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State Police raid Rochester mayor's home

Max Schulte / WXXI News
New York State Police at the Woodman Park home of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren early Wednesday evening.

State Police conducted a criminal investigation Wednesday evening at the home of Mayor Lovely Warren.Troopers cordoned off the house at 93 Woodman Park, where Warren resides with her husband, Timothy Granison, and their daughter, around 4:30 p.m. and rerouted motor vehicle traffic for more than two hours before removing the tape shortly before 7 p.m..

Major Barry Chase addressed reporters at the scene as the tape came down.

"We're conducting a criminal investigation at 93 Woodman Park in the city of Rochester," Chase said. "I will confirm that it is the residence of city of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and it's an ongoing investigation. We'll have more for you as soon as we can."

During the investigation, state troopers could be seen removing items from her home, specifically a blue plastic container and several black bags.

Justin Roj, the mayor's spokesperson, released a brief statement at 6:55 p.m. that read: "The mayor is just learning about the events that unfolded this afternoon and has no more information than the rest of the community. She hopes to learn more details this evening and will have a statement tomorrow.”

Warren is in the midst of running for a third term in office and is facing a challenge from City Councilmember Malik Evans for the Democratic ticket in the primary elections scheduled for June 22.

She is currently under indictment on felony campaign fraud charges. That case is pending in state court. The Associated Press reported that  a representative for the Monroe County District Attorney said Wednesday’s police activity at Warren's home was not connected to that case.

The Democrat and Chronicle reportedlate Wednesday that the mayor's husband, Timothy Granison, was the focus of the search, citing two unnamed "high-level sources." CITY confirmed Thursday morning that the mayor's husband was the target of the raid and that he was scheduled to be arraigned on felony drug and weapons charges at 9:30 a.m.

Credit Max Schulte / WXXI News
State Police work outside the home of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren Wednesday afternoon.

Mel Brooks, a neighbor of Warren's on Woodman Park, expressed shock and sadness as the events unfolded and suggested that her husband was the target of the investigation.

"I kind of wish it wasn’t the mayor’s house," Brooks said. "The things that have been going on and with her husband and whatnot being in trouble.”

Granison has a criminal past, something that the mayor has been open about during her years in politics and used to illustrate how people can find redemption and a second chance in life.

He pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery in 1997 and was sentenced to five years of probation for his role in a gun-point robbery of The Source jewelry store in Rochester on West Ridge Road in March of that year.

Granison was 18 at the time and was caught, along with two accomplices who were said to have "terrorized customers," as he was driving the getaway car. The accomplices, Joseph Cotrell and Zachary Holmes, were convicted and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and 25 years in prison, respectively.

Warren had been scheduled to be interviewed by phone by CITY at 5:15 p.m. for an upcoming story on the mayoral race.

Her campaign manager, Wandah Gibbs, called the reporter a few minutes before the agreed upon time, informing him that she was working to get the mayor on the line.

The phone went dead, but Gibbs called back moments later and said something had come up and that she would try to reschedule.

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