Friday, November 22

Driver Arrested Under Leandra’s Law Near Elementary School in Wheatfield

(WNY News Now) – A morning incident at Errick Road Elementary School led to the arrest of a Niagara Falls woman under Leandra’s Law after staff alerted authorities of her alleged impairment.

WHEATFIELD, NY — On October 30, 2024, an intoxicated driver call led Niagara County Sheriff’s Office deputies to Errick Road Elementary School, where they arrested a 34-year-old woman under New York’s strict Leandra’s Law, which penalizes impaired driving with a child in the vehicle.

Savannah M. Ciocco, of Niagara Falls, reportedly dropped off a 5-year-old student at the school around 9:18 a.m. before school staff noticed signs of possible impairment and contacted 911. Responding deputies located Ciocco’s vehicle, which had mounted the sidewalk near the school entrance, raising further concern for safety. Field sobriety tests confirmed signs of impairment, leading to Ciocco’s immediate arrest on several felony and misdemeanor charges.

Ciocco faces charges including Aggravated Driving While Impaired by Drugs under Leandra’s Law, a felony, and another felony charge for driving while impaired with a prior conviction within the last ten years. She was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. Additionally, Ciocco was charged with petit larceny for allegedly removing an item from the school’s Halloween display.

Held at the Niagara County Correctional Facility, Ciocco awaits arraignment in CAP Court. The incident remains under investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office. As are all persons accused of a crime, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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