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Suffern Funeral Home Director Pleads Guilty to Multiple Charges, Will Pay Restitution & Jail Time

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4 years ago

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SUFFERN, NY – SUFFERN FUNERAL HOME DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH DEFRAUDING CUSTOMERS – Funds Set Aside for Victims

Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced the plea of guilty by Scarr Funeral Home owner Leonard Scarr to two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, forgery in the second degree, and scheme to defraud. A thorough investigation by the Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office identified 90 victims with an aggregate loss of $531,017.

Leonard Scarr, 54, of Upper Saddle River, NJ, appeared before Hon. Larry J Schwartz on July 27, 2021 to enter his plea of guilty. In doing so, Scarr admitted to stealing in excess of $3,000 from two victims. Specifically, for the first victim, after contracting with him to set up a prepaid burial account, Scarr deposited the victim’s money into an interest bearing account. Regarding this account, Scarr could only access the account’s funds upon the death of the victim account holder. In order to obtain the funds, Scarr instead forged a death certificate in the victim’s name, presented the forged death certificate to representatives of the bank where the burial escrow account was held, withdrew the funds from the account, and used them for various personal expenses without any permission or authority. At the time of the withdrawal and as of today, the account holder was still alive.

Last fall, in an effort to ensure that all the victims will be fully reimbursed, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, as Plaintiff-Claiming Authority, filed a civil forfeiture action in the Rockland County Supreme Court seeking forfeiture from Leonard Scarr’s property and proceeds from the sale of the Scarr Funeral Home.

In exchange for Scarr’s pleas of guilty, Judge Schwartz promised to sentence Scarr to an indeterminate term of two to six years in state prison with full restitution in the amount of $531,071.37, as recommended by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.

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Crime

New York State Police Issue Over 12,000 Tickets During Memorial Day Weekend Enforcement Campaign

Published

2 days ago

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May 28, 2025

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ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – The New York State Police announced that a total of 12,062 tickets were issued statewide during the 2025 Memorial Day Weekend traffic enforcement campaign, marking a significant increase in citations compared to last year. The special enforcement period ran from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26, 2025, and was part of an annual effort to keep roads safe during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

The initiative, partially funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, included sobriety checkpoints, increased DWI patrols, and targeted enforcement against distracted driving and other dangerous behaviors.
Enforcement Results: DWI Arrests and Traffic Violations

During the four-day period, 245 drivers were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Troopers also responded to 774 motor vehicle crashes, including three fatal accidents.

Key violations during the 2025 Memorial Day crackdown included:

Speeding: 3,472 tickets

Distracted Driving: 393 tickets

Seatbelt Violations: 1,660 tickets

Move Over Law Violations: 225 tickets

These figures show a notable increase from the 2024 Memorial Day Weekend enforcement, during which 10,949 total tickets were issued and 225 DWI arrests were made.
A Message of Road Safety and Responsibility

The New York State Police emphasized that these enforcement efforts are vital to protecting drivers and passengers during high-traffic holiday periods.

Below is a breakdown of violations by troop:

Officials encourage drivers to always wear seatbelts, avoid distractions, respect speed limits, and never drive under the influence.

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Crime

A Day In The Life of Ramapo Police Officers

Published

1 week ago

on

May 21, 2025

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Over the past 24 hours, Ramapo Police Officers have remained hard at work, responding to calls for service, enforcing traffic laws, and actively engaging with our community. Here’s a look at the highlights from another demanding day in public safety.

Traffic Enforcement & Public Safety

Our continued efforts to maintain roadway safety led to several enforcement actions:

  • Three motorists were cited for operating vehicles with suspended registrations.

  • Three drivers were stopped and cited for driving with suspended licenses.

These proactive measures are part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our roadways safe for all.

Arrests and Enforcement Actions

Officers made several arrests in connection with a variety of incidents:

  • Two individuals were taken into custody on active warrants. Both were later released on their own recognizance.

  • One arrest was made in a domestic incident for violating an Order of Protection. The individual was also released on recognizance.

  • An additional arrest was made for an open container violation, a part of our continued focus on quality-of-life enforcement throughout the Town of Ramapo.

Major Incident: Armed Robbery

A significant and violent incident occurred involving an armed robbery at the end of a residential driveway. During the altercation, the victim was pistol-whipped as they attempted to retain possession of a firearm. The suspect ultimately fled the scene with a substantial amount of cash. The victim sustained injuries and was treated at the scene.

Ramapo Police Officers and Detectives responded immediately and initiated a collaborative investigation with the New York State Police . Through coordinated efforts, a suspect was identified and located within hours.

A 42-year-old male from Middletown, NY was taken into custody and formally charged with:

  • Robbery in the First Degree

  • Assault in the Second Degree

  • Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree

  • Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree

  • Menacing in the Second Degree

The suspect is currently being processed at Ramapo Police Headquarters. Arraignment is expected later today at Hillburn Justice Court.

Our officers remain dedicated to serving and protecting the residents of Ramapo. We thank the community for its continued support and vigilance.

Ramapo Police Department

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