Author: John Cleere

      For immediate release:

            The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Waterloo and Seneca Falls Police Departments and the Ovid Fire Department, with sponsorship of the New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee are hosting a child seat check event on September 23^rd, 2023 from 1000-1300 at the Ovid Fire House located at 2136 Brown Street in Ovid.

            Parents and caregivers are invited to come have Nationally Certified Child Seat Technicians inspect and assist with proper installation of their child safety seats.  This event is in conjunction with several others checks throughout the state, known as Child Seat Saturday.  Experience has found that 8 out of 10 child seats inspected have some type of error in the use or installation.  It is the goal of the Sheriff’s Office and participating agencies to ensure the children of Seneca County are travelling in a safe manner.

             This event is not a child seat give away, rather we perform an inspection and assist with the proper installation of the child seat.  Caregivers as asked to come to the event with the children who will ride in the seat, for a proper installation and assessment.

Anyone with questions may contact the Sheriff’s Office at ryoungs@co.seneca.ny.us regarding this event and child passenger safety in general.

   SENECA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT FOR JUNE 2023

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Total Calls For Service: 1584

Total Arrests: 41  

D.H.S. Fraud Cases: 49; Yearly Total Cost Recouped:  $161,642

Mental Health Calls: 24

NARCO:

Total new drug cases: 8

Total arrests: 3

CORRECTIONS:

Average Number of Inmates: 21

Transports: 40     

CIVIL:

Total Summons/Complaints/Services: 28

Total Income Executions: 20

Total Evictions: 9

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH:

June 8^th, 2023: Investigators charged a suspect with grand Larceny and falsifying business records at a business in the Town of Junius.

June 8^th, 2023: Deputies responded to a double fatal car accident on Burgess Rd, in Waterloo. Investigators have determined contributing factors as speed and fail to comply.

June 13^th, 2023: Investigators made a felony welfare fraud arrest in Waterloo.

June 13^th, 2023: Deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Varick. A suspect was arrested for allegedly violating a court order, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

June 14^th, 2023: Deputies and Investigators participated in the takedown of a major narcotics trafficking ring that flooded finger lakes communities with dangerous drugs like fentanyl cocaine and heroin.

June 22^nd, 2023: Deputies responded to a domestic violence case in Ovid A suspect was arrested for allegedly violating a court order and vandalizing a vehicle.

Sheriff W. Timothy Luce

Undersheriff John Cleere

SENECA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
MONTHLY SNAPSHOT FOR MAY 2023

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Total Calls For Service: 1691
Total Arrests: 43
D.H.S. Fraud Cases: 13; Yearly Total Cost Recouped: $145,260
Mental Health Calls: 24

NARCO:

Total new drug cases: 12
Total arrests: 6

CORRECTIONS:

Average Number of Inmates: 23
Transports: 37

CIVIL:

Total Summons/Complaints/Services: 43
Total Income Executions: 9
Total Evictions: 12

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH:

May 3rd, 2023: A theft investigation at the Outlet Mall in Junius revealed a violation of a stay-away Order of Protection crime in progress by an alleged thief.

May 8th, 2023: Investigators responded to the tragic death of a young child at a farming accident in Ovid. The case is still under investigation.

May 8th, 2023: Deputies responded to a Domestic Violence call in Romulus where a woman was held down against her will and her phone taken so she could not call 911. The suspect was arrested without incident.

May 10th, 2023: Investigators charged 2 men for trespass and larceny at a Tyre residence.

May 12th, 2023: An officer was injured at a Domestic in progress call on Fayette. The suspect was arrested and charged with assault, child endangerment and aggravated family offense.

May 23rd, 2023: An eviction in Waterloo turned criminal when a suspect being evicted allegedly damaged property. An arrest for criminal mischief was made.

May 31st, 2023: NARCO arrested a suspect for possessing cocaine with intent to sell in Waterloo.

Sheriff W. Timothy Luce
Undersheriff John Cleere

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports that on 5/12/2023 at 15:37 hours deputies were dispatched to 1773 County House Rd in the Town of Fayette, for the report of a domestic in progress. It was reported the aggressor, Jamison M. Davis D.O.B. 06/28/2021, was smashing the victim’s car with a frying pan. Upon arrival Jamison was holding the frying pan and refused to put it down and subsequently resisted arrested, leaving a Sergeant from the Sheriffs Office injured from the incident. Jamison also sustained minor scrapes from resisting arrest. Upon investigation it was found that Jamison had allegedly attempted to instigate a fight with another victim, damaged two victim’s vehicles with a mop and one with a frying pan, all while doing it in the presence of a child. Jamison was charged with Aggravated family offense, a felony, resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, menacing in the second degree a misdemeanor, endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, two counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, both misdemeanors, and harassment, a violation. Jamison was held in the Seneca County Correctional facility to await CAP court arraignment on 5/13/2023 at 08:00 hours to answer to the charges. An order of protection is being requested on behalf of the victims.CR# 23SH0936

On 05/31/2023 at about 2:00 PM a woman received a phone call while at her workplace in the Town of Romulus. The caller identified herself as the woman’s daughter and spoke in the daughter’s voice. The caller sounded very upset and said that she had been in an accident and had a broken nose. The caller said that she was under arrest and needed bail money or was going to jail. The woman receiving the call stated that it sounded exactly like her daughter and even mentioned her daughter’s boyfriend’s correct name.  The caller asked the victim not to call her boyfriend as she wanted to give him the news face to face. A man then got in the phone and identified himself as police officer Daniel Harris. Harris explained that the bail was $9500 and that the charges were texting while driving and reckless endangerment. He said that her daughter rear-ended a pregnant driver.

The victim stated that she could not pay $9500. The bogus police officer stated that the public defender could get the bail lowered and asked how much she could afford. The victim was to call back with the amount she could pay and instead spoke with the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office.

This call has been confirmed as a scam. The scammer is suspected of pulling an audio sample and personal information from social media to be used in constructing the call. Several red flags were present that the public should be aware of:

1. The charges reported were not eligible for bail under New York State’s Bail Reform.
2. The number was from a 646 area code which is a Manhattan NY area code.    
3.  It is highly irregular for a police officer to be negotiating bail.
4. The caller did not want her to call the boyfriend—(the boyfriend could have confirmed that the woman’s daughter was okay and not involved in the accident.   

Scammers count on a parent, grandparent or other family member to be emotionally upset enough not to question the validity of the call. With computer software easily available to copy and mimic any voice these types of scams are expected to continue.  

We are asking the public to be aware and spread the word about these despicable scams. Never send money or give bank account or credit card info to anyone without 100% confirmation. If there is ever any doubt, contact local law enforcement before you send any money or give any personal information. In this case the woman receiving the call saved herself a lot of money by having it checked out.

   SENECA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT FOR APRIL 2023

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Total Calls For Service: 1923

Total Arrests: 43  

D.H.S. Fraud Cases: 10; Yearly Total Cost Recouped:  $125,976

Mental Health Calls: 14

NARCO:

Total new drug cases: 13

Total arrests: 8

CORRECTIONS:

Average Number of Inmates: 27

Transports: 58     

CIVIL:

Total Summons/Complaints/Services: 24

Total Income Executions: 14

Total Evictions: 4

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH:

April 3^rd, 2023: Deputies responded to a Domestic Violence call in Interlaken. The aggressor was charged for allegedly strangling a victim.

April 6^th, 2023: Deputies responded to a Domestic Violence case in Waterloo involving a knife assault. Arrests were made for assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

April 11^th, 2023: NARCO executed a search warrant in Waterloo that netted an unregistered handgun, $6000 in cash and suspected drugs. Two suspects were arrested.

April 14^th, 2023: Investigators charged an adult suspect with impersonation and endangering after investigating inappropriate text messages received by underage females.

April 19^th, 2023: NARCO charged 2 suspects for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in Waterloo.

April 20^th, 2023: The SCSO held their annual awards ceremony. Deputy James Picchi received the Officer of the year award. Investigators received a Unit Citation for the handling of a homicide.

April 2023: Welfare fraud investigations in April resulted in 3 persons being charged for a total of 4 misdemeanors and 4 felonies.

Sheriff W. Timothy Luce / Undersheriff John Cleere

^{On Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, 10am to 2pm, Seneca County Police Agencies will be partnering with the DEA and the Seneca County Substance Abuse Coalition, to conduct a DRUG TAKE BACK DAY in  Seneca County. Officers will be at 3 different locations to collect potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked and no paperwork to complete.}

^{Seneca Falls Police Department will be at Kinney: 2085 Rt. 5&20 Seneca Falls.}

^{Waterloo Police Department will be at Walgreens: 1929 Rt. 5&20 Waterloo.}

^{Seneca County Sheriff’s Office will be at Kinney:  7115 North Main St. Ovid.}

^{Police Officers and members from the Seneca County Substance Abuse Coalition will also be available to answer questions and provide helpful information about substance abuse if so desired. Gun Safety Locks will be available at all locations. There will also be free Narcan training at the Waterloo and Seneca Falls sites.}

^{Sheriff Luce, Seneca Falls Police Chief Snyder and Waterloo Police Chief Chechak all commented on the danger of these drugs falling into the wrong hands if not disposed of. Many of these drugs can also be hazardous to the environment if not properly destroyed.}     

^{The sites cannot accept liquids, needles or other sharps—only pills or patches please!}

SENECA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT FOR FEBRUARY 2023

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

Total Calls For Service: 2038

Total Arrests: 65  

D.H.S. Fraud Cases: 10 ; Yearly Total Cost Recouped:  $62,426

Mental Health Calls: 3

NARCO:

Total new drug cases: 10

Total arrests: 14

CORRECTIONS:

Average Number of Inmates: 33

Transports: 46     

CIVIL:

Total Summons/Complaints/Services: 22

Total Income Executions: 23

Total Evictions: 5

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH:

February 1^st, 2023: Deputies responded to an assault in progress in Ovid. A suspect was taken into

custody without incident.

February 2^nd, 2023: NARCO arrested a suspect for allegedly possessing crack cocaine.

February 9^th, 2023: Deputies executed a bench warrant for failing to appear on an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge in Romulus.

February 17^th, 2023: A serious domestic violence case in Lodi resulted in numerous felony charges. It is alleged that the suspect broke into a residence twice, assaulted a person and stole property.

February 24^th, 2023: A fatal car accident occurred on Route 89 in Covert when a car left the road and crashed into a deep gully with a stream in the bottom. One person was killed and 3 injured in this devastating event. Investigators have determined that the root cause was a distracted driver.

February 2023: The DHS fraud Unit and Investigators made arrests of 3 persons on separate fraud cases. Charges totaled 4 felonies and 1 misdemeanor.

Sheriff W. Timothy Luce, Undersheriff John Cleere

Travel Advisory – No Unnecessary Travel

Description:

Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Luce has issued a No Unnecessary Travel Advisory. This travel advisory is issued as a result of the National Weather Service’s Winter Storm Warning for Seneca County.

This No Unnecessary Travel Advisory is in effect until further notice. This travel advisory does not restrict travel. It is, however, a warning to motorists that hazardous driving conditions may exist. This advisory will be canceled when the winter storm has moved out of the area and road conditions have improved.

Significant amounts of snow are still expected to fall throughout Seneca County overnight and tomorrow which will make travel dangerous. With the effect of the higher winds drifting on the North-South roads in the County have made travel dangerous. County Highway crews are working to clear roads. For the safety of all residents, the general public is encouraged to consider the need to be on the roads during these times. Please use extreme caution, lower your speeds while traveling in or around Seneca County.

This advisory is in cooperation and partnership with Seneca County’s Emergency Management Director Melissa Taylor and Highway Superintendent Roy Gates.

On March 10, 2023, at about 3:30pm, Seneca County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested Preston W. Fullerton, Sr., age 43, of 797 Kime Road, Geneva, New York, on charges of Strangulation in the Second Degree and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. It is alleged that Fullerton subjected three children to physical abuse over a period of time. It is further alleged that he restricted the airway of one of the children during one incident. Fullerton was arraigned in the Seneca County Centralized Arraignment Court and released to pre-trial supervision. Orders of protection were issued on behalf of the victims. Fullerton is to reappear in the Fayette Town Court at a later date.