Niagara Falls Police Blotter
GRAFFITI: A Fairfield Avenue resident confronted by police for spraypainting the street and curbs on Highland Avenue at about 11:43 a.m. Friday said he worked for “811” and was setting up for a block party scheduled for July 5. He spraypainted the street and sidewalk with random Xs, “slow down” and “get off your phone.” Damages were estimated at $5,000. He was charged with criminal mischief and making graffiti.
NEIGHBOR DISPUTE: An argument between neighbors over loud music and fireworks on Fairfield Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4 ended with charges of harassment and menacing for an allegedly intoxicated man who said “I will kill you all and bury you under my pot plants in the backyard.” The aggressor, coming toward the victim was informed the homeowner would draw a weapon if he continued to advance. Indeed, the drunk man, confronted by the neighbor’s legally registered .45 caliber Springfield pistol drawn center mass, retreated to his home and called police. Numerous witnesses, including a relative of the suspect blamed him for being the aggressor. The relative suggested the drunk would continue to escalate the confrontation unless he was arrested. The gunowner asked for an order of protection. The drunk was cuffed and taken away from the scene.
PETIT LARCENY: At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, police tracked down a shoplifter who had taken Clorox wipes and disposable handwipes from Portage Road Family Dollar without paying. The items were valued at $55.26. The homeless suspect was charged with petit larceny and trespassed from all Family Dollar stores.
TRAFFIC STOP ESCALATES: At 9:10 a.m. Monday morning, an officer observed a Kia confirmed by radar to be traveling 54 mph on Niagara Falls Boulevard and executed a traffic stop. The driver asked “why did you pull me over? I don’t want to talk to you” and it escalated from there with the suspect refusing to provide his license and registration and refusing to cooperate becoming irate and refusing to exit the vehicle. The officer attempted to extract the suspect from the car. As the suspect continued to resist, the officer drew his Taser and ordered compliance. Alas, the suspect complied. In addition to the speeding ticket, the suspect received charges of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
PETIT LARCENY: Police were called to Tops Niagara Falls Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. Monday where a Grand Avenue resident was charged with petit larceny for taking items valued at $95.75 without paying.
PETIT LARCENY: A Lockport man allegedly attempted to take a Four Loco from Mario’s on Pine Avenue at about 8:50 p.m. Monday. The suspect put the Four Loco in his waistband and, when asked to remove it, claimed it was a gun. Employees called police and locked the suspect inside the store. Police took him into custody but he gave a false name. He also refused to be fingerprinted or photographed. The suspect was charged with petit larceny and criminal impersonation.
CRACK PIPE ASSAULT: Police were called to a Whitney Avenue address at about midnight Tuesday where a recently evicted tenant had returned to the address and was confronted by someone representing the landlord. The tenant grabbed and broke the man’s gold chain and cut him with a crack pipe. She was charged with 2nd degree assault and criminal mischief.
FREQUENT FLYER: An aggressive panhandler arrested multiple times in recent weeks took his act to the Coastal station on 19th Street at about 10:30 a.m. last Wednesday. The suspect was charged with trespassing and taken into custody.
AGAIN: At about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the same suspect was observed sitting adjacent to the McDonald’s drivethrough preparing to hassle patrons. Police took him into custody on a charge of trespassing as he had been previously banned.
ONE MORE TIME: 9 a.m. Friday, the same suspect was back at McDonald’s again sleeping and refusing to leave. He was trespassed back on June 20. Police ticketed him yet again.
SQUATTER: A woman reported she gave a security deposit and rent to a Ferry Avenue landlord and, when she attempted to move in, found a man squatting there with a dog, mattress and food and trash everywhere. The squatter fled but was located nearby and given a ticket for trespassing as well as an order of protection banning him from contact with the tenant.
TRESPASSING: A Center Street man was busted looking in cars in the secure police parking lot at about 7:50 p.m. last Wednesday and was charged with criminal trespass and transported to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
ASSAULT: A neighbor dispute happened between two tenants at about 4:45 a.m. Friday and ended with one beating the other and spraying him with pepper spray. The alleged aggressor was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and assault.