ThisIsRochester.com: Crime

Suspect with record of 41 arrests accused in burglary

March 6, 2019 -- A Rochester man with more than three dozen arrests and multiple parole revocations is accused of burglarizing a Rochester convenience store on Feb. 26.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported Burnie Daniels, 53, has been arrested at least 41 times since 1982. Daniels and Erin Starkweather, 36, of Rochester are accused of breaking into the Kwik Fill convenience store, 85 Stonewood Ave., in the early-morning hours.

Deputies allegedly saw a van occupied by Daniels and Starkweather pull away from the store as a burglary alarm activated. Deputies confirmed the store was burglarized and pursued the van with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and New York State Police. Authorities found $1,900 worth of cigarettes as well as other property from the series of burglaries in the van.

Daniels is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, a parole violation, and other traffic and vehicle violations. Starkweather is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and prostitution related to an unspecified incident in Rochester.

Daniels and Starkweather were arraigned and remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail.

Rochester woman accused in February stabbing death

March 4, 2019 -- A homeless woman has been accused of fatally stabbing 73-year-old George E. Rogers inside his Rochester apartment last month.

Jazmine Simmons, 27, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing at 119 Rosewood Terrace, the Rochester Police Department reported. Officers were called to Rogers' apartment Feb. 5 and found that he had been stabbed multiple times in Rochester's fifth homicide of 2019.

Simmons was arraigned in City Court and also arrested on two active warrants not connected to the homicide investigation. She was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail.

City Council VP McFadden arrested on federal charges

Feb. 22, 2019 -- Rochester City Council Vice President Adam McFadden was arrested on charges related to financial activities at a charitable arm of the Rochester Housing Authority.

McFadden, 47, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson in U.S. District Court and was released on his own recognizance after entering a plea of not guilty.

McFadden's arrest occurred four months after that of RHA Executive Director George Moses, who was charged with lying to the FBI in the course of its investigation into McFadden. The new comlaint accuses McFadden and Moses of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy for actions between October 2014 and December 2015. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors allege a company created by McFadden a month after he resigned as executive director of the Rochester Housing Authority collected money for doing little or no work after being awarded a contract from from Rochester Housing Charities, which is an RHA subsidiary.

McFadden is scheduled to appear March 8 for a status conference related to his retention of an attorney.

Police assailant released from prison

Feb. 19, 2019 -- Tyquan Rivera has been released from the state's Cape Vincent Correctional Facility after serving his maximum sentence, Department of Corrections records indicate.

Rivera was 14 years old when he shot Rochester Police Department officer Anthony DiPonzio, then 24, on Dayton Street in 2009. He was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault and was sentenced to 3½ to 10 years under youthful offender statutes.

Rivera, who has denied responsibility for the shooting, was turned down for parole in 2016, but received a conditional release six months later after serving two-thirds of the maximum sentence. He was taken back into custody in february 2017 on a parole violation.

Party house manager charged in aftermath of massive brawl

Feb. 12, 2019 -- The manager of the Diplomat Banquet Center has been charged with second-degree criminal nuisance as a result of the incident in which shots were fired at the Gates party house last month.

Police sayd Louis J. Polizzi, 49, of Ogden was charged because "he recklessly created an environment that endangered the safety or health of many individuals." Polizzi, who is the son of the party house's owner, was issued an appearance ticket to appear in court Feb. 26. Police have charged five people thus far in connection with the Jan. 13 incident.

The altercation began at 1:45 a.m. during a concert at the Diplomat. During the fight, attendees allegedly threw alcohol bottles and a 26-year-old woman was struck in the head with a bottle. Officers said at least five rounds were fired.

Man acquitted in shooting injured in brawl outside Henrietta bar

Feb. 11, 2019 -- One of the three men stabbed in an early morning Sunday brawl had previously been acquitted of murder charges connected to the drive-by triple homicide at the Boys & Girls Club, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Michael Mathis Jr., 21, was stabbed at Schramrocks Irish Pub in Henrietta. He and two other Rochester men who were also stabbed refused to cooperate with deputies, the Sheriff's Office said.

Also stabbed were Raeshon Patterson, 20, and Raekwon Green, 22.

Mathis stood trail after he was accused of being one of three people in a car that sprayed the Boys & Girls Club on Genesee Street with gunfire in August 2015. A jury acquitted Mathis in 2017 of murder and other criminal charges.

The weekend event at Schramrocks turned rowdy after firefighters a call for overcrowding at the Park Point club. Fights broke out as security personnel tried to clear more than 200 people from the bar.

Police identify victim in Beechwood neighborhood slaying

Feb. 9, 2019 -- Police have identified Caebeon J. Lee, 21, as the victim in a fatal shooting in Rochester's Beechwood neighborhood. Lee was pronounced dead after he was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Rochester police responded to the intersection of Webster Avenue and Shafer Street for a late-afternoon report of a person down in the roadway. They found Lee had been shot in the upper body.

Williamsville man accused in huge theft from employee

Feb. 8, 2019 -- An Erie County man is accused of stealing more than $2.5 million worth of diabetic test strips from his Rochester employer and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

Antonio Rivera, 35, of Williamsville was charged with theft, trafficking in stolen goods, conspiracy to sell stolen goods and wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Authorities allege Rivera, employed as a senior assistant purchasing manager for CVS Pharmacy since 2007, stole 20,203 boxes of diabetic test strips and that at one point he had more than $700,000 in illicit proceeds in a PayPal account.

The criminal complaint alleges Rivera ordered the test strips and then intercepted the shipments once they arrived.

Former Webster coach charged with rape of student

Jan. 30, 2019 -- Police have charged former Webster Schroeder football and girls basketball coach Kali Watkins with the rape of a student at school.

Watkins, 42, worked for the Webster Central School District as a special education teacher from August 2015 until he was fired in December 2017 shortly after being removed from his basketball coaching position.

He was indicted by a Monroe County grand jury on one count of first-degree rape and one count of second-degree rape, Monroe County assistant district attorney Meredith Vacca said.

Webster schools Superintendent Carmen Gumina said internal concerns about Watkins' conduct were raised in November 2017, leading to a district investigation and Watkins being placed on administrative leave. Gumina said the district was subsequently informed of an unrelated criminal allegation that was referred to the Webster Police Department.

Watkins was named Monroe County Division I football coach of the year in 2017. He was a 2014 inductee into the Section 5 football hall of fame.

Charges lodged in fatal expressway crash

Jan. 28, 2019 -- A 22-year-old Rochester man was indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash in Henrietta.

Jordin S. Campbell allegedly lost control of his vehicle late on Jan. 3, went off the road and struck a concrete barrier alongside I-390 near the Hylan Drive exit. Passenger Anthony Mykins, 22, was ejected through the sunroof and died at the scene.

A second passenger, Audrey Porter, 21, also suffered injuries in the crash.

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	A summary of noteworthy crime news in Greater Rochester
	More from early 2019 Suspect with record of 41 arrests accused in burglary March 6, 2019 -- A Rochester man with more than three dozen arrests and multiple parole revocations is accused of burglarizing a Rochester convenience store on Feb. 26. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported Burnie Daniels, 53, has been arrested at least 41 times since 1982. Daniels and Erin Starkweather, 36, of Rochester are accused of breaking into the Kwik Fill convenience store, 85 Stonewood Ave., in the early-morning hours. Deputies allegedly saw a van occupied by Daniels and Starkweather pull away from the store as a burglary alarm activated. Deputies confirmed the store was burglarized and pursued the van with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and New York State Police. Authorities found $1,900 worth of cigarettes as well as other property from the series of burglaries in the van. Daniels is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, a parole violation, and other traffic and vehicle violations. Starkweather is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and prostitution related to an unspecified incident in Rochester. Daniels and Starkweather were arraigned and remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail. Rochester woman accused in February stabbing death March 4, 2019 -- A homeless woman has been accused of fatally stabbing 73-year-old George E. Rogers inside his Rochester apartment last month. Jazmine Simmons, 27, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing at 119 Rosewood Terrace, the Rochester Police Department reported. Officers were called to Rogers' apartment Feb. 5 and found that he had been stabbed multiple times in Rochester's fifth homicide of 2019. Simmons was arraigned in City Court and also arrested on two active warrants not connected to the homicide investigation. She was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail. City Council VP McFadden arrested on federal charges Feb. 22, 2019 -- Rochester City Council Vice President Adam McFadden was arrested on charges related to financial activities at a charitable arm of the Rochester Housing Authority. McFadden, 47, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson in U.S. District Court and was released on his own recognizance after entering a plea of not guilty. McFadden's arrest occurred four months after that of RHA Executive Director George Moses, who was charged with lying to the FBI in the course of its investigation into McFadden. The new comlaint accuses McFadden and Moses of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy for actions between October 2014 and December 2015. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors allege a company created by McFadden a month after he resigned as executive director of the Rochester Housing Authority collected money for doing little or no work after being awarded a contract from from Rochester Housing Charities, which is an RHA subsidiary. McFadden is scheduled to appear March 8 for a status conference related to his retention of an attorney. Police assailant released from prison Feb. 19, 2019 -- Tyquan Rivera has been released from the state's Cape Vincent Correctional Facility after serving his maximum sentence, Department of Corrections records indicate. Rivera was 14 years old when he shot Rochester Police Department officer Anthony DiPonzio, then 24, on Dayton Street in 2009. He was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault and was sentenced to 3½ to 10 years under youthful offender statutes. Rivera, who has denied responsibility for the shooting, was turned down for parole in 2016, but received a conditional release six months later after serving two-thirds of the maximum sentence. He was taken back into custody in february 2017 on a parole violation. Party house manager charged in aftermath of massive brawl Feb. 12, 2019 -- The manager of the Diplomat Banquet Center has been charged with second-degree criminal nuisance as a result of the incident in which shots were fired at the Gates party house last month. Police sayd Louis J. Polizzi, 49, of Ogden was charged because "he recklessly created an environment that endangered the safety or health of many individuals." Polizzi, who is the son of the party house's owner, was issued an appearance ticket to appear in court Feb. 26. Police have charged five people thus far in connection with the Jan. 13 incident. The altercation began at 1:45 a.m. during a concert at the Diplomat. During the fight, attendees allegedly threw alcohol bottles and a 26-year-old woman was struck in the head with a bottle. Officers said at least five rounds were fired. Man acquitted in shooting injured in brawl outside Henrietta bar Feb. 11, 2019 -- One of the three men stabbed in an early morning Sunday brawl had previously been acquitted of murder charges connected to the drive-by triple homicide at the Boys & Girls Club, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office confirmed. Michael Mathis Jr., 21, was stabbed at Schramrocks Irish Pub in Henrietta. He and two other Rochester men who were also stabbed refused to cooperate with deputies, the Sheriff's Office said. Also stabbed were Raeshon Patterson, 20, and Raekwon Green, 22. Mathis stood trail after he was accused of being one of three people in a car that sprayed the Boys & Girls Club on Genesee Street with gunfire in August 2015. A jury acquitted Mathis in 2017 of murder and other criminal charges. The weekend event at Schramrocks turned rowdy after firefighters a call for overcrowding at the Park Point club. Fights broke out as security personnel tried to clear more than 200 people from the bar. Police identify victim in Beechwood neighborhood slaying Feb. 9, 2019 -- Police have identified Caebeon J. Lee, 21, as the victim in a fatal shooting in Rochester's Beechwood neighborhood. Lee was pronounced dead after he was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital. Rochester police responded to the intersection of Webster Avenue and Shafer Street for a late-afternoon report of a person down in the roadway. They found Lee had been shot in the upper body. Williamsville man accused in huge theft from employee Feb. 8, 2019 -- An Erie County man is accused of stealing more than $2.5 million worth of diabetic test strips from his Rochester employer and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. Antonio Rivera, 35, of Williamsville was charged with theft, trafficking in stolen goods, conspiracy to sell stolen goods and wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. Authorities allege Rivera, employed as a senior assistant purchasing manager for CVS Pharmacy since 2007, stole 20,203 boxes of diabetic test strips and that at one point he had more than $700,000 in illicit proceeds in a PayPal account. The criminal complaint alleges Rivera ordered the test strips and then intercepted the shipments once they arrived. Former Webster coach charged with rape of student Jan. 30, 2019 -- Police have charged former Webster Schroeder football and girls basketball coach Kali Watkins with the rape of a student at school. Watkins, 42, worked for the Webster Central School District as a special education teacher from August 2015 until he was fired in December 2017 shortly after being removed from his basketball coaching position. He was indicted by a Monroe County grand jury on one count of first-degree rape and one count of second-degree rape, Monroe County assistant district attorney Meredith Vacca said. Webster schools Superintendent Carmen Gumina said internal concerns about Watkins' conduct were raised in November 2017, leading to a district investigation and Watkins being placed on administrative leave. Gumina said the district was subsequently informed of an unrelated criminal allegation that was referred to the Webster Police Department. Watkins was named Monroe County Division I football coach of the year in 2017. He was a 2014 inductee into the Section 5 football hall of fame. Charges lodged in fatal expressway crash Jan. 28, 2019 -- A 22-year-old Rochester man was indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash in Henrietta. Jordin S. Campbell allegedly lost control of his vehicle late on Jan. 3, went off the road and struck a concrete barrier alongside I-390 near the Hylan Drive exit. Passenger Anthony Mykins, 22, was ejected through the sunroof and died at the scene. A second passenger, Audrey Porter, 21, also suffered injuries in the crash. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]