Bad drivers, chimney fires and another dog on the loose

Writing by Eve Marx
Artwork by Cara McPartland

Bedford 

I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up

On Feb. 19, a Bedford Hills man who fell out of his chair and couldn’t get up. Police and fire department personnel came to his rescue and firefighters forcibly entered the apartment so the medics could get inside. The man, 97, was first assisted back into his chair, and after complaining of pain, he was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital via Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance.   

I’ve also fallen, and I can’t get up

A man was reported crawling in the roadway on North Street on Feb. 20. He told police he fell and couldn’t get to his feet. Police got him up and escorted him home. He declined further assistance. 

Imagining trouble

Police received multiple calls, starting at 10 p.m. on the night of Feb. 22, from a caller in Bedford Hills reporting people possibly stealing car parts and messing around with other people’s cars. His first calls were about a suspicious car he saw parked on Babbitt Road whose occupants, he said were “up to no good.” Police checked on the described vehicle, which was cold, locked, and unoccupied. His second round of calls, two hours later, described an unknown person on Rome Avenue interfering with other people’s vehicles. Police checked the area and saw no problem. The following evening, the caller contacted police again to say he saw a car on Babbitt Road with a bent license plate cover. He repeated his concern that someone in the neighborhood was messing around with other people’s property. The owner of the car with the bent license plate cover was contacted. He said he wasn’t interested in pursuing the matter. 

Driver hits van, keeps driving; hits utility pole, keeps driving; parks in auto body parts shop

A Bedford Hills man, 24, turned himself into police headquarters on Feb. 23 to be charged with reckless endangerment regarding a collision he was involved in on Sept. 17 on Bedford Road. Police say the driver struck a van and then a utility pole before coming to a stop in the parking lot of an auto body parts shop. The operator’s brother was also in the car. After turning himself in, the driver was arraigned and released on his own recognizance and received a summons to appear in court on March 13. 

Sports rage 

A father and his adult son got into a verbal argument over a soccer game they were watching together on Feb. 23 at their home on Babbitt Road. The son called 911 to avoid further confrontation with his father. Police said the son decided to leave the residence and stay with a friend. A New York State domestic incident report was completed. 

Got her (now damaged) phone back 

A woman asked police to help her find her phone, which she said she lost in Armonk on Feb. 24. She used a tracking app and learned the phone was in a home on Loop Road. Police went to that address and spoke with a mom who said her son picked the phone out of the road in Armonk, where it appeared severely damaged. She said he didn’t know what to do with it after he picked it up. Police took possession of the phone and contacted its owner, who came to headquarters to retrieve it. 

She fell as well

Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance transported a Katonah woman, 88, from her home to Northern Westchester Hospital to be treated for a head laceration after she fell and struck her head. 

Distracted driving without a license

A car that drove off the roadway and collided with a guard rail on Feb. 25 on Mclain Street was towed by Pratow Towing. The operator, who told police he was distracted, turned out to have a suspended license. Two summonses were issued. Police said he wasn’t injured. 

Chimney fire #1

A chimney fire on Feb. 25 brought firefighters to a home on Mary’s Lane. Katonah firefighters assisted Bedford firefighters by closing off Golden’s Bridge Road to traffic while the fire was extinguished. Police say the fire was contained in the chimney, and there was no damage to the residence. No one was injured. 

North Castle

Life Alert 

A woman, 84, with AFIB, was transported from her home to the Westchester Medical Center on Feb. 16 after her Life Alert device was activated. 

Crashed 

A car crashed into a telephone pole on Feb. 16 in town. An ambulance took one person to the hospital. 

Another dog on the loose 

A chocolate Labrador was reported running loose on Feb. 16 on Cox Avenue. The dog control officer responded but said the dog was gone on their arrival. 

Driving tip: If you cannot see well, don’t get behind the wheel 

A caller reported encountering a disoriented woman on Feb. 16; she was in her car and told the caller she lives in the area, but she doesn’t see well at night. The caller assisted her in getting back home but then reported the incident to police, who went to the woman’s home to talk to her. They said she wouldn’t come to the door or respond to their inquiry. 

A fourth person fell  

A caller on Hopkins Lane on Feb. 16 said her husband fell at home and hit his head. Police went to the home to check on him; an ambulance transported him to Northern Westchester Hospital. 

I’ll be back

A caller on Bedford Road on Feb. 17 reported an unknown car parked in her driveway. Police made contact with the registered owner of the car who said they pulled in the driveway to get the car off the road after it became inoperable. They asked for a little grace period regarding their car and promised to be back in the morning to move it.  

Slid into a snowbank

A caller on Wright’s Mill Road on Feb. 17 said they slid into a snowbank and were unable to move their car. Police arrived and helped them get back on the road. 

Forgot to unplug 

A caller on Kingdom Ridge Road Feb. 17 told police they’d left their home with a clothes iron still plugged in; they didn’t have a friend or neighbor to go to the home to unplug it. Police went to the home and unplugged the iron. 

Struck a lamppost 

A caller on Feb. 18 reported that a car struck a lamp post on Maple Avenue. The operator of the vehicle left her information with the police and continued on her way. Paperwork followed. 

Boiler malfunction

A caller on Long Pond Road on Feb. 19 said they weren’t home but had been notified via their alarm company that there was a problem indicating a boiler malfunction. Armonk firefighters were dispatched to the residence. The caller called back and said they were able to reset the alarm remotely through their phone. Firefighters said there was no problem at the residence. 

Chimney fire #2

A chimney fire was reported on Feb. 19 at a home on Cowdray Park Drive. Firefighters went to the residence and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. 

This report was made from official reports provided by Bedford and North Castle police departments.