NIAGARA FALLS: Bank robbery suspect caught red handed — literally » Crime

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November 25, 2009

NIAGARA FALLS: Bank robbery suspect caught red handed — literally

By Rick Pfeiffer<br><a href="mailto:rick.pfeiffer@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Rick</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Wed Nov 25, 2009, 12:51 AM EST

NIAGARA FALLS — An out-of-town bank robber didn’t get far on Tuesday after trying to make his getaway in a car filled with smoke from an exploding dye pack, police said.

Falls cops said the getaway was also apparently complicated by the would-be robber not knowing his way around the Cataract City.

“He was lost and couldn’t figure out how to get back to Buffalo,” Falls Police Detective Capt. Ernest Palmer said. “So he was apparently driving around the South End before he found his way onto the (Robert Moses) Parkway.”

Once the suspect was on the parkway, Palmer said New York State Park Police quickly caught up with David Anderson. After pulling Anderson over, the suspect bolted from his car and led Park and Falls police on a chase around the water intakes before finally being taken into custody.

“It was just great work by the (Park Police) Sgt. (John) Mikula,” Palmer said. “He was chasing (Anderson) and realized he might get back to his car and got between him and the vehicle until one of our guys was able to get there to help out.”

Anderson, 32, 78 Keystone St., Buffalo, was charged with third-degree robbery. He is expected to be arraigned in Falls City Court later today.

Detectives said Anderson entered the M&T; Bank branch in the 700 block of Main Street just after noon Tuesday and handed a note to a teller.

“The note said, ‘Give me all the money or I’ll shoot,’ ” Palmer said.

The detective chief said Anderson did not display a weapon and fled from the bank after the teller gave him a bundle of $50 and $20 dollar bills and a two red dye packs.

“Just prior to (Anderson) getting in Chevrolet Lumina with a magnetic ribbon on the back, a witness told us he saw the dye packs explode in (Anderson’s) hands,” Palmer said. “(Anderson) got in and the vehicle filled with smoke. The witness said he couldn’t believe (Anderson) was driving it.”

As he sped away from the bank, Anderson became lost and began weave his way through the South End. Police said he went south on Main Street toward Third Street, before witnesses lost sight of him.

A few minutes later, Mikula called out that he had Anderson’s vehicle stopped on the eastbound lane of the Moses Parkway at the water intakes. After Anderson’s capture, cops said they recovered the stolen cash inside his car.

“His hands were covered in red dye, the steering wheel was covered in dye,” Palmer said, “and there was all this money in there covered in red dye.”

Detectives said Anderson was identified by witnesses as the hold-up man and later confessed to the crime.

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Crime

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.

February 6, 2012
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.

February 6, 2012
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.

February 6, 2012
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
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