Woman's disrobing in public cuts recess short at St. Paul's school

The playground was busy last Monday until .... (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Last Monday, students at St. Paul's School were all outside enjoying an outdoors recess after lunch.

But the recess on this beautiful autumn afternoon day was cut short when a woman approached the front of the school and began stumbling around in front of the children, cursing and screaming as her pants fell down her leg.

Teachers and paraprofessionals quickly rushed the children - all enrolled in classes from kindergarten to fifth grade - back inside.

The longtime local transient won't be named in this story, though police and residents who frequent the downtown know her well.

She has been arrested seven times and summonsed three times on 18 charges that include four bench warrants since the start of the year, Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham confirmed on Thursday.

Pinkham said the police have done their part when it comes to enforcing typical offenses from those in the transient, homeless and mental health-challenged communities.

"We do our part," he said. "Then it's up to the courts and bail commissioners who work for the court."

The woman arrested in last Monday's incident was again released on no bail with an arraignment date of Oct. 26.

The same woman was summonsed on Oct. 1 for disorderly conduct when she, according to the Rochester Police log, reportedly "flipped out" on Academy Street.

On Sept. 29 the same woman was arrested for criminal trespass and criminal threatening after she is alleged to have been chasing people in the Wakefield Street Rite Aid pharmacy parking lot and in and out of traffic in the area.

Most of her arrests and summonses are for misdemeanors, including contempt, criminal mischief, criminal threatening and criminal trespass. Since the start of the year there has also been one simple assault and one robbery charge, too.

Pinkham noted that police do not set bail; that is done by bail commissioners.

He said there's little more that police can do, except make the arrest or deliver the summons.

Pinkham also said police do reach out to appropriate local nonprofits, probation and parole officials and Community Corrections in an effort to collaborate on possible options to help those that are struggling with various issues like mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness, or all of the above.

He said the effects of the pandemic can't be understated either as many of those agencies and nonprofits who seek to help have been hindered due to the lockdowns.

"They are at capacity with these issues; everyone's up against it," Pinkham added.