Regional Briefs – September 26, 2016

Motel Owner Admits Stealing Sandy Relief Funds

TOMS RIVER, N.J. – A motel owner pleaded guilty Monday to stealing $81,567 in FEMA relief funds by falsely claiming he had sheltered Sandy victims, The Associated Press reported. Sandipkumar Patel, who owns the American Motel, faces three years in state prison.

Passing Vessel Helps Save Eight From Burning Boat

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. – A passing boat rescued eight people from a burning boat Sunday several miles off the coast, The Associated Press reported. The Coast Guard received a distress call that a 40-foot recreational boat was ablaze. By the time they arrived a boater already took them in. The boat sank.

Plastics Plant Sued Over Chemical in Drinking Water

ALBANY – Four residents of Rensselaer County filed a lawsuit against a plastics maker, claiming it knowingly polluted well water with a toxic chemical used in Teflon coatings, The Associated Press reported. The lawsuit seeks from Taconic Plastics damages, health monitoring and permanent filtering.

Florida-Bound Airliner Makes Emergency Landing

BUFFALO – A Florida-bound Spirit Airlines jet with 142 people aboard made an emergency landing in Buffalo Airport Monday after mechanical problems, The Associated Press reported. The problem turned out to be a flameout, when an engine suddenly stops working.

Boy, 12, Arrested for Fire That Killed Siblings

SYRACUSE – A 12-year-old boy charged with arson and second-degree manslaughter for setting paper on fire in his home, igniting a blaze that killed his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister, the Post-Standard reported. The boy hadn’t intended to hurt anyone but Vinroy Jr. and Chyna Baddal died.