Latest news with #ToddBaxter
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Reform the reform': Sheriff Baxter urges new laws to fix criminal justice, repeat offenders ‘chaos'
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — After several crimes across Monroe County in the past few months involving people who have been previously charged, News 8 sat down with Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter about changes he feels need to be made at the state level. RPD chief reflects on sanctuary city uproar Sheriff Baxter said there have been six massive reforms within the criminal justice systems within the past few years that has forced a lot of 'difficult change.' He said the reforms now make it harder to hold repeat offenders inside jails long enough to try and see why someone continues to commit crimes and wants to see more effective laws in place. Sheriff Baxter said with the massive reforms so close together, it can cause chaos in the criminal justice system. He told News 8 prosecutors, public defenders, and judges don't grasp the quick changes of reforms all the time, making it easier for those committing crime after crime. 'One [law] that I've been pushing for is bail reform. Bail reform needed to occur in New York state. Just like any other project you do once you do it, go back and see what you could do better. No perfect plan has ever been created,' Baxter said. And Sheriff Baxter has made that known. After 35-year-old Ruben Smith, known for prior felonies, was charged after police said he shot a 9-year-old inside a Henrietta gas station, Sheriff Baxter took to his podcast to explain why New York needs a clear standard for 'dangerous and repeat offenders.' He reiterated that message with News 8 this week. 'If you're just out there committing crime after crime you should go sit down. My father called it a timeout,' Sheriff Baxter said. 'Go take a timeout until we find out why you keep repeating those crimes. Intervene in that person's life and then get them out of jail as soon as possible. But at least do something.' Baxter also recounted a testimony given by a woman a few days ago after she called 911. 'She said, My boyfriend is on the way over and is going to burn down my house. He beat the deputy there and burned down the house,'' Sheriff Baxter said. 'Burned it down at the 3-year-old's bedroom window. Started the fire right there. We didn't get there in time but we did make the apprehension. We had to give him an appearance ticket. By New York State law, we had to give him an appearance ticket.' Because of New York's current laws, Baxter said he and many others are pushing the state for 'common sense adjustments to bail reform.' Alongside State Senator Pam Helming, the two have introduced the PROTECT Act, seeking to hold offenders accountable through a detailed risk assessment, which includes mental health evaluations. New bill aims to help judges detain violent offenders before trial 'Give us a standard that's really defined so judges can use it as an evaluation,' Sheriff Baxter said. Others who pushed for bail reform are also calling for reforms to the reform, Keelar Park Tenants Association President Luvene Ford said she cares because she feels people 'shouldn't have to worry about being home before dark because they're afraid to walk through the parking lot.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
New details released in dramatic M&T Bank robbery in upstate NY
A man was charged following Monday's armed robbery at M&T Bank in Sweden, an incident that unfolded like a scene from a movie, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The robbery took place just after 4 p.m. at M&T Bank, located at 6560 Fourth Section Road in Sweden. Deputies say a man entered the bank brandishing a gun, forced nearly everyone inside into a restroom, and then took two employees to the vault. The suspect stole $452,000 in cash, according to Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter. After the robbery, the man fled in a blue Honda Civic, which broke down minutes later on Lake Road near the intersection of Routes 18 and 19 in Hamlin. Around 40 minutes after the robbery, a concerned citizen called 911 after seeing a man wiping down and removing the license plates from the Civic, about seven miles south of the bank. A black SUV was also spotted nearby. Deputies quickly located two men and the black SUV in the Tops Plaza in Hamlin. They also recovered the stolen cash and other evidence linking them to the robbery, deputies said. Sheriff Baxter praised the deputies and the observant citizen who reported the suspicious activity. John Savage, 49, of Rochester, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree grand larceny, both felonies. The second man was released. 'This was a well-planned operation, except for the blue car,' said Investigator Sgt. David Bolton during a news conference. He added that neither suspect had an extensive criminal history, and the robbery did not appear to be part of any larger scheme. Deputies continue to investigate the case, having reviewed hundreds of hours of video footage. Additional charges are pending. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New details released in dramatic M&T Bank robbery in Sweden NY
