Morning News Brief

3 people have been arrested after a report of shots fired in the area of Washington and Willow Street around 11:20 Thursday night.  Officers responded to the scene and located evidence of a weapon discharge at the intersection.  While officers were canvassing the area, multiple shots were heard coming from the area of Dellinger Avenue, and officers immediately responded. Officers again located evidence of a discharge of a weapon on Dellinger Avenue.  Using Batavia Police Department pole cameras, detectives were able to make a description of an involved vehicle.  At 1:11 AM, four males were located walking in the area of Chase Park and North Spruce Streets. Their vehicle was located and evidence of weapons discharge was found on the men and the vehicle.  One was released and 20 year old Tmario Ayala, 18 year old Bryson Gentile, and a 17-year-old male, all of Batavia, were arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree.  The investigation did conclude that a residence had been struck by gunfire on Dellinger Avenue.  No one was injured in either shooting incident.

A police pursuit ended on the University of Rochester campus Thursday evening.  State Police tried to stop a vehicle on Exchange St., according to the Campus Safety department.  Troopers said the driver did not comply and sped off.  During the pursuit, state police said the passenger exited the vehicle and tried to run off before being taken into custody.  The driver sped on Wilson Boulevard toward Library Road and troopers were successfully able to deploy spike strips.  Troopers said the chase ended near the Genesee River when the driver jumped in and tried to swim away, before turning around and swimming back to shore. He was then taken into custody.  State Police say the vehicle the two suspects were in was reported stolen outside of Syracuse in Auburn, N.Y.

A Rochester Firefighter is on trial for sending child porn and using a fire department computer to do it.  Brett Marrapese is accused of uploading child pornography using an IP address associated with the Rochester Fire Department. He’s charged with multiple counts of production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography.  He’s since been suspended from the Rochester Fire Department without pay.  The FBI accuses Marrapese of communicating with at least 110 minors.  According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, more than 1,500 images or videos of child pornography were found on Marrapese’s cell phone. In June, the FBI said it was still working to identify and locate some of the children depicted in those pictures.  Marrapese is being held in the Monroe County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The Buffalo Fire department is dealing with losing one of its own vehicles in a fire on Wednesday.  Buffalo fire officials say the Buffalo Fire Department Repair Shop suffered extensive damage Wednesday evening when a fire broke out.  Buffalo fire responded to 39 Seventh Street at around 5:30 p.m.  The damage is estimated at $750,000, with severe damage to a reserve pumper as well.  Officials say the fire is under investigation.

A plan to build a pipeline through a wildlife refuge and use eminent domain to take private property and then dump wastewater into a waterway that runs into an Indian reservation is drawing protest in Alabama.  The plan is for a treated waste water pipeline to run from the STAMP facilities up rt 63 and then dump into Oak Orchard Creek.  Residents in the town of Alabama came out by the dozens Thursday to oppose a 9-mile commercial sewage pipeline that would cut through both residents’ properties and the protected wildlife refuge.  The current plan is to run the sewage line through three residential properties as well as the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.  STAMP representatives say the water is treated and safe.  Public comment on the project will continue to be accepted until August 1.

From a press release by Steve Hawley’s Office: Assemblyman Steve Hawley bashed Gov. Hochul’s recent plan to provide tax-payer funded health care to sex workers across the state. This new initiative, known as the “Sex Worker Health Pilot Program,” will allow the state Department of Health to set aside approximately $1 million in public funds toward primary, behavioral, and gynecological care, as well as dental care for prostitutes. In a heavy-handed move, the governor’s office authorized this program without the approval of the Legislature. Hawley is frustrated that this administration is encouraging and promoting an industry that has done so much harm to the State of New York.