Lewisboro Police Blotter: Swimming bears, traffic stops

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - Three black bears visited Lewisboro homes on two separate dates, making the wildlife encounters among the most noteworthy incidents handled by Lewisboro Police during the first half of July.

On the Fourth of July, a South Salem resident reported the first incident after a pair of black bears wandered onto her backyard pool deck. One bear was found climbing out of the swimming pool after taking a dip, and the pool liner was damaged by the two visitors. Both bears eventually returned to the woods without further incident. The homeowner was advised to contact police if they, or any other bears, returned.

A different bear visited another home on July 14. It then proceeded west on East Street before crossing Route 123 into a wooded area. An officer activated the patrol vehicle's emergency siren to help steer the bear away from populated areas.

Lewisboro Police also assisted with three emergency incidents and responded to two carbon monoxide calls during the first half of July.

The first emergency occurred July 1, when a man on vacation called police after monitoring his mother's Ring doorbell camera at her Cross River home. Believing she was suffering a medical emergency, officers entered the residence through an unlocked porch door and found the woman had vomited and reported feeling faint. Members of the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported her to Northern Westchester Medical Center, and police notified her son of the situation.

The second emergency occurred after a tree fell onto a vehicle in South Salem. No injuries were reported, although the vehicle sustained extensive damage.

The third took place July 14 at Leon Levy Preserve, where a hiker was injured on a walking trail. Officers used an ATV to reach the woman, who was later transported by Vista EMS to Norwalk Hospital.

The two carbon monoxide incidents both occurred July 5 — one in Katonah and the other in South Salem. In both cases, generators had been left running inside garages during a power outage, and officers ventilated the affected areas.

Police responded to just one motor vehicle accident during the two-week period. The crash occurred on Route 35 in Cross River and resulted in minor damage. The drivers exchanged information, and no police investigation or emergency medical services were required.

Several vehicle stops resulted in tickets and impoundments:

• Wednesday, July 1: An officer patrolling near Route 35 and Bouton Road in Cross River observed a pickup truck with Connecticut license plates that lacked a front plate. The driver also was not wearing a seat belt, and only one rear brake light was functioning. An eJustice check revealed the driver's license had been suspended for failing to pay a driver responsibility assessment. The vehicle was impounded by Sal's Towing. The driver received tickets for aggravated unlicensed operation, no front license plate, failure to wear a seat belt, and defective brake lights.

• Thursday, July 2: An officer stopped a vehicle traveling 50 mph in a 35 mph zone on Route 123 in South Salem. An eJustice check showed the driver's license had been suspended twice for failing to answer traffic summonses. A passenger with a valid license drove the vehicle home. The driver was ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation, speeding and insufficient vehicle equipment.

• Friday, July 3: While conducting traffic enforcement near East Street and Route 123 in South Salem, an officer stopped a pickup truck after observing the driver without a seat belt. The driver produced a Mexican identification card, and an eJustice check showed he had no driver's license and the vehicle was unregistered. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle. The driver was ticketed for operating an unregistered vehicle, failure to wear a seat belt and unlicensed operation.

• Friday, July 3: An officer stopped a vehicle traveling 55 mph in a 35 mph zone on Route 138 in Goldens Bridge. The driver had no license and communicated through a Spanish translation app. The driver and passenger were dropped off at a local pizzeria to await a ride, and the vehicle was impounded by BWC Towing.

• Friday, July 3: An officer stopped an SUV speeding on Route 123 in South Salem. An eJustice check revealed the driver's license had been suspended for failing to answer a summons. The driver received tickets for speeding and aggravated unlicensed operation. A passenger with a valid license drove the vehicle home.

• Monday, July 13: An officer observed a woman drinking while sitting inside a parked vehicle at a Cross River shopping center. The officer detected the odor of alcohol after she lowered the window and observed an open alcoholic beverage container in the driver's door. Field sobriety testing indicated she was not impaired, but she received a ticket for possessing an open container in a motor vehicle. Another person removed the vehicle from the scene.

• Monday, July 13: An officer stopped a vehicle in Cross River after an eJustice check revealed it had no valid insurance on file and its registration was suspended. The driver said the suspension resulted from unpaid child support obligations. Sal's Towing impounded the vehicle, and the driver was ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation.

• Wednesday, July 15: An officer parked on Route 123 observed a vehicle with an illegal plastic license plate cover and recognized the driver from a previous stop for driving with a suspended license. Although the driver presented a Connecticut license, an eJustice check showed his New York driving privileges had been suspended for failing to answer a summons. He received additional tickets for aggravated unlicensed operation and improper vehicle equipment. A passenger with valid driving privileges drove the vehicle from the scene.