TIMELINES 9/14/17

A.G. Schneiderman Warns of Cyberattacks Following Equifax Data Breach
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman warned New Yorkers to remain vigilant against possible hacking and phishing attempts by cybercriminals following the Equifax data breach. Last week Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies, experienced a massive breach affecting 143 million Americans and over 8 million New Yorkers. Hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. Approximately 209,000 individuals had their credit card numbers stolen. Schneiderman warns that New Yorkers should be weary of suspicious emails, phone calls or account charges claiming to be sent from Equifax or financial institutions. On Friday, Attorney General Schneiderman announced that his office launched a formal investigation into the Equifax breach. Consumers are highly encouraged to keep close notice on all account information, and can check credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion by visiting annualcreditreport.com – a free service.

Suffern High School Welcomes New School Resource Officer
Suffern High school now welcomes Danny Lynch of the Ramapo Police as the school’s new resource officer. Lynch, a member of Suffern High School’s class of 2001, has served as a Ramapo Police Officer for 10 years in addition to one year with the NYPD. Lynch is replacing Tommy Donnelly, who retired after serving 17 years as the school resource officer.

Rockland County Man Allegedly Used Child’s ID to Steal Cars, Drives One to Court
According to Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., 26-year-old Nanuet resident Andre Mendez is alleged to have created a synthetic identity using his actual name and date of birth in addition to the Social Security number of an unsuspecting 10-year-old. According to Scarpino, Mendez proceeded to open bank accounts to establish credit with the identity, and leased and financed motor vehicles with this identity as well. The investigation into Mendez began in May and led to his arrest last week as he left the Town of Greenburgh Court, where he was answering charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and aggravated driving while intoxicated dating back to a case in March. Mendez allegedly drove to court in a stolen Toyota, and a Honda was later recovered at an auto body shop in the Bronx. Bail has been set at $50,000 cash or bond. Mendez will face a maximum of seven years in state prison.

Mailman Treated at Nyack Hospital After Being Attacked by Dog
A U.S. Postal Service supervisor reported to police in Scarsdale that a dog on Heathcote Road bit a mail carrier on Aug. 29 on the left leg, leaving him injured. The injured mail carrier drove himself to Nyack Hospital immediately after the incident, which, according to police, made it impossible to interview him or observe the injury. The dog owner provided police with up-to-date vaccination paperwork but was still advised to keep the dog quarantined for 10 days in accordance to Agriculture and Markets Law. A Westchester County Bite and Scratch form was completed and mailed to authorities, and police said that they would be in contact with the victim and dog’s owner following the mandatory quarantine.

ID of Rockland Woman Who Jumped From Bear Mountain Bridge Tops News
The body of 22-year-old Malka Lebovits of New City was recovered in the Hudson River after the occupants of a cabin cruiser passing through the area spotted the body and notified police, said Kieran O’Leary, spokesman for the Westchester County Police Department. Her death has been ruled a suicide by the Medical Examiner’s Office, according to O’Leary. Lebovits had been missing since she was caught on video surveillance tape jumping from the Bear Mountain Bridge on April 26 at about 4:26 p.m.

Hudson Valley Fugitive Manhunt Ends With Arrests of 20-Something Couple
Jarret Cole “Shroom” Heitman and Makayla Stilwell were arrested in New Orleans following a shoplifting incident, according to police. On June 24, Video surveillance photos of a 24-year-old man and 22-year-old woman were released by police after they were spotted at a Walmart on the New York/Pennsylvania border, hours after the pre-dawn home invasion about 30 miles away near the border of Orange and Sullivan counties. The fugitives were classified as armed and extremely dangerous, according to police. They were also wanted for kidnapping and attempted murder in Tennessee before fleeing to the Hudson Valley. Police in the Town of Crawford in Orange County said the Walmart sighting was the “last confirmed sighting” of the two before they were arrested.

Missing 14-Year-Old Vacationing in Haverstraw Found Safe
14-year-old Lederky “Alex” Oge, who went missing on Aug. 21, has been found and is safe, Haverstraw Police announced Tuesday morning. “This would not have been possible without the assistance from the public,” Haverstraw Police said to the North Rockland Daily Voice. “We would like to thank all those who have called in with tips and information.” Oge is a Haitian citizen who was vacationing in the United States and staying with a family friend in the Village of Haverstraw. Oge left the residence in Haverstraw on Monday, Aug. 21 and did not return. Oge has been safely returned to his family.

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