This Week in Stupid Crime

Niagara Falls Reporter

This Week in Stupid Crime

By Mike Hudson

Third Street armed robbery

It was around 5:45 on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 23, when a guy wearing what he claimed was $27,000 worth of gold jewelry exited the Icehouse bar on Third Street following an after-hours party.
The guy stopped briefly to talk to a female reveler that chilly morning, then proceeded to his vehicle, which was parked in the lot south of 467 Third Street. He had the uneasy sensation he was being tailed. It turned out his hunch was correct. When he got to his car he was confronted by two black males.
The lighter skinned suspect grabbed him by the jacket with both hands and demanded he give up his gold chain. The victim refused, and the second suspect pulled a pistol.
Relieved of his bling, the victim called the cops, who are looking for suspects in the case.

*****

Robbery on Main Street

Later that Sunday, a 19-year-old woman was walking down Main Street near the Post Office, minding her own business and listening to music on her headphones, when she was accosted from behind by a black male who punched her in the back of the head and attempted to make off with her headphones.
The victim struggled and the headphones were broken in the process. The suspect then grabbed her wallet, a white leather number with the word "Swag" emblazoned on it, and ran off down the alley behind the Post Office, the victim told cops.
The wallet contained a credit card, an endorsed check, and the victim's driver's license. There are no suspects at this time.

*****

Burglary, resisting arrest

Officers responding to an alarm at Lotus Farms, 1500 Main Street, shortly after midnight on Monday arrived to find the store's front window smashed and Jonathan James Michelson, 18, (no permanent address) crouched in some bushes nearby.
When the cops ordered Michelson out of the bushes, he bolted and headed down Willow Avenue, beginning a foot chase that ended when he tripped over a snow bank.
Once down, Michelson no longer resisted. Cops found a book bag containing a crowbar near the smashed store window and a pair of wire cutters Michelson had apparently used to cut some wires leading into the store, wires he no doubt believed controlled the alarm system.
Boy was he ever wrong!
Police took him to jail, where he was booked on charges of attempted burglary, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

*****

Domestic gone bad

Twenty-four-year-old Brittney Vaughn of Livingstone Avenue was charged with assault, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance following an altercation at her home on Saturday.
Police said a verbal altercation began when Vaughn accused the female victim, who had spent the night at the home, of sleeping with her stepfather. Vaughn punched the woman in the eye, damaging her glasses and causing minor cuts and bruises.
Asked whether she had in fact struck the victim, Vaughn told cops, "What did you expect me to do? She slept with my dad."
Vaughn was placed under arrest and taken to the city jail. While being searched there, a plastic baggie was found in her bra that contained three MS30 morphine tablets. She had no prescription for the pills. Additional charges were filed.

*****

Independence Avenue burglary

An Independence Avenue man left his house around noon Saturday and returned around six o'clock to find it ransacked. A total of approximately $4,000 in property was taken, including Invicta and Rolex watches, a large screen television set, a computer, and a large glass jar containing about $400 in loose change.
Police said pry marks on the front door indicated the burglars' likely means of entry into the locked house.

Independence Avenue prooves that no area is independent from the criminal element running roughshod over our community.

*****

A little bit too fit

LA Fitness on Niagara Falls Boulevard was the scene of an altercation resulting from a basketball game.
A group of youngsters were playing a pickup game when one fouled another and the fouled player took umbrage and socked the fouler in the eye.
The fouler then issued a threat.
"Where are you going? My people will be here with a gun pretty soon to shoot you," he said.
The two left the gym and the guy who got hit tried to hit the other guy with his automobile in the parking lot.
Threats went back and forth, cars were kicked, and by the time the cops showed up the whole thing was pretty much a mess.
The manager of LA Fitness described the incident as "kid trouble." Two young men were arrested, and nobody's name is available because they were all juveniles.

*****

Bunch of charges

William Andrew Reilley, 29, of 455 1/2 Fifth Street, was arrested by city cops on a number of charges including burglary, grand larceny, criminal contempt, menacing and criminal mischief, following an incident last week.
According to reports, Reilly broke into several vehicles parked along 18th Street, threatened people, and stole numerous items during a late week rampage.
"Wallets, clothes, books or ladies makeup, it didn't matter to Reilly, who stole with abandon," police said.

This Week in Stupid Crime By Mike Hudson
Third Street armed robbery It was around 5:45 on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 23, when a guy wearing what he claimed was $27,000 worth of gold jewelry exited the Icehouse bar on Third Street following an after-hours party. The guy stopped briefly to talk to a female reveler that chilly morning, then proceeded to his vehicle, which was parked in the lot south of 467 Third Street. He had the uneasy sensation he was being tailed. It turned out his hunch was correct. When he got to his car he was confronted by two black males. The lighter skinned suspect grabbed him by the jacket with both hands and demanded he give up his gold chain. The victim refused, and the second suspect pulled a pistol. Relieved of his bling, the victim called the cops, who are looking for suspects in the case. *** Robbery on Main Street Later that Sunday, a 19-year-old woman was walking down Main Street near the Post Office, minding her own business and listening to music on her headphones, when she was accosted from behind by a black male who punched her in the back of the head and attempted to make off with her headphones. The victim struggled and the headphones were broken in the process. The suspect then grabbed her wallet, a white leather number with the word "Swag" emblazoned on it, and ran off down the alley behind the Post Office, the victim told cops. The wallet contained a credit card, an endorsed check, and the victim's driver's license. There are no suspects at this time. * Burglary, resisting arrest Officers responding to an alarm at Lotus Farms, 1500 Main Street, shortly after midnight on Monday arrived to find the store's front window smashed and Jonathan James Michelson, 18, (no permanent address) crouched in some bushes nearby. When the cops ordered Michelson out of the bushes, he bolted and headed down Willow Avenue, beginning a foot chase that ended when he tripped over a snow bank. Once down, Michelson no longer resisted. Cops found a book bag containing a crowbar near the smashed store window and a pair of wire cutters Michelson had apparently used to cut some wires leading into the store, wires he no doubt believed controlled the alarm system. Boy was he ever wrong! Police took him to jail, where he was booked on charges of attempted burglary, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. * Domestic gone bad Twenty-four-year-old Brittney Vaughn of Livingstone Avenue was charged with assault, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance following an altercation at her home on Saturday. Police said a verbal altercation began when Vaughn accused the female victim, who had spent the night at the home, of sleeping with her stepfather. Vaughn punched the woman in the eye, damaging her glasses and causing minor cuts and bruises. Asked whether she had in fact struck the victim, Vaughn told cops, "What did you expect me to do? She slept with my dad." Vaughn was placed under arrest and taken to the city jail. While being searched there, a plastic baggie was found in her bra that contained three MS30 morphine tablets. She had no prescription for the pills. Additional charges were filed. * Independence Avenue burglary An Independence Avenue man left his house around noon Saturday and returned around six o'clock to find it ransacked. A total of approximately $4,000 in property was taken, including Invicta and Rolex watches, a large screen television set, a computer, and a large glass jar containing about $400 in loose change. Police said pry marks on the front door indicated the burglars' likely means of entry into the locked house. Independence Avenue prooves that no area is independent from the criminal element running roughshod over our community. * A little bit too fit LA Fitness on Niagara Falls Boulevard was the scene of an altercation resulting from a basketball game. A group of youngsters were playing a pickup game when one fouled another and the fouled player took umbrage and socked the fouler in the eye. The fouler then issued a threat. "Where are you going? My people will be here with a gun pretty soon to shoot you," he said. The two left the gym and the guy who got hit tried to hit the other guy with his automobile in the parking lot. Threats went back and forth, cars were kicked, and by the time the cops showed up the whole thing was pretty much a mess. The manager of LA Fitness described the incident as "kid trouble." Two young men were arrested, and nobody's name is available because they were all juveniles. * Bunch of charges** William Andrew Reilley, 29, of 455 1/2 Fifth Street, was arrested by city cops on a number of charges including burglary, grand larceny, criminal contempt, menacing and criminal mischief, following an incident last week. According to reports, Reilly broke into several vehicles parked along 18th Street, threatened people, and stole numerous items during a late week rampage. "Wallets, clothes, books or ladies makeup, it didn't matter to Reilly, who stole with abandon," police said.

Niagara Falls Reporter - Publisher Frank Parlato Jr. www.niagarafallsreporter.com
Feb 25, 2014