The former treasurer for the Patterson Fire Department has pleaded guilty to federal charges he stole more than $1.1 million from the department to support his personal businesses and live a lavish lifestyle. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced the plea by Albert Melin on Wednesday. Melin's plea concludes a nearly year-long investigation that included Bharara's office, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office, the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division, the FBI and New York State Police.
- PUB DATE: 11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News

Teresita Peralta tried to sleep. But there was that chirping. Again and again. “They cried all night,” Peralta said of the baby sparrows that hatched in her bathroom’s exhaust fan. She tried calling her building manager. She was told no help until after the weekend. Two days away? Maddening. Chirp-chirp-chirp! Sanity in the balance, she called the fire department.
- PUB DATE: 11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Miami Herald

Internal accounting errors led to a $1.15 million budget shortfall for the Boulder Rural Fire Protection District in 2015, a gap district officials knew about but didn't understand — or disclose — when they asked voters to approve a $1 million tax increase last year. Those are the findings of a report by financial investigator James Davis, who was retained by the fire district's board of directors to investigate the budget shortfall.
- PUB DATE: 11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boulder Daily Camera

Portland police emergency and crisis teams have taken a suspect into custody after after a man barricaded himself inside a burning Southeast Portland home Wednesday morning. Portland police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson at a news conference just before noon said police initially responded to reports of a disturbance near Southeast 127th Avenue and Rhone Street about 10 a.
- PUB DATE: 11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Lakewood police are investigating after a small camper explosion and fire that sent three people to the hospital Wednesday night. It happened just before 8:30 p.m. on Fern Street Southwest, near American Lake. Officials said a woman and two men were inside the detached camper when it exploded. All three suffered burns and were taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.
- PUB DATE: 11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO News