Officials React to Leaked Food Pantry Surveillance Tape

Surveillance video allegedly showing six former Harrison town employees stealing from the local food pantry has been leaked to various media outlets, leaving the town questioning how and why the tapes were released days before the accused thieves are due to appear in court.

The video, which was compiled by police as evidence against Joseph Arcara, Jack Arcara, Adam Straface, Florence D’Imperio, William D’Imperio and Sherry Toplyn, shows the alleged thefts taking place from inside the pantry on Crotona Avenue. Police said after the arrests that they used video surveillance for more than a month to catch the employees stealing from the pantry.

Officials in town hall have denied having access to the tapes and say they have no knowledge as to who released them. The town board watched a powerpoint presentation of evidence during an executive session meeting on March 3, deciding to arrested for the thefts the following day. The tapes themselves were never in the board's possession, Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh said.

Footage from the tapes has been aired on News 12 and is available on the Journal News' website. Patch filed a Freedom of Information Request seeking access to the tapes, but that request was denied. A request seeking the identities of anyone with access to the tapes was also denied.

On Friday Walsh said the entire video is about 90 minutes long and that some of the newly released footage wasn't even viewed by the town board. She said the town board watched the tapes long enough for a "clear understanding of what happened."

"We finally said 'enough'," she said.

Paladino said Friday that along with defense attorneys, the Westchester County District Attorney's office was given copies of tapes. Walsh said she has asked for a complete list of who had access to them.

"Honestly, we have no idea, we certainly would like to know who it was, we are certainly not happy it was released," Paladino said

Walsh said during Thursday's town board meeting that she has asked the police department to investigate the matter and will speak to the district attorney's office. It is unknown at this time if whoever leaked the video would face criminal charges if identified.

"Nobody is willing to tell me, or anybody else, how the two television stations got them," Walsh said.

The Westchester County District Attorney's office would not comment on the matter to Patch, citing an open case. Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini declined to comment on the video or who has had access to it.

The six former town employees arrested for allegedly stealing from the food pantry are due in Harrison Court Tuesday morning. All have either resigned, retired or been fired from town employment since their arrests in February.

Florence D’Imperio and Joseph Arcara are charged with third degree burglary — a class D felony — in addition to misdemeanor petit larceny. Florence D’Imperio is also charged with misdemeanor official misconduct as well as eight counts of petit larceny.

Toplyn and Jack Arcara face five counts of petit larceny, William D’Imperio faces two counts and Straface faces a single count.

All six suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges during their arraignments on March 1. 

Editor's Note: It was originally stated in this article that the town board viewed the actual surveillance tapes before deciding to fire three of the alleged food pantry thieves. The board viewed a powerpoint presentation prepared by police, and never had possession of the actual tapes, according to Walsh. That has been clarified in this article.