Phony $20 Bills; Restaurant Owner Arrested Again

Here's a look at some of this week's top police and fire news from Patch sites across the Hudson Valley. 

Death at Train Station Parking Lot: Man Committed Suicide, Officials Say
Officials released the identity of the 41-year-old Somers man who was found in a burning Chevy Taho in the parking lot at Purdy's Train Station Feb. 9. An autopsy reveled that David Mahoney died of burns and inhalation of smoke containing carbon monoxide. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Click the headline above for the full story.


Mahopac Restaurant Owner Faces New Sexual Misconduct Charges
Lani Zaimi, a 44-year-old Mahopac resident and restaurant owner who was charged about six months ago with raping an 18-year-old, is facing new accusations of sexual misconduct.
Members of the Carmel Police Department arrested Zaimi—also known as Ariano—Tuesday. He reportedly had "unsolicited sexual contact" with the victim, a female employee.
"The alleged acts, which occurred on Nov. 30, 2012 and Jan. 29, 2014, respectively, took place at a commercial building owned by Mr. Zaimi and one of his restaurants, both located in downtown Mahopac," police said in a statement. 
Zaimi was charged this week with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, as well as forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse, misdemeanors. Following arraignment before Judge Joseph Spofford, he was sent to the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $150,000 cash or $250,000 bond bail pending a future court appearance.
The charges previously lodged against Zaimi stem from a July 2013 incident. He is accused of serving that victim alcohol at his Gleneida Avenue restaurant, Ariano's II, in Carmel before transporting her to Ariano's on Clark Place in Mahopac and sexually assaulting her.


Trail of Bogus Bills Leads 3 to Clarkstown Lockup
Three Brooklyn residents are facing charges in connection with the use of phony $20 bills in Rockland County. One is accused of using the counterfeit money when he attempted to purchase a vacuum cleaner at the Target store in the Palisades Mall. The other two used the bills to buy food at Wendy's before showing up at the police station to see their friend, authorities said. Click the headline above for the full story.