Two cop cars crash, 3 injured. Two Lockport Police cars slammed into each other about 9:50PM, Wednesday, 5/3, at the intersection of Green and Prospect Streets. Police say both vehicles were responding to a call with their sirens on. The police were seeking to stop a driver of a vehicle a few blocks away who got away from an attempted police stop by yet a third officer. Injured and taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight was Lt. Douglas Haak, the driver of an unmarked car. The driver of the other police (marked) car was Officer Adam Piedmont who was rushed to LMH. A student passenger in one of the police cars was also injured. All three have subsequently been released from hospital care. According to police reports neither police car stopped at the intersection nor did the driver of either hear the siren of the other vehicle. Both police cars are out of service and may not be repaired. (5/6/06)
New law seeks to keep child sex offenders out of city. A "sex-offender buffer zone law" has been passed by the Lockport Common Council that will effectively keep those who have been convicted as level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living in the city. The law, believed unconstitutional by many in the legal community, prohibits those level offenders, even if they have fully served their sentences, from living within 1000 feet of a park, school, playground and the like. Because of the number of such locations in Lockport, it has been determined the new law effectively prevents the targeted sex offenders from living in the city. Those already here are allowed to stay, if they don't move. (4/11/06)
Raymond Townsend charged with murder. Police arrested the 39-year old man at his Park Avenue apartment on Saturday, April 8th, charging him with 2nd-degree murder of Robert Camarra (see story below). Townsend was also charged with 1st-degree burglary and 4th-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His new residence is the Niagara County Jail. Authorities indicate additional arrests of those who may have assisted Townsend after the killing is possible. They indicate motive as "a love triangle." (4/10/06)
Hotel Manager arrested. Michael J. Pieri, 25, of Mountainview Drive has been charged with grand larceny, forgery and possession of a forged instrument. He is the former General Manager of the Lockport Holiday Inn. Authorities claimed he deposited in his personal account a check for nearly $20,000 that was intended for the hotel accounts. (4/10/06)
Police seek killer of
West Avenue man. City police are probing many clues and have interviewed
over 20 persons in connection with the murder of 54-year old Robert J. Camarra on
Sunday. Camarra was found dead in his apartment at 438 West Avenue (Pictured)
Sunday evening, 3/29, a victim of "severe blunt force trauma." Police are
considering that he may have been killed by a beating with a baseball bat by a heavy-set
male. Camarra had an extensive police record. (3/21/06)
After arrest, Asst. Fire Chief gets 30-days paid vacation. Lockport City Assistant Fire Chief, Mark Devine has been granted a 30-day paid vacation by city officials while they "consider" his arrest on a multitude of charges. The 51-year old fireman was charged in late January with coercion, harassment and endangering the welfare of child. The charges are reported to stem from an incident with an reputed ex-girl friend and the woman's 3-year old daughter. City officials decline further comment on the matter. (2/7/06)
Hawley Street man charged with child sex crime. According to public papers, 44-year old Dale L. Goff was charged Thursday, 2/2, with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged victim is said to be five years old. Papers indicate that Mr. Goff is on record as a Level 3 Sex Offender. (2/3/06)
Employees shot in hold-up of Sunoco station on South Transit. The 55-year old owner and a young clerk, about 20, were shot Wednesday, 12/21 when a gunman attempted to rob the gasoline and convenience store at the corner of High Street and South Transit. Police say 43-year old Steven Smith of Checkered Tavern Road, Hartland, fled the scene about 6:30PM in a blue Ford Taurus. He was reportedly captured later in the night, hiding behind his house in the woods as multiple policemen moved in on him. There are reports he attempted to fire at officers hunting him down but his weapon failed. Both the employees fought with Smith, according to reports. Both victims were rushed to hospitals. They are expected to recover. Smith was jailed on charges of First Degree Robbery. (12/22/05) For details on the capture of Smith at his "arsenal" hide-a-way in Appleton, go to our Crime & Courts pictorial report.
Two desperados rob downtown M&T Bank. Police say two black males entered the M&T Bank at Walnut and Pine Streets late Friday morning, 12/9, and forced tellers to hand over a sum of money, the amount of which authorities declined to disclose, but is believed to be substantial. Customers and bank employees were terrorized, some breaking down in tears and sobs after the thugs left the building about 11:30AM. Reports indicate they fled on foot to a SUV parked in a lot a short distance away. They sped away in the vehicle and have not been captured. The FBI has been called in to help Lockport Police. (12/10/05) Update: Police staked out the Cheektowga home of 21-year old Marcus Crosby on Wednesday, 12/21 and then captured the man, charging him with the M&T Bank robbery. Shortly thereafter another, 21-year old Brandon R. Murray of Buffalo was apprehended (Murray is sentenced to 10 years in jail thereafter). 12/22/05 (updated 3/15/06)
Four charged in kidnapping-at-gunpoint. Four young Rochester men have now all entered a guilty plea to reduced charges in connection with the horrific summer kidnapping of a Caledonia Street man. Public papers indicate 38-year old Victor Johnson was hauled out of his home at gun-point on June 2nd as his children watched in horror. Johnson was reportedly thrown into a car and taken away for a fate not known. When his family called police, patrols intercepted a vehicle at Campbell Blvd. and Lockport Road with the men inside. The case has been stagnating in the Justice system ever since. Wednesday, court sources said the four men, all in their 20's agreed to a plea of "guilty" to Second Degree Burglary, a substantial reduction in charges. They await sentencing. (12/8/05)
Police capture hit & run driver. Lockport Police responded to several calls Tuesday night, 12/6, to the area of Vine and Chestnut where a hit and run driver drove off the street, rammed a utility pole and then sped away onto Vine before the vehicle, which has lost one wheel, came to a stop. Electric power was out to a block of Chestnut Street before NYSEG crews, responding to the scene, restored electric service. Eye-witnesses say a man and woman fled the scene in a taxi cab. Authorities recovered parts of a '89 blue Pontiac Grand Prix over an extensive area with the vehicle itself towed from near the corner of Union and Vine. The initial impact appears to have been on nearby Chestnut Street. After an investigation police were able to round up the suspects. Charges were still pending at our deadline. (12/7/05)
Sports violence at LHS causes Rotary Tournament closure. The annual Rotary Club basketball tournament at Lockport Senior High School was closed to the public on Saturday, 12/3, after violence broke out at the event Friday night. One Lockport teen was arrested after nearly fifty young people gathered around a brawl scene about 9PM at the Rotary Tip Off Tournament on Friday at Lockport High. 19-year old Kyle Pearson of Webb Street was charged with with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Over the weekend police were still seeking others who may have fled the scene. For fear of further violence public attendance at Saturday's championship game was barred. (12/5/05)
Bambi is shot, LPD is on the case. Sunday morning Lockportians were given an example of why hunters often get a bad reputation from property owners. One to three men went hunting within city limits, very much against the law and a danger to residents, at least some of whom called police. It took patrols more than a hour to track the hunters through snow out in the northwest sector of the city during which they were at risk of being shot at themselves. Police found one victim of the hunters, a deer, suffering a slow passing lying on the ground, after receiving two rounds and left to die. Eventually at least one of the men was apprehended, admitted slaying the deer, and is expected to reveal the identity of the other lawbreakers. (11/27/055
Giving the police a workout. Lockport City Police were repeatedly called to 146 Pine Street Thanksgiving evening to deal with what was reported to be "domestic problems" at one of the apartments. Several times the city didn't have an available unit to send since it was a very busy night. Finally the matter seemed to get at least temporary resolution by taking one of the parties involved for a possible stay at the Coconut Hotel. In other action. city units responded to reports of a man gone bonkers with a gun out on Northview Drive (County Sheriff's territory but as is often the case when fast response is needed, the city Boys in Blue get the call to be first on the scene), an assault in the 100 block of Genesee Street, and a Grand Larceny reported in the 100 block of Willow Street. In addition to criminal activity, police were involved with numerous traffic accidents and repeatedly called to The BrewHaus where intrusion alarms kept going off. (11/25/05)
Man charged with
electricity theft. Public papers indicate 27-year old Jason M. Monroe of 20
Outwater Drive (in picture) has been charged with Grand Larceny and Theft of
Services. It is alleged that he acquired about $3600 worth of NYSEG electricity by
using cables to by-pass a shut-off imposed by the electric company when they sought to
terminate his service for reportedly not paying about $3,040 in back charges.
(11/20/05)
Monday Night Fights: Lockport Police dealt with a near full-card of events Monday night, 11/21. Severe and multiple injuries were reported from a late night brawl which broke out in the area of 64 Outwater Drive. Several were taken to the hospital, others taken to jail. At the low end of Walnut Street, near Genesee, police investigated an attack on a victim that required medical attention. (11/22/05)
Buffalo man charged with rape of Lockport woman. Public papers indicate that William H. Harrison, 54, of Main Street, Buffalo has been charged with the rape of a Lockport woman in September. Authorities did not explain the more-than-two-month delay in his apprehension but it is suspected that Mr. Harrison was "not immediately available." Court proceedings against him are set to start Monday, 11/21. (11/19/05)
Crime District assualt. Police were called to the 400 block of Washburn Street early Saturday morning when an injured victim cried out for help and neighbors dialed 911. The suspect sped from the scene in what was described as a "red Ford Escort." He was not captured. (11/19/05)
Rumble at John Pound School. Police were called to John Pound School on High Street late Monday afternoon where a serious fight had broken out. School had been dismissed beforehand. Several juveniles were picked up and taken home to their parents. At least one was taken to the hospital. (11/8/05)
Boy comes home drunk. A Williams Street 14-year old reportedly arrived home early Saturday evening intoxicated. Sources tell the Lockport Home Page that the youth's mother called police. We're told hospital attention was given but a tight lid has gone down on all other details. (11/6/06)
Five escape after looting home. Five thieves are said to have broken into a vacant home at the corner of Gooding and Harwood Streets in Lockport early Saturday, 11/5 and to have made off with valuable home entertainment gear. They were seen fleeing the scene carrying their loot but police responding to the area were unable to locate them. Two of the group are believed to be female. (11/5/05)
Man beaten on Genesee. A man was reported viscously beaten along West Genesee Street early Saturday, 11/5, in the area of the Able Insurance Company. Police are looking for two thugs. The victim was taken to the hospital. (11/5/05)
Critics claim $3-million paid out to settle law suits against Sheriff's Office. Critics of Niagara County Sheriff Tom Beilein are reported in possession of documents claimed to show that over $3-million has been paid so far in settlements or judgements against Niagara County as a result of some 130 lawsuits against Beilein and/or his department. One source promised to provide the Lockport Home Page with copies of the documents that detail taxpayer costs for everything from claimed sex assaults on women to physical assaults on an elderly man. The documentation is possibly being gathered as ammunition for Beilein's opponent, Brian Grear, in the Niagara County Sheriff's election this November. (10/19/05)
$875 toilets proposed for jail inmates. Niagara County Sheriff Tom Beilein is also reported proposing the taxpayers foot the bill for a $30,000 "coffee urn," $60,000 for lush carpets, and another million for upgrade on the new "training center" built under his administration. This information came out in a report published October 12th by the Niagara Gazette.
10/12/05