Three sought in robbery, assault at Potsdam home
POTSDAM — St. Lawrence County sheriff's investigators are searching for three men who reportedly robbed and pistol-whipped a person at a Route 11B home Monday night.
The victim answered the door after a suspect claimed his vehicle had broken down, Sheriff Kevin M. Wells said. Once he was inside, two other men entered the home, hit the victim on the head with a gun and stole about $1,200 from a wallet. The victim was then duct-taped.
The suspects are described as one male about 6 feet tall, weight about 160 pounds, with a beard, mustache and ponytail and a second male about 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 170 and 180 pounds. The third male is about 6 feet 3 inches and about 200 pounds.
The sheriff said he believes the suspects might have committed another robbery in eastern St. Lawrence County. No further details were available.
Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s department at 379-2222.
Norwood man arrested on new larceny charges
CANTON — A Norwood man who admitted last month to stealing brass and copper from Newton Falls Fine Paper faces charges for reportedly writing bad checks.
Donald E. White, 45, of 106 N. Main St., was charged Wednesday with felony grand larceny and misdemeanor petit larceny, passing a bad check and issuing a bad check, St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies said.
He is accused of writing bad checks to businesses in Potsdam and Morristown and stealing items valued at more than $1,000, deputies said.
Mr. White pleaded guilty last month in St. Lawrence County Court to third-degree grand larceny.
The plea agreement called for him to receive 39 to 78 months in state prison when sentenced Dec. 15 because he’s a repeat felony offender. He also will have to pay restitution.
He admitted to stealing the metals from the company from December to March and selling it as scrap metal.
Man charged with selling drug to undercover officer
CANTON — A village man faces drug charges for reportedly selling OxyContin to an undercover police officer at his home.
Mark M. Dafoe Jr., 48, of 400 Route 310, was charged Wednesday with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, village police said. Authorities executed a search warrant at his home early Wednesday, seizing about seven ounces of marijuana, several prescription bottles containing oxycodone and OxyContin and $3,437 in cash.
He was arraigned in Village Court and released to probation supervision.
Further charges are pending and the investigation is continuing.
The St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force and Potsdam and Ogdensburg police departments participated in the search.
Man charged at border with possessing Ecstasy
Sylvester Stallone was being held Wednesday under $10,000 bail in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building.
The 23-year-old resident of Oshawa, Ontario, was arrested Tuesday night by state police on a charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance at U.S. Customs on Wellesley Island. Police said he was found possessing 30 tablets of Ecstasy.
Bail was set by Orleans Town Justice Richard W. Hardy.
Woman, daughter injured as Jeep rolls down bank
HEUVELTON — Slippery roads contributed to a one-vehicle accident Tuesday night on Route 812 near Delaney Road, St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies said.
Jennifer L. Basford, 32, of 25 State St., was driving southeast about 5 p.m. on Route 812 in her 2005 Jeep Liberty when she encountered some ice and snow on the road, lost control and rolled down a bank.
Ms. Basford and her daughter, who was sitting in the front seat, were taken by Ogdensburg Rescue to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center for treatment, deputies said.
Another daughter sitting in the back seat refused treatment.
No tickets were issued. Route 812 was closed for about 45 minutes allowing firefighters to clear the scene.
Garage destroyed by fire; furnace malfunction cited
LOUISVILLE — A malfunctioning furnace is being blamed for destroying a garage Tuesday.
Louisville firefighters responded just before noon to a fire at 22 Lincoln Drive, owned by Paul G. Shirley, St. Lawrence County fire investigators said. The Norfolk, Massena and Waddington fire companies assisted at the scene.
The garage was insured and no injuries were reported.
Man who went swimming charged in burglary tries
DEXTER — A man’s cold dip in the Black River late Sunday night occurred after he tried to break into a house and the fire hall here, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department revealed Wednesday.
Scott R. Seiter, 39, of 600 William St., formerly of Syracuse, remained a prisoner Wednesday in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, Watertown, with bail set at $5,000. He is charged with reckless endangerment and two counts of attempted burglary.
A detective said he initially attempted to kick in the front door of an occupied house at 204 Canal St. Failing at that, he then went to the fire hall, where witnesses saw him throw a cigarette butt can through a door window and enter the building, the detective said.
He ran when confronted by members of the fire department and jumped into the river.
A river search was launched that night, but on Monday authorities learned that he had gotten safely out of the water.
Hit by car while walking, man suffers a broken leg
A city man was listed in fair condition Wednesday night at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, where he was taken after suffering a possible broken right leg when struck by a car at Arsenal Street and Breen Avenue.
Thomas J. Knott, 52, of 430 Grove St., was initially treated at Samaritan Medical Center.
City police said Mr. Knott was walking west when he was hit about 5:45 a.m. by a car driven by Tieshia G. Latulas, 25, of 224 Palmer St., Apt. 907, who was making a left turn onto Arsenal Street. She told police she did not see the pedestrian. No summonses were issued.
Third person faces charge over fight at Carthage
CARTHAGE — Jacklyn D. Plantz, 21, Route 26, was issued a criminal summons Friday by Carthage police for alleged disorderly conduct during a fight Nov. 9 at Washington Court Apartments, 333 S. Washington St.
The fight also involved Dustin S. Sauer, 18, Washington Court, and Jeremy U. Herrera, 28, of 735 Fulton St. Both men were charged with disorderly conduct Nov. 12.
Woman given probation for party before fatality
LAFARGEVILLE — A woman will serve one year of probation and pay a $415 fine for having in her home an underage drinking party that was followed by tragedy.
Lisa J. Smith-Jeffries, 40, Fishers Landing, pleaded guilty before Orleans Town Justice H. Lee Gill to second-degree criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced Tuesday.
Two men left the party at 42219 Arcadia Park Road, Fishers Landing, early on May 18 and were killed a short time later when their car went out of control on County Route 11 in the town of Clayton, struck two trees and went airborne.
The victims, Jordan M. Houghton, 17, Chaumont, and Maxwell Z. Zeigler, 20, Clayton, who were both said to have been “highly intoxicated,” were ejected from the auto.
State police say man had stolen credit card
Matthew W. Ottman, 19, Heather Acres, was arrested by state police Tuesday on a felony count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a credit card.
No other details were available from state police.
Town of Watertown Justice James P. McClusky set bail at $5,000, sending him to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building.
Man allegedly threatened woman, frightened child
Aaron W. Cole, 37, of 145 N. Pleasant St., was charged late Tuesday by city police with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police said he made a motion to hit Sonya A. Sparacino, 36, Sunday afternoon at 1300 Huntington Street, which frightened a 4-year-old girl who was nearby.
Conduct charge lodged
A woman was charged with disorderly conduct shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Stuart Street, where city police said she was shouting profanities. Ashley J. Parody, 25, of 22437 Duffy Road, is summoned to appear in City Court.
Man charged with larceny
CARTHAGE — Alfred L. Fortini, 79, of 113 Bridge St., West Carthage, was charged Nov. 12 with petit larceny for allegedly taking items from the Carthage Market without paying for them, according to Carthage police.
Trespassing count lodged
GOUVERNEUR — Daniel G. Facey Sr., 45, of 311 Hermon Road, was charged Tuesday with second-degree criminal trespassing after reportedly entering a Scotch Settlement Road home without permission, state police said. He was issued an appearance ticket for Gouverneur Town Court.
