From the blotter / Niagara County police calls, June 7 to 16 June 7
• Joseph R. Kress, 23, of Waterman Street, Lockport, was charged by Lockport police with two counts of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance at 9:25 a. m. Police investigating a call of breaking glass found Kress’ front-door window shattered and Kress told police that he accidentally broke the window with a golf club. Further investigation by police found cocaine on the table and a prescription bottle with chunks of crack cocaine under a sofa cushion where Kress had been sitting, reports said. Police said they also confiscated $404 in rolled-up dollar bills and a smoking pipe that were found under the sofa.
• A small rubbish fire behind the Spallino Amigone Funeral Home on Pine Avenue caused minor damage, Niagara Falls police said. The 1:30 a. m. fire was confined to an alley area behind the business. No one was injured and no cause was determined.
• A wallet and about $60 worth of frozen food was stolen in an overnight burglary of a Lafayette Avenue home, Niagara Falls police said. A kitchen window screen was cut to gain entry.
• A 16-year-old boy suffered cuts and bruises to his head and chest when he was “stomped” by another man about 7 p. m. in the 1800 block of South Avenue, Niagara Falls police said. The victim, who refused to cooperate with police, was treated in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.
June 8
• An Amherst man with a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit was charged after a traffic stop by sheriff’s deputies at 3 a. m. in the 6200 block of South Transit Road in Lockport, according to reports. Bradley
J. Kunkle, 23, of Transit Road, was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation, drinking in a motor vehicle, and moving from a lane unsafely. Deputies said he failed all field sobriety tests, was found with a beer bottle in the cup holder and, when asked how many beers he had consumed, said, “A few.”
• A woman in the 2700 block of Alder Creek Drive, Wheatfield, told sheriff’s deputies that her cable wires were cut and her jewelry was scattered around her bedroom dresser and multiple pieces, valued at $1,100, were gone.
• An aluminum fishing boat, valued at $2,000, was reported stolen in Moyer’s Marina on Harbor Park in Wilson, sheriff’s deputies said. A man with tattoos and a beard was seen with the boat. The boat’s owners told deputies they were able to recover it, but the suspect fled on foot. Deputies later interviewed the suspect and he admitted taking the boat, but the boat owner did not press charges, instead asking that the suspect be asked to leave the area and not return.
• Daniel K. DeCarlo, 49, of Pine Street, Lockport, was charged by Lockport police with failure to keep right, failure to signal, driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation just after midnight in the 200 block of North Transit Street.
• Charges of driving while intoxicated, failure to signal a turn and no insurance were lodged against a Pasadena Avenue, Niagara Falls, man after he was stopped at 1:30 a. m., Niagara Falls police said. Nicholas P. Barrett, 20, was arrested in the 8300 block of Munson Avenue.
• Niagara Falls police located a stolen vehicle in the Whirlpool Street parking lot of the Aquarium of Niagara. The Connecticut-registered pickup truck had a broken steering column and was later returned to its owner, according to reports.
• Someone caused about $400 damage to the Pizza Hut restaurant on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls overnight by shoving wooden pieces and glue into the locks on the restaurant door and a shed behind the building, Niagara Falls police said. A locksmith was called to gain entry to the restaurant. Police said they are seeking to question a “disgruntled employee.”
• Close to $400 damage was done to the LaSalle Collision shop on Buffalo Avenue sometime overnight when someone kicked in a north side door, Niagara Falls police said. Nothing was stolen from inside.
June 9
• A North Avenue woman had her windshield shattered when a golf ball struck her Jeep Liberty just after 6 p. m. on Porter Road, Niagara Falls police said. The woman said she was driving by the Hyde Park Golf Course and was hit. The manager told police they do not assume liability, but would contact the driver if any golfer reports that they struck a car. The ball left a shatter imprint and the entire windshield will likely need to be replaced, police said.
• Tourists from Indiana told Niagara Falls police that their rental van was broken into just after 2 p. m. while parked at Buffalo Avenue and Main Street. Reported stolen was $4,000 worth of electronics, including cell phones and iPods, as well as a credit card, $400 worth of clothing and $200 cash.
• A Lancaster man said he parked his vehicle in a lot in the 6800 block of South Transit Road in Pendleton while watching a baseball game just before 9 p. m. and returned two hours later to find his window smashed. Sheriff’s deputies said a $1,100 computer and leather carrying case were stolen from the back seat.
June 10
• A Niagara Street woman told Niagara Falls police that she was injured after a man hit her and tried to force himself on her. The woman said the two had been watching television in his apartment on Friday and he got her in a bear hug and tried to kiss her. She said she tried to stop him and he struck her hard on her back, which caused internal bleeding for the past four days. She said she was able to push him off of her and leave. The woman said that on previous occasions, the man had grabbed her breast. She said she is fearful of the suspect because he was released in February as a Level 2 sex offender. An investigation was launched.
• A 17-year-old Lockport boy was charged with shoplifting by sheriff’s deputies just after 1 p. m. at Bon Ton on South Transit Road. The manager said the suspect put two pairs of sunglasses in his pocket, left and then ran over and threw the sunglasses in the Arby’s Dumpster. The sunglasses were valued at $60, deputies said.
June 11
• An apartment was ransacked in the 8300 block of State Street in Gasport and a collection of 53 Yankees baseball caps, valued at $1,000, and a $2,500 flat-panel television were stolen, according to sheriff’s deputies. The owner told deputies that he left at 9:30 a. m. and returned at 10 p. m. and found the front door forced open. He said also stolen were a VCR, cell phone, bottle of pills and gold chain.
• A homeowner in the 4700 block of Thrall Road in Cambria told sheriff’s deputies that a fruit stand, valued at $800, a $25 flower pot and an empty cash box were stolen overnight. The owner said the fruit stand was 5-by-8- feet high with white siding and a yellow roof.
• Frederick M. I. Greenwald, 28, of Paul Drive, Town of Niagara, was found with a bag of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, a tin of marijuana, scales and various smoking devices at 7:27 p. m., sheriff deputies said. Greenwald was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
June 12
• Niagara Falls narcotics officers said they charged a Fairfield Avenue man with drug possession and seized cash and drug-related equipment in a raid of the man’s home. Will N. Clark, 43, was charged with felony counts of second-and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after police found 5.3 ounces of crack cocaine at the scene, according to reports. A digital scale, a plate with cocaine residue and $1,703 in cash also were seized, police said.
• A man backing up at a high rate of speed the wrong way on a one-way street, Weston Avenue, was charged by Niagara Falls police with driving while intoxicated and driving the wrong way. Carl A. Zimmerman Jr., 29, of Ontario Avenue, was charged at 3:20 a. m. after police said he almost lost control of the vehicle. He was found with a small bag of powder cocaine in a sock at booking and additionally charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police reported. Police additionally charged him with no inspection and being an unlicensed driver. His DWI was increased to a felony charge for failure to take a breath test, police said.
• A fire caused by a problem with the electrical system caused Niagara Falls police officers and firefighters to evacuate the Inn on the River in the 7000 block of Buffalo Avenue. Investigators said the fire was reported just before 11 a. m. on the second level in the east side of the building. National Grid responded and cut the electricity and the fire was stopped, police said. No damage estimate was given.
• A 23-year-old Seventh Street woman said her boyfriend punched her in the face twice, choked her and pushed her up against a wall. Niagara Falls police advised the woman to seek an arrest warrant.
• Jane E. Parker, 44, of LaSalle Avenue, Niagara Falls, was charged with driving while intoxicated and following too closely by Niagara Falls police at 11th Street and Portage Road at 9:18 p. m. Parker was charged after her Ford Explorer rear-ended a woman driving a Mazda Protege, police said.
• Two tourists from Illinois said their rental van was broken into while parked in the 300 block of First Street in Niagara Falls, city police said. The tourists said six international passports, valued at $3,000, two U. S. passports and $800 cash were stolen.
• Kenneth J. Holmes, 23, of Ward Road, North Tonawanda, was charged by North Tonawanda police with disorderly conduct following a domestic dispute just before 7 p. m. on Brundage Avenue, according to reports.
• A North Tonawanda police call in the 700 block of Oliver Street just before midnight resulted in the arrest of two men at that address. Matthew V. Services, 21, and Todd M. Services, 40, were both charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. Matthew Services was additionally charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct.
• A California tourist told Niagara Falls police that a man pushed him from behind while he was walking just after midnight at Michael O’Laughlin Drive and Prospect Point and grabbed his camera bag, knocking him to the ground. The bag contained a $250 camera and a $400 Apple I-phone.
• A 71-year-old man had his son charged with trespassing when the son tried to move back into the house after being told not to and then, when he couldn’t get into the house, took up residence in a backyard shed on Joshua Lane in Wheatfield, sheriff’s deputies reported. Douglas M. Phillips, 43, was charged and released on his own recognizance.
• A Newfane man told sheriff’s deputies that the molding was pried off his car window while parked on Lockport- Olcott road. The 20-year-old man said he was parked at Burt Dam to fish between 2:43 and 5:43 p. m. A global positioning system, a police scanner, a carton of cigarettes, car stereo and $80 cash were reported stolen.
June 13
• Niagara Falls investigators said that unattended candles may have sparked a fire that damaged a home at 2793 McKoon Ave. about 8:27 p. m. No damage estimate was available.
• Michael L. Galbraith, 59, of 98th Street, Niagara Falls, was arrested after his car was stopped in the 7600 block of Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls police said. Police said Galbraith had several pills, including morphine, in his possession. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and failure to signal a turn.
• An operations manager for Delfingen on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield told sheriff’s deputies that a mig welder, valued at $920, was taken from the building. It had last been seen on a second-floor catwalk a week ago, the manager told deputies.
• Three juveniles, found out at 2 a. m. walking down Dogwood Place in the Town of Niagara, admitted to being involved in a burglary, said sheriff’s deputies. A deputy drove all three home and, after being questioned by parents, one admitted he had taken part in a burglary and they took a computer. The incident was turned over to investigators.
June 14
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Someone caused about $2,500 worth of damage to a 1996 Ford owned by a Ninth Street man, Niagara Falls police said. Sometime overnight, someone pounded dents into the entire body of the car, and also scratched words into the paint. The vehicle was parked in the lot near the victim’s apartment when it was damaged.
• Two children playing near the Dairy Queen store on Niagara Falls Boulevard found an air rifle and a BB rifle in a field near the DQ dumpster, Niagara Falls police said. The guns were confiscated by police and will be destroyed.
• Niagara Falls police charged a Linwood Avenue man with drug and weapons counts after stopping his car shortly before 8 p. m. Ralph D. Wallace, 49, was found to have crack cocaine, a knife and a shotgun in his possession, and was charged with seventh- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated unlicensed operation and two other traffic violations, police reported.
June 15
• Two cars were broken into outside a Fox Circle, Town of Lockport, home sometime between midnight and 6
a. m., sheriff’s deputies said. Both vehicles were unlocked at the time. Items stolen included compact discs, loose change and an iPod charger unit. Loss was set at $200.
• A Dysinger Road, Town of Lockport man told sheriff’s deputies that someone stole the battery covers from his Honda motorcycle sometime between 1:30 and 9 a. m. The thief also made an unsuccessful attempt to steal the vehicle’s mirrors. The battery covers were valued at $200.
• A Buffalo man’s car was broken into overnight while parked at the lot for the Seneca Niagara Casino Hotel, Niagara Falls police said. Police said that a wallet containing $700 and some credit cards was taken.
• Two vehicles were broken into in the early morning hours while parked in the 200 block of First Street, Niagara Falls, city police reported. A Lewiston woman said that about $9 in loose change, a wallet and some credit cards were taken from her vehicle. Another Lewiston resident reported that 20 compact discs, valued at $400, were stolen from her vehicle.
• A Lockport man was charged with felony criminal mischief after witnesses said they saw him damage a car, Lockport police said. John F. Apolito, 46, of Monroe Street, was stopped by police on Church Street just before 2 a. m., after witnesses told police they saw him slash a tire on a car in the driveway and leave. Police said all four tires were slashed and the car’s back door had visible knife marks and scratches.
June 16
• An $800 engine from an electric ladder with a ramp was reported stolen from a home in the 1900 block of Walnut Street, Niagara Falls police said. The contractor said he had been working on the house and said the equipment was rented. Only the engine was stolen, police said.
• Eugene V. Smith, 21, of Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, was charged with disorderly conduct at 12:40 p. m. at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority on Portage Road by Niagara Falls police. Police said they were questioning men held by Transit Police in connection with a bomb threat and said Smith became verbally abusive.
• A Niagara Falls police car, a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, was reportedly damaged during a hail storm at 1 p. m. in the 9300 block of Colvin Boulevard. The car had roof damage, police said.
