SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - Accidents and traffic scofflaws, assistance to EMS and other agencies, noise complaints, and several unusual calls topped the Lewisboro Police Department’s police blotter for November.
Perhaps the most serious incident of the start of the month took place on Nov. 5, in which Lewisboro Police assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending an individual wanted for possession of dangerous drugs. The call came in via the Real-Time Crime Center (RTC) of a “hit” on a license plate reader at Route 138 and North Street in Goldens Bridge. The responding officer, driving north on Route 121 to the scene, saw the suspicious vehicle traveling south and performed a traffic stop at the intersection of Route 121 and Schoolhouse Road. The driver identified himself as the man being pursued for drugs, and he was detained in the rear of the officer’s police car. Three additional Lewisboro officers then arrived for backup. The suspect was turned over to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and his vehicle was towed by Sal’s.
While conducting a safety check of the interior of the vehicle prior to a canine search, the officers located approximately eight uncapped needles and 30 capped needles. Because of the potentially unsafe conditions police called off the canine search.
Police responded to a noise complaint on Sunday, November 9, in South Salem. Upon arrival police observed workers framing a new house on an empty lot. The work supervisor advised police that he was trying to get this stage of work completed. Police advised the supervisor that Lewisboro Town Code does not allow construction work on Sundays, which the man did not know. He had the crew stop work for the day. No further action was necessary.
On Nov. 13, Lewisboro Police took part in a marijuana seizure at a Goldens Bridge smoke shop. The seizure was led by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, which had been notified that the store was selling pot illegally. With police help, the Cannabis Management personnel seized a large quantity of products there that contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychogenic ingredient in cannabis. The Cannabis Management team sent the haul to Albany to be weighed and valued.
A caller from South Salem notified police that there was a man at her door asking her to all 911. The man had parked his car at a construction site, where he later witness two young men throwing rocks at the car. In the process the car’s windshield, two rear passenger windows, and rear windows were broken and there were numerous scratches and dents. In addition, one of the tires was flat and the car was missing a license plate. The youths both fled. The caller said she had a surveillance video and knew both youths. Police then learned that the man had purchased the vehicle a year ago but had not registered it in his name. The responding officer went to the home of one of the youths, to discuss this vandalism with the young man’s father. The investigation is still ongoing.
Vehicle Impounds
On Nov. 3, police stopped a vehicle on Ridgefield Avenue in South Salem for traffic violations and discovered the driver to be unlicensed. The driver received two tickets – for driving without a license and for disobeying a traffic signal. Sal’s Towing impounded the vehicle. A similar incident took place on the same street on Nov. 20, where the driver received two tickets and Sal’s impounded the vehicle.
On Nov. 14, a van was stopped for having an obstructed rear license plate. The driver was unable to produce a valid registration, and a Carfax check showed it was last registered in another state in 2022. The driver received multiple tickets, and the vehicle was impounded by Sal’s Towing. Police stopped a driver in Cross River on Nov. 19 for having overly tinted windows. She had her seat belt buckled behind her, was driving with a learner’s permit, the car’s registration had been suspended. The driver received four tickets and Sal’s impounded the vehicle.
On November 20 police stopped a vehicle on Bouton Road in South Salem for an inoperable headlight. The driver had no license, the registration expired last February, and insurance expired in August. The driver received multiple tickets and Sal’s impounded the vehicle. A vehicle was taken out of service on November 24 during a commercial vehicle inspection when the driver was unable to produce a valid license and medical certificate. He received multiple tickets and Reliable Towing impounded the vehicle.
Finally, on Nov. 25, yet another impoundment took place on Ridgefield Avenue in South Salem. Neither the driver nor his passenger had a valid driver’s license. The driver received multiple tickets and the Sal’s impounded the vehicle.
Car Accidents
The following were among the vehicular accidents to which Lewisboro Police responded in November:
Nov. 4: An accident involving injury took place in South Salem when a vehicle struck another vehicle that was turning right from Route 123 onto Route 35.
Nov. 9: An accident involving both damage and personal injury took place in South Salem. A driver said her brakes gave out as she was exiting her driveway. Her car proceeded across the road and through the fence of the home across the street, striking two trees before coming to a stop. The driver was taken to Northern Westchester Hospital for back pain.
Nov. 10: An officer on patrol on Route 35 in South Salem encountered a minivan on the shoulder of the road, which appeared to have just been in an accident. The driver said he struck a deer that ran across the road. The vehicle was leaking radiator fluid and had heavy damage to its left quarter panel. The driver attempted to return home in the van but it broke down near ThistleWaithe Learning Center. The driver contacted his insurer to have the vehicle towed, and asked the officer not to file an accident report.
Nov. 11: An officer was dispatched to Goldens Bridge Mercedes dealer to meet with a driver, who reported that another vehicle’s tire had struck his vehicle and caused damage. The officer checked the area and spoke to several Mercedes employees, who didn't witness anything. He later found two vehicles on the side of I684 who may have been involved, one of whom called police. A state police unit was dispatched.
Nov. 13: An accident involving property damage took place in Goldens Bridge when a driver turning right onto Route 138 from North Street struck another vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Nov. 15: A Putnam Valley school bus driver taking students to John Jay High School for a volleyball game reported a hit-and-run accident on Route 35 in Katonah. A ladder came off a box truck traveling in the opposite direction. It struck the front driver’s side windshield and rearview mirror. No children were injured, and the driver said he was unable to find a safe spot to pull over. The operator of the box truck drove away. The bus driver suffered a slight cut, requiring no medical attention.
Nov. 16: A driver on Route 35 in South Salem struck a tree that had fallen across the highway. At the time numerous roads were closed from strong winds, causing falling trees and downed electrical lines. The South Salem Fire Department was on scene and was unable to remove part of the tree dropping trees and electric poles in town. Sal’s Towing was able to extricate the vehicle. No injuries were reported, though the vehicle had significant damage.
Nov. 23: A worker at Four Winds Hospital came to Lewisboro Police headquarters to discuss an accident that had taken place the previous night. She was leaving work and attempting to turn right onto the main road of the campus when her car was struck by a vehicle turning left, causing damage. The second driver departed without any exchange of paperwork or identification, but the Four Winds employee got a photo of the vehicle. That night, the employee called 911; Lewisboro Police canvassed the area but did not find the second vehicle. She went to Lewisboro Police headquarters the next morning to provide more details and filled out an MV-104 citizen’s accident report. An officer filed the report with New York State and recorded the damage to her vehicle.
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