Police officers at press time were interviewing witnesses and pursuing leads after an armed robbery around 9 p.m. at the Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant at 494 West Ave., according to Lockport Police Chief Lawrence Eggert.
He said several people were detained for questioning in the crime.
According to witnesses in the North End, police cars swarmed the city in pursuit of the suspects, who apparently shot a window at the restaurant. Eggert said they made off with an undetermined amount of cash.
“Three people walked into the KFC, displayed guns and committed an armed robbery,” Eggert said.
Police spotted a suspicious car down the street, and Lockport Police Lt. Brian Wentland was rammed by the vehicle and was pinned between his car and the car door, Eggert said. Wentland was treated and released for upper body injuries at Eastern Niagara Hospital-Lockport, the police chief said.
Police chased the suspect vehicle, then the car was abandoned during the chase, as the suspects began fleeing on foot, Eggert said.
The robbers apparently climbed a fence at a house on Prentice Street, and dumped some cash in the backyard, according to scanner information and witnesses in the neighborhood who called the US&J; newsroom.
A helicopter was called in, and K-9 units were employed to track the suspects, who were believed to have three guns. One, a black pellet gun, was recovered before 11 p.m., according to police radio reports.
Police had set up a perimeter in the area of Washington, Hawley, Prentice and North Transit streets.
Eggert was pleased with the police work that followed the robbery, “It’s been a pretty good investigation so far,” he said. “Right now, we’re just trying to follow up on the leads we have.”
Crime
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ALBERT McCRACKEN JR./CONTRIBUTOR
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ALBERT McCRACKEN JR./CONTRIBUTOR
CITY OF LOCKPORT: Trio of armed robbers hits KFC
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Police blotter items published Feb. 10, 2012
CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION: Terry L. Wilson, 33, 15 Grove St., Buffalo, was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, criminal impersonation and operating a motor vehicle with obstructed vision Wednesday. The sheriff’s patrol observed a vehicle pull into the lot of the Niagara County Jail with the driver’s view obstructed at 1:39 p.m. According to the report, Wilson stated that he was there to visit his girlfriend. He said he did not have his license on him and identified himself as Terrell N. Wilson. The driver’s license check showed Terrell Wilson to be suspended. The suspect was searched and the driver identified as Terry L. Wilson. The driver stated that he was Terry and knew his license was suspended that’s why he gave his brother’s name. He did not know his brother Terrell was also suspended. Terry stated that he was going to have to call his other girlfriend to bail him out and that she would now know why he was at jail — visiting a different girlfriend. He was turned over to the Niagara County Jail on $500 bail.
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Police seek trio of would-be ring thieves
Lockport Police are seeking three suspects allegedly involved in the attempted theft of a $2,650 ring from Mills Jewelers on Saturday.
According to the police report, two African American males and a female entered the store at about 2 p.m. and created distractions to separate the staff and to get valuable jewels on top of the counters from within the secured cases. After being in the store for about 25 minutes, one of the male suspects along with the female suspect cut a security cable holding a ring. -
Police blotter items published Feb. 9, 2012
CHARGED: Heidi L. Marciszewski, 30, 8688 Lake Road, Barker was charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 on Wednesday. The sheriff’s patrol responded to the parking lot of Dollar Tree on South Transit Road for an unattended vehicle with a young child in it at 11:23 a.m. According to the report, the patrol saw Marciszewski enter the vehicle. There was 2-year old boy in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle. Marciszewski was issued an appearance ticket and released.
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Pair charged after disturbance
Two Lockport men were charged after a disturbance on South Street at 4:35 a.m. Tuesday.
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Police blotter items published Feb. 7, 2012
MENACING: Joel S. Zsebehazy, 28. 92 Gabriel Dr. Apt. A was charged with third-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal mischief Monday. The police responded to Gabriel Drive at 1:46 a.m. for the report of a domestic incident. According to the report, the victim said Zsebehazy threw a chair at her during a verbal dispute.
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Police blotter items published Feb. 6, 2012
Lockport Police are investigating the stabbing of a man at a Lockport nightclub that occurred early Sunday morning.
According to the report, Police patrolling in the Heath Street area heard three or four gunshots come from inside of the Casa Montego Nightclub, 37 Heath St., at around 3:11 a.m. Sunday. They called for back-up and observed screaming patrons fleeing the club.
After Niagara County Sheriff’s Officers and DSP arrived, police were able to secure the scene. Officers entered the club and discovered that a male had been stabbed. There was a large amount of blood observed on the floor and a bullet hole in the ceiling.
The victim was treated at Eastern Niagara Hospital for a laceration to his left cheek and transferred to ECMC with non-life threatening injuries. He told police in a verbal statement that an unknown person came up from behind him and cut him with an unknown object. However, he refused to sign a written statement.
The investigation has revealed that a fight broke out inside of the bar and at least one gunshot was fired inside. Statements were taken from two security guards, whose handguns were secured and placed into evidence.
At this time, it is unknown who fired the weapon or if there are any gunshot victims. Notifications were made to several local hospitals to be on the look out for gunshot victims. -
Police blotter items published Feb. 5, 2012
POSSESSION: Lacey L. Benben, 32, 1363 Church St., Basom, was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Friday for criminal possession of a hypodermic needle and several traffic violations following a traffic stop. According to the report, patrol observed a car driven by Benben traveling southbound on South Transit Street and a NYSPIN check showed the vehicle had not been insured since Feb. 2011. The vehicle was found to be unregistered, uninsured, had improper license plates and a red piece of paper with white paint was in place of the inspection sticker. Benben, who is scheduled to appear Wednesday in City Court, was taken into custody. While the vehicle was being inventoried, police discovered a hypodermic needle in the driver’s wallet. The license plates were removed from the vehicle, which was towed.
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Police blotter item published Feb. 3, 2012
City of Lockport
VANDALISM: Lockport City Police reported Thursday a stop sign had the word "bloodz" painted on it sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The sign is located at Hawley Street and Park Avenue on the south side. No suspicious individuals were found in the area, the report said. -
Police blotter items published Feb. 2, 2012
ASSAULT: Julio C. Pimental, 27, 514 Prospect St. was charged with third-degree assault Wednesday. The police responded to the corner of Green and Hawley Streets at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday for the report of a fight. According to the report, Pimental approached the victim and hit the victim several times in the jaw and with a closed fist. The victim covered his head and Pimental allegedly struck the victim with his knee until people began yelling. Pimental ran on Hawley Street. The victim named his attacker as “Julio” and described him to police. Pimental responded to the Lockport Police Department and was arrested without incident at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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Police blotter items published Feb. 1, 2012
HARASSMENT: Christina M. Vendetta, 18, 2323 Lockport-Olcott Road, Newfane was charged with second-degree harassment Monday. According to the report, a woman stated she received a threatening Facebook message from Vendetta last Thursday. A copy of the message was given to the police who began an investigation. Vendetta turned herself in Monday and was booked.
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Police blotter items published Feb. 10, 2012
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