After nearly 24 hours, a standoff between a distraught man and Ontario County deputies ended early this morning with the man subdued by a TASER shot.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Adam Blair of Canandaigua barricaded himself inside his house on Hopkins Road yesterday afternoon. He was reported to be suicidal and threatened to shoot police officers when they arrived.
Deputies closed the surrounding roads and evacuated the neighboring homes. The Monroe County SWAT team and State Police were also brought in. They made phone contact with Blair and began trying to talk him into surrendering.
It was after 1:00 this morning before Blair finally agreed to give himself up…but when he came out of the house he refused to obey commands and was hit with the TASER. He’s been charged with menacing a police officer.
Officers remained on the scene for much of this morning collecting evidence.
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A missing teenaged witness who delayed the Johnny Blackshell Jr. murder trial by 24 hours still can’t be found. The defense rested its case without calling any witnesses after Blackshell told the judge his decision is not to testify.
Defense attorney Joe Damelio told the judge they’ve been unable to locate the 17-year-old witness, who said in a sworn statement that he saw another suspect…not Blackshell…stashing a rifle in a car trunk right after the shootings outside the Boys and Girls Club last summer. Prosecutor Perry Duckles said his staff and Rochester police have also been unable to find him.
The attorneys and the judge then began the technical and lengthy business of going over the specific charges the jury will hear before they begin deliberations. Blackshell is being tried on 16 charges in the drive-by shootings on Genesee Street.
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The Monroe County Democratic Committee is holding a press conference tomorrow morning to — as it says — “discuss one of the upcoming Assembly races.”
Yesterday, former Channel 8 news anchor Rachel Barnhart confirmed she’s submitted the paperwork to form a campaign committee…and intends to run for the 138th Assembly District as a Democrat.
That means she’ll be running a primary campaign against incumbent Democrat Harry Bronson, who has the endorsement of the Monroe County Democratic Committee.
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#RocTransitDay is June 16th.
The annual event organized by Reconnect Rochester is a grassroots campaign urging people to try public transportation by taking the bus for one day.
The group says they’re not offering free passes or prizes this year, just a chance to try the rewards of leaving your car at home.
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A 23-year-old suspect is facing charges after a hit-and-run accident at 30 North Clinton Avenue late last night.
Rochester Police say the driver who caused the accident took off north on Clinton where his car caused a second accident at the intersection of Clinton, Joseph Avenue and Upper Falls Boulevard.
The driver jumped out of his car and ran after the second crash but was soon located by an officer in the area and taken into custody. He’s facing several charges.
The driver of the second car to be hit was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital complaining of pain; the driver of the first car wasn’t hurt.
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A solar panel company based in Henrietta has filed notice with the state that it’s closing up shop this summer, laying off nearly 40 employees.
Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric installs residential solar electric systems. The notice filed with the State Labor Department says it’s closing for economic reasons and laying off 38 workers between August 8th and August 22nd.
The company was bought two years ago by NRG Energy of New Jersey, which says it’s realigning its business to focus on markets that have better sales.