Morning News Brief

A multiple agency investigation continues after a Batavia police officer fired a shot at a man, which prompted a wild car chase that ended when the suspect vehicle crashed. It started around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at Speedway on West Main Street. As police approached the vehicle with three men inside, a handgun was in plain view. An officer attempted to remove the gun from the car and a struggle ensued. At one point, the officer fired at the suspect. No one was hit. The man then took off leading police on a wild chase that ended when the suspect vehicle crashed on Woodland Drive in the town. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without further incident. A handgun was recovered from the crash scene. Charges are pending. The incident is being investigated by the City of Batavia Police Department. The discharge of the duty weapon and the incidents that took place outside of the City of Batavia are being investigated by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

NY Republican Congressman Tom Reed announced he will not be running for office in 2022. The announcement follows allegations of sexual misconduct. Nicolette Davis, a lobbyist, accused Reed of inappropriately rubbing her back and unhooking her bra at a networking event in 2017. In a statement Sunday, Reed apologized to Davis and took full responsibility for his actions. Reed was among the lawmakers calling for the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment allegations. Reed issued a statement Sunday night which explicitly ruled out a run for governor, which Reed had long hinted was a possibility. He says he will not seek any elected office in 2022. He also described his “powerless” struggle with alcohol and says the alleged incident Ms. Davis describes happened during a time he was “struggling.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new guidance has been rolled out allowing pharmacies to vaccinate New Yorkers with comorbidities. Pharmacies were previously able to vaccinate New Yorkers over the age of 60 and teachers. The governor said “New Yorkers with comorbidities are among our state’s most at-risk residents, and access to the COVID-19 vaccine protects this vulnerable population.” He added “As New York receives more doses and more people receive the vaccine, we’re able to expand the population pharmacies can serve, and this is a commonsense step forward that will help make it easier to protect New Yorkers.”

A single-engine plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Orleans County Sunday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office says they received a call for a plane down 2 miles east of Pine Hill Airport. Crews found the plane and pilot in a corn field. The pilot, from Rochester, told authorities two skydivers jumped from his plane before he ran out of fuel and made the emergency landing.  The pilot was not injured and the plane was not damaged. The sheriff’s office is still investigating the incident.

Additional details are expected today following Saturday nights deadly house fire in Caledonia. Three first responders in Livingston County were injured and one person was killed. Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty later reported that a 21-year-old female had died. Due to the large size of the fire, several companies were called in to help put out the fire. Crews are still investigating what caused the fire.