Operation Overexposed Cracksdown on Sexual Encounters at Saxon Woods

Editor's Note: What follows is user-generated news. If you would like to post your news to Patch, click here for detailed instructions. The following is a press release from the Westhester County Police

Westchester County Police in recent months have arrested 16 persons on public lewdness and forcible touching charges as part of a crackdown on illegal sexual activity in a section of Saxon Woods Park in nearby White Plains.

During its investigation, county police determined that various websites, message boards and social networking sites were being used to identify the park in White Plains as a location for voyeurism and anonymous sexual encounters.  Persons arrested as part of Operation Overexposed live in Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan and Fairfield County, Conn.

“This activity was reduced, but not eliminated despite the arrests we were making,” Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth said.

“We are going public with Operation Overexposed in the hope that it will be a further deterrent. If you come to Saxon Woods Park for this purpose, you will be arrested and your name will be released to the media.”

Operation Overexposed was initiated by Westchester County Police in response to complaints from parks patrons about suspicious persons and activity near a picnic area and restroom building near Mamaroneck Avenue in the northern end of the park. Detectives developed information from interviews, websites, blogs and social media about when and how voyeurism and anonymous sex encounters would take place inside the park. 

In May and June, detectives from the General Investigations Unit made several arrests inside the park. The uniformed members of the Patrol Services Division increased patrols in the park and also conducted a variety of undercover operations in July, August and September, leading to multiple arrests each time.

Some persons arrested were taken into custody after officers observed them involved in illegal activity. On other occasions, persons who were arrested exposed themselves to or groped undercover officers who went into a restroom at the park.

     The following are the 16 individuals who have been charged since July.

• Carmelo Ciccone, 37, of White Plains was charged with Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor, on July 15.
• George Klitch, 61, of Stamford, Conn., was charged with Public Lewdness and Unlawful Possession of marijuana, a violation, on Aug. 19.
• Joseph Teeven, 50, of White Plains was charged with Forcible Touching and Public Lewdness on Aug. 24.
• Ricardo Norena, 42, of Larchmont was charged with Forcible Touching on Aug. 24.
• Thomas Cawley, 73, of Greenwich, Conn., was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 24.
• Jesse Soto, 41, of Manhattan was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 25.
• Emilio Salbati, 53, of Port Chester was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 25.
• Ira Cohen, 67, of Hartsdale was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 25.
• Alfred Vachris III, 42, of Manhattan was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 26.
• Joseph Fraioli, 69, of White Plains was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 26.
• Richard Dippolito, 64, of White Plains was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 26.
• Stanley Shapiro, 63, of the Bronx was charged with Forcible Touching on Aug. 26.
• Paul Dziuma, 60, of the Bronx was charged with Public Lewdness on Aug. 26.
• Philip Fiumefreddo, 75, of the Bronx was charged with Forcible Touching and Public Lewdness on Aug. 26.
• Martin Wesley, 45, of White Plains was charged with Public Lewdness on Sept. 30.
• Roberto Silva, 49, of New Rochelle was charged with Public Lewdness on Sept. 30.

“We will not tolerate this kind of activity in any county park,” Longworth said. “We will continue to utilize uniformed patrols and undercover operations to eradicate this problem.”