westchester, Police Say
New Update: Car Arson Suspect Caught With Armor Piercing Bullets In Westchester, Police Say A lengthy investigation has resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old man who allegedly set numerous vehicles on fire in Westchester, police said.  On Thursday night, July 13, 30-year-old Fredy Hernandez-Paz was arrested on arson charges by Port Chester Police in connection with several incidents that happened in June and July, according to the department.  According to police, Hernandez-Paz was involved in early morning vehicle arson incidents that happened on both Sunday morning, June 11 around 4 a.m. in the area of Spring Street, and Saturday, July 8 arou…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Suspicious Car Fires Erupt In Westchester: Police Investigating Suspicious Car Fires Erupt In Westchester: Police Investigating
Suspicious Car Fires Erupt In Westchester: Police Investigating Authorities in Westchester are investigating several car fires that have since been deemed suspicious.  The fires happened in Port Chester on Saturday, July 8 around 3:45 a.m., when firefighters responded to the corner of Washington Street and Westchester Avenue to fight the first of the blazes.  According to the Port Chester Fire Department, a few minutes after arriving at this location to battle the flames, another car fire began on New Broad Street.  A total of four vehicles were involved in the fires, which are now under investigation by the Port Chester Police Departmen…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Former Police Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: 'Gentleman In All Aspects' Former Police Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: 'Gentleman In All Aspects'
Former Police Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: 'Gentleman In All Aspects' The former chief of a police department in Westchester is being remembered for his kindness and his dedication to serving both his country and his community.  Lifelong Port Chester resident Zygmont C. Gorski, who once served as Chief of the Port Chester Police Department, died on Saturday, July 1 at the age of 96, according to his obituary.  Born in Port Chester in 1927, Gorski was raised and schooled in the village before joining the US Navy in 1945 and 1946, serving on the USS Benham during World War II.  Upon returning to the US, he joined the Port Chester Polic…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
2 Robbery Suspects Remain At Large After Pursuit In Westchester: Police 2 Robbery Suspects Remain At Large After Pursuit In Westchester: Police
2 Robbery Suspects Remain At Large After Pursuit In Westchester: Police Two suspects who were part of a crew involved in several robberies were able to escape authorities after a chase in Westchester, police said.  The incident happened on Sunday morning, July 2 around 1:30 a.m., when the New York City Police Department followed an alleged robbery crew from Queens on Interstate 95 North.  The vehicle containing the suspects eventually entered Port Chester, where the occupants then stopped and tried running away from officers on foot, according to the Port Chester Police Department.  Two of the suspects were immediately caught and placed into cus…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Attacks Officer Near Prom Photo Shoot In Westchester, Fights 2 More After Release: Police Man Attacks Officer Near Prom Photo Shoot In Westchester, Fights 2 More After Release: Police
Man Attacks Officer Near Prom Photo Shoot In Westchester, Fights 2 More After Release: Police A 25-year-old man faces numerous charges after attacking three officers in two unprovoked incidents in Westchester, including one that happened in front of a prom photo shoot, police said. Both incidents happened in Port Chester on both Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21, and consisted of unprovoked violent attacks on police officers in the village, according to the Port Chester Police Department.  The first of the incidents happened on Tuesday night when a 25-year-old man charged an officer while he was engaged in traffic duty near a prom photoshoot at Lyon Park.  After ta…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Thieves Targeting Jewelry In Westchester: Here's What To Watch Out For Thieves Targeting Jewelry In Westchester: Here's What To Watch Out For
Thieves Targeting Jewelry In Westchester: Here's What To Watch Out For Police are warning residents of a duo participating in a scheme to steal people's jewelry in Westchester.  The warning was issued on Saturday, May 6 by the Port Chester Police Department, which said that a few instances of jewelry theft had happened in the village in the past week.  According to the department, the victims have usually been approached by a vehicle with a man and a woman inside who claim to be selling jewelry.  The suspects will then attempt to gain the victim's trust and convince them to try on the new jewelry. However, in the process, they will then remove …

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Flags Flown Half-Mast For Beloved Former Historical Society President In Westchester Flags Flown Half-Mast For Beloved Former Historical Society President In Westchester
Flags Flown Half-Mast For Beloved Former Historical Society President In Westchester A village in Westchester is flying all flags at half-mast to honor a beloved resident who dedicated her life to public service and helping those most in need.  Flags in Port Chester will be flown at half-mast from sunrise on Monday, March 27 until sunset on Tuesday, March 28 to honor Goldie Solomon, who died in March at the age of 96, Port Chester Mayor Luis Marino announced.  Solomon, who once served as both the president and vice president of the Port Chester Historical Society, was known throughout the village as being an outspoken advocate for first responders and the vil…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Residents Evacuated After Rags Spontaneously Combust In Westchester Home Residents Evacuated After Rags Spontaneously Combust In Westchester Home
Residents Evacuated After Rags Spontaneously Combust In Westchester Home Residents of a home in Westchester had to be evacuated after a used rag pile spontaneously combusted in their residence, starting a fire.  The incident happened on Saturday, March 4, around 1:45 p.m., when a Port Chester police officer on patrol noticed smoke coming out of the second story of a house on Olivia Street. He then quickly sprang into action, evacuated the residents, and called the village's fire department.  Once arriving, firefighters made their way to the second floor of the home and found a pile of rags that had caught on fire. They quickly extinguished the blaze an…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Car With Missing Tire Leads Cops On Chase Through Parks In Westchester, Injures Officers Car With Missing Tire Leads Cops On Chase Through Parks In Westchester, Injures Officers
Car With Missing Tire Leads Cops On Chase Through Parks In Westchester, Injures Officers A man faces numerous charges after leading police on a chase throughout Fairfield County and Westchester in a stolen vehicle with a missing tire, resulting in officers sustaining injuries and severe damage to parks.  The chase began during the early morning of Friday, Feb. 24 around 3:20 a.m., when police in Port Chester were alerted by the Greenwich PD that a vehicle that had been stolen ten minutes prior in Mamaroneck was heading toward the village's border on Putnam Avenue.  Port Chester PD units then swiftly headed toward the area to apprehend the suspect and found that the ve…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
'Good Friend, Mentor': Beloved Deacon From Westchester Dies 'Good Friend, Mentor': Beloved Deacon From Westchester Dies
'Good Friend, Mentor': Beloved Deacon From Westchester Dies A beloved Deacon and former store owner from Westchester known for serving his community in times of need has died.  William "Deacon Billy " Vaccaro of Port Chester died on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the age of 89, according to his obituary.  A graduate of Port Chester High School, Vaccaro first served with the US Army in Korea before returning home and joining the family business, Vaccaro's Supermarket, which he operated with his brothers Joseph and Anthony for 25 years.  It was at this supermarket that Vaccaro helped many people earn their first work experience through b…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Suspect Throws Objects, Breaks Windows Of Businesses In Westchester County: Police Suspect Throws Objects, Breaks Windows Of Businesses In Westchester County: Police
Suspect Throws Objects, Breaks Windows Of Businesses In Westchester County: Police Police are investigating after a suspect threw objects and broke the windows of numerous businesses in the downtown business area of a Westchester County village.  During the early morning of Sunday, Nov. 6, the suspect damaged multiple stores in Port Chester and may have entered them before they were apprehended by police, according to a release from the Port Chester Police Department from around 8:40 a.m. on the same day.  Authorities are investigating if any burglaries happened, or if it was just someone causing damage, police said. The investigation is still in "the early sta…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Oops! Box Of Live Reptiles Mailed To Wrong Address In Westchester Oops! Box Of Live Reptiles Mailed To Wrong Address In Westchester
Oops! Box Of Live Reptiles Mailed To Wrong Address In Westchester Some Westchester residents got quite a shock after mistakenly receiving a box of live reptiles. Police in Port Chester said several lizards and iguanas were accidentally delivered to the wrong address. “If you lost your lizards and iguanas we have them at the PD,” the department wrote in a Facebook post Sunday, Aug. 28.  Posted by Port Chester Police Department on Sunday, August 28, 2022 “Needless to say the addressee was quite startled when they opened the box,” reads the post. Police said after catching all of the animals, they secured them until a local animal sanctuary could pick …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Multiple Agencies Respond To Hazmat Situation At Costco In Westchester Multiple Agencies Respond To Hazmat Situation At Costco In Westchester
Multiple Agencies Respond To Hazmat Situation At Costco In Westchester Multiple agencies responded to a "hazmat incident" at a Costco in Westchester County. Firefighters received a report of smoke in the Costco located in Port Chester at 1 Westchester Ave. at about 2:10 p.m. on Monday, June 20, according to the Port Chester Police Department. Authorities determined that the smoke wasn't from a fire, but that there was a large freon leak on the second floor of the building, the fire department reported. The cause of the leak remains under investigation, officials said. Units from Rye Brook, Purchase, the town and village of Mamaroneck, Rye, Valhalla, and Port…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Man Caught With 'Numerous Catalytic Converters' After Fleeing Cops In Westchester, Police Say Man Caught With 'Numerous Catalytic Converters' After Fleeing Cops In Westchester, Police Say
Man Caught With 'Numerous Catalytic Converters' After Fleeing Cops In Westchester, Police Say A Connecticut man was apprehended after police said he traveled in a vehicle containing "numerous" catalytic converters in Westchester County and ran away from officers. Police responded to a report of a suspicious incident on Poningo Street in Port Chester on the morning of Saturday, June 4, and saw a vehicle leave the scene, according to the Port Chester Police Department. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, and the vehicle led officers on a short pursuit onto Byram Road in Greenwich, before it struck a traffic island as it neared I-95, police said. When the vehicle became disab…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Know Him? Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Westchester Know Him? Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Westchester
Know Him? Arson Suspect At Large After Lighting Garbage Bins On Fire In Westchester An alert has been issued by police investigators in Westchester as they seek the public's assistance in identifying and locating a suspect who is wanted for arson. The Port Chester Police Department released a photo of the suspect, who was caught on camera before intentionally lighting a pair of the village’s plastic garbage bins on fire. Police said the alleged incident happened shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 8 on East Broadway in Port Chester. According to investigators, the suspect was seen crossing the street on lower Westchester Avenue before walking west and making a left ont…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Watch: Police Release Video Of Wanted Westchester Woman Watch: Police Release Video Of Wanted Westchester Woman
Watch: Police Release Video Of Wanted Westchester Woman Police investigators in Westchester have released a video of a woman wanted for an alleged late-night robbery. An alert was issued to the community in Port Chester regarding a wanted woman who allegedly followed a village resident into the backyard of his Cottage Street home at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 31 to rob him. According to a spokesperson from the Port Chester Police Department, the woman in the video and an unknown man followed their victim into his yard, knocked him down, and forcibly removed items from his pockets before fleeing on a vehicle parked on Cottage St…

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by Zak Failla