North Country Briefs
New Bremen structures
damaged in fire Sunday
NEW BREMEN — Firefighters on Sunday morning were able to prevent a blaze from spreading through a house and attached garage in the town of New Bremen.
New Bremen firefighters at 8:35 a.m. responded to the Bruce and Cindy Peck residence, 8512 Van Amber Road, and requested mutual aid from the Castorland and Beaver Falls fire departments.
The fire started in the portion of the garage next to the house and spread into the attic and kitchen wall area before it was extinguished, according to Lewis County Fire Coordinator James M. Martin. "They did a good job fighting it," he said.
The blaze caused some structural and content damage to the house and garage, Mr. Martin said.
The cause was officially left undetermined, although it may have stemmed from some grinding work done by Mr. Peck a couple of hours before the blaze, Mr. Martin said.
There was insurance on the structure.
Police probe burglaries
at convenience stores
ASSENA — Six convenience stores or restaurants were burglarized in a spree that state police said started Friday night with the break-ins of Seaway Mini Mart on Route 131 in Massena and Steve's Stop and Shop on Route 37 in Louisville.
Thieves took cash, cigarettes and alcohol in what state police called "smash-and-grab" burglaries. On Sunday night, Bobby I's on Main Street in Helena, Ducci's on Route 11C and Erin's Isle restaurant on St. Regis Street in Brasher, and B&W Quick Stop on Route 11C in Winthrop all were broken into. Police said they believe all of the burglaries were done by the same people.
A newer model, dark-colored king cab pickup truck with a small decal in the window was seen leaving one of the burglaries, investigators said. No further information was released.
Two women are charged
with possessing drugs
MALONE — Two woman face drug charges after a U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped their car Tuesday on Route 11.
Lori L. Muller, 21, Fort Covington, and Amanda L. Savage, 21, Massena, were each charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, state police said. Ms. Muller also was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Both reportedly had more than 25 grams of marijuana and Ms. Muller also had a small amount of cocaine in her possession. State police were called to assist when the car was stopped, troopers. A license plate reader system found Ms. Muller had a suspended driver's license.
She was arraigned in Town Court and released on her own recognizance. Ms. Savage was issued an appearance ticket for Town Court.
Sackets Harbor man jailed
in ice cream shop break-in
Jock A. Symonds, 26, of 14135 Military Road, Sackets Harbor, is being held without bail in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building after being charged Monday by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department with third-degree burglary.
He was arraigned before LeRay Town Justice John W. Hallett on allegations that on Aug. 30 he entered Way Cool Ice Cream shop, Route 342, Black River, and stole $100 in cash, according to the sheriff's office.
Mr. Symonds was sentenced in Jefferson County Court to drug court after he pleaded guilty on Aug. 6 to three counts of third-degree burglary, five counts of petit larceny and single counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree forgery.
Watertown man charged
following domestic fight
A Watertown man faces several charges stemming an alleged domestic incident early Wednesday.
Randy C. John, 36, of 315 N. Rutland St., was charged by city police about 6:15 a.m. with third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree criminal contempt and driving while intoxicated.
He was charged with criminal mischief for allegedly throwing a safety deposit box through the rear window of a 2006 Dodge Caravan belonging to Rebecca S. John, same address, causing more than $250 in damage. Police said the act violated a Jefferson County Family Court order of protection held by Mrs. John, prompting the criminal contempt charge.
Police records also show he was charged with DWI after refusing a breath test in the 600 block of Burchard Street. Further information about that charge was unavailable. He is to answer the charges in City Court.
Police: woman assaulted
trooper during her arrest
POTSDAM — A 27-year-old woman is accused of punching and kicking a trooper and struggling with police while being handcuffed.
Melanie A. Stone, Potsdam, was charged Monday with second-degree assault, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, child endangerment and second-degree harassment, state police said.
She reportedly punched a trooper in the neck and kicked him in the groin with a child present, troopers said. She also told troopers she wasn't Ms. Stone when they responded to her Morley-Potsdam Road home for a report to aid a person.
She was arraigned in Town Court and sent to St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, on $1,000 bail or $2,000 bond.
The trooper was treated at Canton-Potsdam Hospital and released.
Two injured in accident
with bike; one charged
Two motorcycle riders who were injured Monday afternoon in an accident on Route 11 in the town of Pamelia were listed in fair condition Tuesday at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.
Patrick A. Noone, 41, of 123 Charles St., with unspecified injuries, and his passenger, Shelly J. Roe, 49, with a possible leg fracture, initially were treated at Samaritan Medical Center.
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies charged Mr. Noone with following too close. They said he was eastbound behind a car driven by Melissa J. Ligammari, 23, Copenhagen, and failed to stop in time after she signaled to make a right turn into a driveway near Bush Road. He veered to the right and struck the right side of the car, deputies said.
The two riders were thrown into a ditch.
Pair accused of stealing
$989 in tools from Sears
Two Ogdensburg men were arrested Monday night on allegations that they tried walking out of Sears, Salmon Run Mall, without paying for tools selling for a total of $989.97, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
Terry D. Power, 28, and David T. Geddes, 26, were both charged with petit larceny in the afternoon incident. Mr. Power additionally was served with a bench warrant on a petit larceny charge lodged in August 2008 at the same store in connection with an alleged $289 shoplifting still pending in town of Watertown Court.
Both men were released on bail, $250 for Mr. Geddes and $500 for Mr. Power, following arraignment before town of Watertown Justice Andrew N. Capone.
