Rockland County, NY — Rockland County officials have issued 51 building and safety violations and assessed approximately $42,000 in penalties against the owner of a Spring Valley property following an inspection prompted by a police response to a child’s death at the residence.
The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes said the violations were identified at 18 White St., a property owned by Joel Friedman of Spring Valley. Inspectors were requested to examine the residence on Jan. 22 after the Spring Valley Police Department responded to a 911 call involving the death of a child at the location. Police said the child’s death and its cause remain under investigation. County officials emphasized there is no indication at this time that the condition of the building contributed to the child’s death.
According to the county, the property is certified as a two-family residence. Under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, one- and two-family homes are not subject to routine inspections. Officials said inspections may only occur when a complaint provides sufficient evidence to establish probable cause, consistent with constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.
County officials said police officers observed a converted garage and submitted a complaint that led to the inspection. It was the first inspection request the Office of Buildings and Codes has received for the property, and there is no record of prior violations.
During the inspection, officials determined that the second floor, garage and basement had been unlawfully converted for residential use, contrary to the building’s certificate of occupancy. Inspectors also found that areas deemed uninhabitable, including the basement and garage, were being occupied. County officials reported that garage doors and windows had been boarded up.
Additional violations cited included alterations made without required permits, unsafe electrical wiring, the use of hot plates and portable heaters, blocked or obstructed exits, combustible materials inside the structure, and missing or nonfunctioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building.
Officials said no children were present when inspectors arrived at the property.
County leaders also addressed social media claims suggesting the property was operating as a daycare. Officials said there was no exterior signage, licensing information or other visible evidence indicating the residence was being used as a childcare facility. They urged residents to report suspected illegal childcare operations or unsafe living conditions to authorities, noting that inspections of two-family homes can only occur when complaints are supported by substantial facts.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the case highlights the importance of reporting potential safety hazards. “The County can and will act decisively when violations are identified, but we depend on residents to report unsafe conditions—especially in properties that are not subject to routine inspections,” Day said in a statement.
Edward Markunas, director of the Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes, said the violations posed serious risks. “Unlawful conversions, blocked exits, unsafe electrical conditions and a lack of smoke and CO detectors put occupants at significant risk,” Markunas said.
The county said Child Protective Services is involved and continues to coordinate with law enforcement and other agencies as appropriate.
Rockland County officials encouraged residents to report building and code violations within the Village of Spring Valley to the Office of Buildings and Codes. Sanitary code violations may be reported to the Center for Rockland Codes Investigations, and unlicensed construction work may be reported to the county’s Office of Consumer Protection. The Rockland County Department of Health’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program also offers free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms to eligible residents.