Afternoon News Brief

State Police tell us that a passenger on a motorcycle died in a collision involving a deer. The accident occurred last night on Cockram Road in the Town of Byron. Investigation revealed that a 1998 Harley Davidson operated by 30-year-old Leland Fuller, IV of Byron was traveling east bound on Cockram Road with a passenger, 28-year-old Daylin Fagundo-Rodriguez, also of Byron. A deer entered the road and was struck by the motorcycle. Both occupants were ejected; Fuller was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Fagundo-Rodriguez was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deer also died at the scene.  The accident remains under investigation.

 

39-year-old James Cooper of Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, following an investigation into a fraudulent $20 bill at a business on Clinton street road in Batavia (last December). Cooper was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to re-appear in Court on August 2.  ALSO, 51-year-old Shannon Guiste of Batavia is charged with burglary and petit larceny after allegedly skip-scanning items without paying for them at Walmart in Batavia. Guiste was previously charged with trespass at Walmart in 2015 after allegedly entering the store unlawfully and allegedly committing a crime. For the present charge, she was arraigned in the Town of Batavia Court and is scheduled to return to court the end of next month.

 

The man who attempted to assault State Senator Lee Zeldin at a campaign rally in Perinton last Thursday was released from custody on his own recognizance within hours of the attack. Zeldin had put out a statement saying that this would be the case because of New York’s lax bail reform laws. However, 43-year-old David Jakubonis of Fairport, an Iraq War veteran, was rearrested within a few hours of being released and is now being held on federal charges. He allegedly climbed on stage with Zeldin and attempted to stab him in the neck with a plastic blade. In response to the charge, Jakubonis said that he was drunk at the time, thought Zeldin was disrespecting veterans but did not know who the speaker was or even that Zeldin was a political person.

 

The suspect in the murder of a Rochester Police officer and the wounding of another officer last Thursday night has pleaded not guilty to charges in the case. The suspect — 21-year-old Kelvin Vickers of Boston — was arraigned Saturday on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He’s being held without bail in the Monroe County Jail and is due back in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Police say the two officers were sitting in an unmarked vehicle on patrol on Bauman Street in northeast Rochester when they were shot from behind. Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz was shot and killed. The second officer — Officer Sino Seng — was treated and released from the hospital.

 

More than 100 officers from the Rochester Police Department packed the courtroom Saturday morning for the arraignment of the man charged with the shooting death of one of their colleagues and wounding of another — Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and Officer Sino Seng. The two were shot Thursday night while sitting in an unmarked car. Mazurkiewicz was killed and Seng survived. At the beginning of the arraignment of the suspect — Kelvin Vickers — Judge Van White called for a moment of silence to honor those lost to gun violence in the city. Meanwhile, residents of the Village of Fairport, near where Officer Mazurkiewicz lived, tied blue ribbons to trees along Main Street in support of his family. Yesterday morning during a church service — 9th Bishop of Rochester Salvatore Matano — called for an end to gun violence.

 

According to Triple A this morning, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas dropped 16 cents nationally in the past week to $4.36 and 11 cents in New York State, to $4.58. A year ago, the state average was $3.19. In Batavia, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $4.52, that’s down 36 cents since a month ago but still up $1.35 from one year ago today.

 

State Senator Patrick Gallivan (R-Elma) is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation to increase the penalty for those convicted of operating a boat while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when a child 15 years or younger is onboard. Gallivan has co-sponsored a bill (S.947A) to align New York State’s navigation law with “Leandra’s Law,” which provides increased penalties for intoxicated persons who operate a motor vehicle when a child is a passenger. The bill passed the Senate and Assembly in June. It is now up to the governor to decide whether to sign the legislation into law. Leandra’s Law, which passed in 2009, amended state Vehicle and Traffic Law making it a Class E felony to drive while intoxicated with a child as a passenger.

 

Fans packed the stadium at Saint John Fisher University in Rochester yesterday to catch the first training camp for the Buffalo Bills on the campus in two years. Some fans said they were excited by what the saw in the team this year. Cornerback Tre’Davious White was on hand but working on a stationary bike on the sidelines while he continues his recovery from a torn ACL. Training camp will continue until August 11th.

 

A Washington State man is facing federal charges after reportedly making threats against a Tops Markets store in Buffalo. Officials say 37-year-old Joey David George called a location on Elmwood Avenue on July 19th and 20th and threatened to shoot Black shoppers. He also went on about a “race war.” George’s threats come just months after 10 people were killed and three more were injured in a racially motivated attack on the Tops market on Jefferson Street.

 

The Batavia Muckdogs lost to the Tarp Skunks on Saturday (3-2) and won their game against Niagara on Sunday (10-6). They hold on to first place in the West Division with their 26-14 record; however, the Utica Blue Sox are close behind in second place (25-15). Today the Muckdogs travel to Elmira for a game against the Pioneers. Their next home game is this Thursday when they take on Auburn. Game time is 7:00.