After Group of Youths Threaten Neighbors, a Woman Learns Why You Should Think Twice, before Calling Rochester, NY Police (Updated)

Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police officer
charges at woman video recording:
"You guys, you can videotape all you want,
but you're going to leave, or you're going to jail!"

"

Alyssa Shipe and her neighbors were enjoying the last few hours of the Raymond Street Annual Block Party in Rochester's South Wedge neighborhood Saturday evening, when a group of youths came onto her street, threatening her neighbors.

Shipe did what most honest, trusting, law abiding citizens would do.

She called Rochester Police.

Little did she know, she would soon be regretting that decision.

According to Shipe, a couple of hours earlier, a woman on her street was taken away by Rochester Police under a mental hygiene arrest after the woman got into a fight with the DJ for the block party, and began swinging at him and kicking his music equipment.

After her arrest, the woman's son, upset that Rochester Police arrested his mother, tried to hit a neighbor with a brick, before calling a group of his friends.

Within 45 minutes, a group of approx. 8-10 youths arrived in a minivan and began threatening several neighbors, including a man who was trying to get the minivan's license plate number.

One of the members of the group told a Rochester City firefighter named Sean, who lives on Raymond Street, "We know you're a firefighter and we know where you live."

Shipe says after she called 911 to report the group in the minivan, 10-15 RPD officers arrived, and it was then that she couldn't believe her eyes.

One neighbor told Rochester Police officers that one of the youths brandished a gun, but officers completely ignored the neighbor.

"They didn't do anything to them", Shipe said, referring to RPD officers clearly showing no interest in her call for assistance.

"They didn't even search them", added Shipe.

Then, Shipe says, something else happened.

After seeing that Rochester Police officers refused to search the youth, and take any action, several Raymond Street neighbors expressed their dissatisfaction.

Shipe said one of those neighbors was Sean, the Rochester, NY firefighter, who works out of the Hudson Ave. fire station, on Rochester's northeast side.

Shipe, who didn't know the firefighter's last name, she says Rochester Police officers did not appreciate him being vocal.

In fact, Shipe says, a Rochester Police officer driving car "E-93", wasted no time in showing the firefighter just how much he did not appreciate being told how to do his job.

In the video below, which Shipe began recording shortly after she saw RPD officers letting the group of youths go, the RPD officer is seen walking a handcuffed man towards his cruiser.

That man, Shipe says, is Sean, the Rochester firefighter.

The video actually begins with the group of youth being let go by RPD officers.

In the video, Shipe's fiancé, Kenny Dudek is heard saying "Are you kidding me?", as the group of youth is let go by RPD officers.

Then, the RPD officer is seen walking over to Shipe, as he yells, "You guys, you can tape all you want, but you're going to leave, or you're going to jail!"

Shipe says after the video ends, the officer pushed her, and tried to grab her cell phone, then grabbed her fiancé, and handcuffed him.

A few minutes later, the same officer locked his keys in his cruiser, after placing the firefighter in the back seat.

The officer had to call another RPD officer from the RPD East Division office, who brought the officer an extra set of car keys, about an hour later.

During that time, the Rochester firefighter sat in the back of the locked cruiser, which was turned on, and had the windows rolled up.

Shipe says that after approx. 45 minutes, her fiancé's handcuffs were taken off, and shortly after, when the keys for the locked cruiser arrived, the firefighter's handcuffs were also removed.

Both men were let go with a "warning".

Shipe, who says the Raymond Street Annual Block Party, which is approved by the City, who provides the barricades, is a time for neighbors, including children to have fun, do cookouts, and different activities, says she is disgusted with the way Rochester Police handled the situation.

A situation which began with her call to 911 for assistance.

"I will never call the police for anything again", said Shipe.


Update:

Rochester, NY Police officer Jeffrey N. Nobles has been identified as the officer who threatened Alyssa Shipe with arrest, in the video below.


Click Play to watch video




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Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard, a Two-Faced Hypocrite, Marches in Puerto Rican Festival Parade

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard
marches with Puerto Rican Parade President
Geena Cruz.

On June 21, 2012, shortly after ordering his officers to confiscate a grocery store's surveillance video, and force the store's owner to close his business, Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard called the shooting, and killing of Israel "Izzy" Andino, a mentally-ill Puerto Rican young man, by 7 Rochester Police officers, justified.

Neighbors on Locust Street, in Rochester's northwest side, described Andino's killing as a modern-day execution.

Witnesses said Rochester Police Sgt. Aaron Colletti, Sgt. Mike Nicholls, Officer Antonio Gonzalez, Officer Brian Cala, Officer Greg Karnes, Officer Onasis Socol, and Officer Eluid Rodriguez ALL opened fire on Israel Andino, killing him instantly.

Rochester, NY Police officer Eliud Rodriguez,
one of 7 RPD cops who shot and killed Andino.

Several neighborhood residents outraged over Andino's killing insisted that the video footage Rochester Police confiscated would have shown that officers had plenty of opportunities to disarm Andino, whom neighbors say was carrying a BB rifle, not a shotgun like police claimed.

On Saturday, August 3, 2013, Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard marched in Rochester's Puerto Rican parade.

Sheppard, holding a Puerto Rican Flag, waved to children and their families who had gathered along East Main Street, in downtown Rochester.

They say people have very short term memories.

This couldn't be any more true, when it comes to Rochester's Puerto Rican community.

To allow Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard, a two-faced hypocrite, who approved of 7 trigger-happy cops executing a young man who needed help, to march in the Puerto Rican parade, is disgusting.

Even more disgusting, is the comment that Geena Cruz, the president of the Puerto Rican Parade, posted on on the parade's website, thanking Sheppard, just hours after the parade.

Geena Cruz, President,
Rochester, NY Puerto Rican Parade

"Puerto Rican Parade of Rochester NY Inc
We want to thank all our participants and spectators that attended this year's Puerto Rican Parade " Our Story- What is You?". It was truly awesome to see all the wonderful stories , custumes, along with all the diversity presented at the parade. WE are also thankful for Mayor Richards, Chief Sheppard, and Luis Burgos for continuing the tradition of starting the parade. Most of we are thankful to our sponsor for making this parade possible."

Shame on Cruz, and on Rochester's Puerto Rican community, for allowing a two-faced hypocrite, to fool them.

Not surprising really, when you consider that for years, Rochester's Puerto Rican Festival board accepted the City of Rochester forcing them to hold the annual festival in the plaza of the Rochester City Jail, right next to Rochester Police headquarters, and the Hall of Justice Courts building, so that City officials, including the Rochester Police department, could closely monitor the festival, and keep a close watch on festival goers.

Click on link below to read my original piece on Rochester, NY Police shooting and killing of Israel "Izzy" Andino.

http://davyv.blogspot.com/2012/06/7-rochester-new-york-police-officers.html



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Did Rochester, NY Police officer Fall Asleep at the Wheel When he Crashed into a Parked Car?

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police cruiser W-21,
hit legally parked car so hard, it moved it several feet from curb.

A Rochester, NY Police officer crashed into a parked vehicle on Westfield St., in Rochester's 19th ward neighborhood, early Sunday morning, around 5:00 a.m.

Some neighbors said they were awakened by a "huge bang."

One woman, who took the photos on the right, she said she came outside and saw what she described as a tall Rochester Police officer, bleeding from the back of his head.

According to neighbors, it appears as if the RPD officer fell asleep at the wheel.

As you can see in the photos, the damage to both the parked vehicle, and the RPD cruiser, W-21, was pretty extensive.

The vehicle that the RPD officer crashed into, was parked legally.

I placed a call to Rochester Police seeking comment, and I will be updating this post soon.


NOTE: According to some neighbors, who overheard Rochester Police officers talking with ambulance personnel, the officer fell asleep behind the wheel.

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Rochester, NY Police officer Lets Drunken Festival Goers Wear his Hat and Poses for Photos!

By Davy V.

Whether it's 8 Rochester, NY Police officers play fighting, and posing for photos on the roof of the Public Safety building,... or Rochester, NY Police officer Melanie Rivera taking her friends on ride alongs and taking photos of herself, in her police cruiser, then posting them to Instagram, ... or a Rochester, NY Police officer allowing his tattoo artist friend to get behind the wheel of his police cruiser and take a photo throwing up the middle finger, then posting the photo on social media with the title "Real Gs steal cop cars n don't give a FUCK!", ... or, a Rochester, NY Police officer stacking beer cups on his head, at at a BBQ festival... it seems as though Rochester, NY Police officers just can't stop showing just how unprofessional they really are.

And now, you can add the photo on the right, to the long list of Rochester, NY Police officers degrading themselves, and their badge.

The photo, which shows a Rochester, NY Police officer posing with what looks to be some tipsy, cup holding festival goers, one wearing the RPD officer's hat, was sent to me by a person who attended the Rochester, NY East End Festival, on Friday, June 14, 2013.

"I was shocked because random drunks were literally just grabbing it off his head to take pics and he just kept posing with them", the man wrote in his email, adding "Everyone around was a little confused as to why he would allow people to just do that."

Like I always say, always have your cell phones ready and RECORD!, RECORD!, RECORD!


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Why is the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Department Trying to Put a Towboat Operator Out of Business?

By Davy V.

Captain Jake VanReenen
with Monroe County, NY Sheriff's deputies
 following closely behind.
Photo by Davy V.

Like many hard working Americans, Captain Jake VanReenen is trying to make an honest living.

In 2010 VanReenen, 24, opened up TowBoatUS in Rochester, NY.

Capt. VanReenen lives aboard a boat in the Genesee river, where he monitors a VHF band radio, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the boating season, for calls of disabled vessels.

But, VanReenen says, the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Department Marine Unit is making it nearly impossible for him to stay in business.

Monroe County, NY Sheriff's boat
Photo by Davy V.

How?

By interfering.

Not just with his business.

But with a well established maritime code.

According to VanReenen, when it comes to marine assistance, the United States Coast Guard has a very well written policy.

If a boater has an issue, say they run out of gas, and they don't have a TowBoatUS membership, (the equivalent of AAA for motorists), they may use their VHF radio, and the call would go to the US Coast Guard.

Monroe County, NY Sheriff's boat
Photo by Davy V.

The USCG will then do an assessment of the situation, to determine if it's an emergency, or not.

If the USCG determines that it's the latter, they will then monitor the situation and act as a marine operator, providing the disabled mariner with the option to contact a commercial salvage company, which in Rochester would be TowBoatUS, or the USCG can issue a "MARB", which stands for Marine Assistance Request Broadcast, asking for any good Samaritans to help the boater in distress.

Photo by Davy V.

But VanReenen says that the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Marine Unit is not respecting that policy, which exists in waterways, and ports throughout the U.S.

In fact, last winter Captain VanReenen worked in Miami Florida, where he says, the Mami-Dade Police Marine Patrol does not interfere with boating tow services when it comes to non-emergency calls.

"In Miami, they would sit there for an hour and talk with the boaters as they wait for the tow service to arrive, but they will not interfere", said Captain VanReenen.

Captain VanReenen says that most of the time, as soon as a disabled boater hits the radio, the Monroe County Sheriff's deputies swoop right in, completely ignoring policy, by not letting the US Coast Guard do their job, and costing him thousands of dollars in jobs lost.

VanReenen says what ends up happening is that deputies will come in to a non-emergency situation and assist boaters by towing them in, and he says the situation is getting so bad, that he's having trouble staying afloat.

Now, some may say that they don't see a problem with Monroe County, NY Sheriff's deputies assisting disabled boaters, for free.

Captain VanReenen couldn't disagree more.

"If your car breaks down on the highway, the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's department, or any other law enforcement agency won't get you gas", says VanReenen, adding "They won't tow you, so why should they do it on the water, in a non-emergency situation?"

"Boating is a luxury", Captain VanReenen says.

"If you are going boating you should be prepared and not rely on the Monroe County Sheriff's department to help you when you run out of fuel or have a dead battery. They are there for law enforcement and search and rescue. Not to act as a towing company. Is Monroe County educated on Admiralty law? They are assuming all risk when they take a disabled boat in tow. They are not properly trained. The Monroe County Sheriff's Marine Unit does not hold USCG Captains licenses and overall, have poor risk assessment. They are using tax payer money to compete and put a tax paying company out of business."

"Why should the tax payers of Monroe County have to pay for some guy who owns a $200,000 boat, who didn't want to spend $ 67.00 for a yearly membership that would have covered him?", says VanReenen.

I have to say I agree with Captain VanReenen.

Just last week, it was reported on Rochester news that Monroe County, NY topped the list of "Financially Stressed" counties in New York State, and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks is already talking about possibly raising taxes by 28 percent.

With such news reports of Monroe County being financially stressed, I think Monroe County taxpayers should at least know that the Monroe County Sheriff's department is spending thousands of dollars weekly, in fuel costs, cruising around in pricey, state of the art boats like the one in the photos, outfitted with three 300 HP engines.

And there you have it, Monroe County, NY taxpayer dollars at work.



Click Play to see video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Marine Unit deouties ignoring Captain Jake VanReenen's call to them, as they tow boat.





Click Play to see a Monroe County, NY Sheriff boat following Captain VanReenen and myself on the Genesee river near Lake Ontario.







Click Play to see a Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy tell me he can't comment after he tries to make small talk with Captain VanReenen








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Rochester, NY Police and Monroe County, NY Probation officers Beat and Tase Father

By Davy V.

Sylvester Pritchett's eye after being beaten, and tased
by Rochester, NY and Monroe County, NY
probation officers.

A Rochester, NY woman is using Facebook, asking for help in locating video of RPD officers who she says beat, tased, and then arrested her husband.

According to Shaneka Grady-Pritchett, the incident occurred on Thursday June 20 around 8:00 pm on Weaver St., on Rochester's east side.

Pritchett's husband, Sylvester Pritchett was attempting intervene in an altercation involving his daughter, when he says a Monroe County, NY Probation officer charged Pritchett.

It was then Pritchett's wife says, that a group of 10 to 15 Rochester, NY Police officers jumped on her husband, hitting with batons, kneeing and kicking him.

Shaneka Grady-Pritchett said that while the group of RPD officers were beating her husband, two more RPD officers were pushing people back, calling people motherfuckers, referring to women as bitches, waving guns, and threatening to arrest people.

Sylvester Pritchett's eye after being beaten, and tased
by Rochester, NY and Monroe County, NY
probation officers.

Grady-Pritchett says her husband's daughter told one of the RPD officers that they didn't have to beat her father like that, and she asked the officer for his name.

The officer told the young woman, "I kill people and get away with it."

"They were so unprofessional, not just with him on the ground, but with the crowd control. They showed up to that incident and made it worse.", said Grady-Pritchett.

Pritchett says that the group of police officers were piling up on me another, reaching over each other, and swinging their batons, and that it looked like something out of a cartoon.

At one point Pritchett says, the Rochester, NY Police officers were so out of control, that a female RPD officer was accidentally tased by a fellow officer.

Then Pritchett says, her husband who was on the ground and not resisting, was tased by a Monroe County, NY probation officer.

Shaneka Pritchett was then thrown to the ground, and had a knee placed on her back, after becoming emotional seeing her husband being beaten, and tased.

Sylvester Pritchett was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction of governmental administration, or "O.G.A.".

According to Sylvester Pritchett, after he was arrested, he was taken to the Rochester Police department's east side division located on N. Clinton Ave., where he says, an interesting conversation took place.

Pritchett says that as he was being transported to an ambulance, a female RPD officer told him she didn't like his kind.

Pritchett then says that after he told the officer that he didn't do anything wrong, that he was just trying to calm his daughters down, the officer told him "I was the one that hit you on your legs, will you accept my apology?"

Sylvester Pritchett said the probation officer then told him "I was the one who was tasing you, I'm sorry."

Pritchett says he told both the RPD officer and the probation officer that he accepted their apologies.

This is Rochester, NY Police Chief Janes Sheppard's "Operation Cool Down", in full effect.

Abusing and beating innocent citizens.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY VIDEO, OR KNOWS ANYONE WHO HAS VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT, PLEASE CONTACT ME.


Click Play on the videos below







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Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy Steven Stepnick: "Have a good day" After I Tell Him that a MCSO Deputy Pointed a Gun at Me and My Daughter

By Davy V.

Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy Steven Stepnick
Photo by Davy V.

On Sunday June 23rd, I took my daughter to the IHOP restaurant in Henrietta, NY, around 6:30 pm.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed 4 Monroe County, NY Sheriff cruisers also pulling in.

At first I didn't think anything of it, as I figured they were going inside to eat, but then, as I parked, I realized they were there for something else.

As I was getting ready to get out of the car, and get my daughter out of her car seat, I saw two deputies about 50 feet off to my left.

I then noticed one of the deputies putting on his leather gloves, while the second deputy was peering around the corner of the restaurant, looking at an open door near the back of the building,

Having already returned my car off, and not exactly sure what was going on, or if I should even get out of my car or not, I decided to record done video.

As you can see in the first video below, after just a few seconds of recording, I noticed that the second deputy was holding his service weapon, in what appeared to be a shooting stance, and pointing it towards the open door.

Since I had my daughter with me, I stopped recording, turned my car on, and drive away.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I saw that both deputies were laughing with one another, and the second deputy, who was holding the gun, was waving it around as if simulating shooting, much like kids do when playing cops and robbers, then the deputy pointed the gun at my car, and laughed with his partner, as he looked right at me.

Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy points gun,
seconds before pointing it at me and my daughter.
Photo by Davy V.

Upset and in complete shock at what I just witnessed, I drove to the McDonald's directly behind the IHOP, all the while thinking what I should do.

I then drove back to the IHOP parking lot, after seeing that whatever situation there had been, was now over, as two different deputies were conversing.

Watch the second video below, as Monroe County, NY Sheriff Zone B deputy Steven Stepnick first walks away, then drives away, as I repeatedly tell him that a MCSO deputy pointed a gun at me and my daughter.

Also in that video, another deputy walks away from me, completely ignoring me when I ask him for his name.

At one point in the video you can hear Deputy Stepnick say "It has nothing to do with me", before telling me to "Have a good day", then driving off.

Apart from the fact that this deputy pointed a gun at my vehicle, with my daughter inside, these deputies put other innocent people, including customers not only at IHOP, but at other nearby restaurants at risk of being seriously hurt, or worse.

Not to mention, innocent children and their parents were enjoying a beautiful day at a go kart and miniature golf attraction, less than 200 feet away.

What if that gun had gone off?


NOTE: I have put in calls to the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's department, but have not received a call back.


Click Play to watch video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy with gun drawn putting innocent people in danger.




Click Play to watch video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy Steven Stepnick





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