North Country Briefs

Sackets man is charged

after striking wheelchair

A Sackets Harbor man faces an aggravated driving while intoxicated charge after he allegedly struck a woman in a wheelchair with his vehicle early Wednesday.

Andrew T. Bombard, 18, of 210 N. Broad St., was also charged by city police at 12:21 a.m. with leaving the scene of a property-damage accident, speeding, failure to keep right and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Police said his vehicle was observed striking a wheelchair operated by Mary Ann Denardo, 105 Washington St., Apt. 201, in the 200 block of State Street. She was not injured, according to police reports. After Mr. Bombard's vehicle was halted in the 300 block of Factory Street, police allege his blood alcohol content was 0.21 percent.

A BAC of 0.18 or above is considered under state law to be proof of aggravated DWI, which carries stiffer penalties than DWI upon conviction. Mr. Bombard is due to answer the charges in City Court.

Fire destroys vacant home

in Croghan; cause probed

BEAVER FALLS — An abandoned town of Croghan home was destroyed by fire early Wednesday.

Croghan firefighters were called at 4:31 a.m. to 9977 Third Road and requested mutual aid from the Beaver Falls, Castorland, New Bremen and Lowville fire departments.

The unoccupied home was listed as a total loss, according to Lewis County Fire Coordinator James M. Martin. The blaze already was fully involved by the time it was reported, he said.

The owner, John Honer, Second Road, had insurance on the structure.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

Croghan man badly hurt

as chain saw kicks back

CROGHAN — A town of Croghan man on Wednesday morning sustained injuries to his face, chest and wrist in a chain saw accident.

Lewis County sheriff's deputies said Bruce A. Lyndaker, 54, of 7499 Belfort Road, was cutting up a load of logs at about 10:30 a.m. when the chain saw he was using kicked back.

Mr. Lyndaker was taken by Croghan ambulance to Barnes Corners; from there he was airlifted to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.

Lewis County Search and Rescue and the Copenhagen Fire Department assisted.

Parishville woman cited

with welfare-funds theft

MASSENA — Stephanie M. Niles, 22, of 108 County Route 47, Parishville, was charged Tuesday with fourth-degree welfare fraud and fourth-degree grand larceny on a warrant from Malone village police, state police said.

She is accused of accepting $1,946.06 in medical assistance from May 2007 to September 2007 from Franklin County Social Services to which she was not entitled, state police said.

She was arraigned in Malone Village Court and sent to Franklin County jail, Malone, on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.

Police: teenage motorist

endangered 16-year-old

CANTON — A 17-year-old boy is accused of driving recklessly and not allowing a 16-year-old girl to get out of the car.

Colin Howard, Canton, was charged Tuesday with first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a St. Lawrence County sheriff's detective said. He was arraigned in Potsdam Town Court and released to probation supervision.

The investigation is continuing.

Woman accused of having

cocaine at her residence

A Watertown woman faces a charge that she possessed cocaine.

Lisa M. Lyons, 47, of 127 High St., upper apartment, was charged by city police at 4:38 a.m. Wednesday with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having the drug at her residence.

She was issued an appearance ticket for City Court.

Theresa teenager charged

with sexual misconduct

OGDENSBURG — A Theresa teenager is accused of having sex Saturday with a 14-year-old girl.

Scottie R. Law Jr., 17, of 123 New Connecticut Road, was charged Wednesday with sexual misconduct, a misdemeanor, Ogdensburg police said. He was issued an appearance ticket for Ogdensburg City Court.

Conduct charge lodged

Watertown police at 2:10 a.m. Sunday charged Michael E. Vaughan, 21, of 10136 4th Armored Division Drive, Fort Drum, with disorderly conduct for allegedly fighting outside 1309 State St. He is to appear in City Court.