CITY OF LOCKPORT: Woman charged with lying about robbery

Crime

May 15, 2008

By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:amadona@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail April</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu May 15, 2008, 01:25 AM EDT

A Gasport woman has been charged with fabricating a robbery in order to cover up the fact that she spent bingo funds from the Hartland Volunteer Fire Co.

Lee A. Smith, 46, 7542 Ridge Road, was charged Tuesday afternoon with third-degree falsely reporting an incident.

Officers responded to the Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union on Stevens Street on Monday afternoon to investigate a report of a robbery.

Smith reportedly told police she went to the bank to deposit $8,560 for the Hartland Volunteer Fire Co..

The funds had been raised by bingo events at the fire hall. Smith is reportedly the bingo chairwoman for the fire hall and had been responsible for depositing the money.

Smith reportedly told police she arrived at the bank at about 3:30 p.m. and parked on Stevens Street instead of in the bank parking lot.

She said she was carrying the blue bank deposit bag in her right hand as she got out of her car, while closing her car door with her left hand, the report said.

Smith allegedly said at that moment, a man on a bicycle rode by her and grabbed the bag forcefully from her hand. She said he rode away west on Stevens Street, the report said.

She described the man as in his 20s, with tan skin, wearing a dark baseball cap, the report said.

Smith reportedly said she'd driven her car into the bank parking lot and gone inside the bank to call for help.

All available patrol units searched the area for the suspect.

Detective Lt. John Yotter said he interviewed Smith, and after an interrogation she admitted the story was not true.

“She admitted to me during interrogation that she made the whole thing up and she spent all the money,” Yotter said.

She reportedly said she was afraid to tell the fire company that she’d spent the money.

Smith was released on her own recognizance and pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lockport City Court. She is due again in court May 28.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

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Crime

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.

February 3, 2012
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.

February 2, 2012
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.

February 1, 2012
Police blotter items published Jan. 31, 2012
City of Lockport
CONTEMPT: Christopher Stokes, 25, 442 West Ave. was charged with second-degree harassment, third-degree criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child and first-degree criminal contempt Monday. According to the report, Stokes was involved in an argument Sunday with a woman. Stokes, who was allegedly intoxicated, threw a martini glass at the victim and picked up the child and began walking down West Avenue. The child was not wearing a coat and was in his pajamas. Stokes returned the child to the caller and fled the scene before the police arrived. Stokes was arrested Monday.

January 31, 2012
Police blotter items published Jan. 30, 2012
DWI: Kenneth Paul, 60, 1764 Hess Rd., Appleton was arrested Sunday and charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated, as well as equipment violations. According to the report, police had received notice from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office that a vehicle had gone into a ditch and the driver was possibly intoxicated. The vehicle being driven by Paul had heavy front end damage and matched the NCSO description. During a traffic stop, the responding officer spoke with the driver and observed an odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath, as well as observing a can of beer spilled on the floor of the vehicle. The vehicle’s front air bags had been deployed, but Paul appeared uninjured. He failed several field sobriety tests. He was arrested and is scheduled to appear in City Court at 9 a.m. Monday. Paul has an active arrest warrant from Wisconsin, however the state would not extradite him.

January 30, 2012
BLOTTER: Police reports published Jan. 29, 2012
January 29, 2012
BLOTTER: Police reports published Jan. 28, 2012
January 28, 2012
Police blotter items published Jan. 24, 2012
Petit larceny: Alicia T. Calderone, 31, 5452 Carlton Lake Drive, was charged with petit larceny and second-degree criminal contempt Monday. Calderone’s vehicle was stopped on Chestnut Street for an alleged equipment violation and the patrol officer determined she was the subject of active arrest warrants from City Court. Calderone is accused of petit larceny for allegedly passing a counterfeit $100 bill on Dec. 7, according to the police report. Calderone was arraigned in City Court.

January 24, 2012
Police blotter items published Jan. 23, 2012
BURGLARY: A Youngstown-Lockport Road woman told sheriff’s deputies that 24 to 30 pieces of crystal were missing from the china cabinet in the dining room. Nothing else appeared to be missing or out of place and there were no signs of forced entry.

January 23, 2012
Police blotter items published Jan. 22, 2012
MENACING: Marcus L. Webster, 27, 101 Vine St. was charged with third-degree menacing Friday. The police responded to Chestnut Street on Jan. 8. According to the report, Webster threatened to shoot up the house. Webster turned himself in at the Lockport Police Department on Friday.

January 23, 2012
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