BLOTTER: Police news for June 23

Staff Reports

June 22, 2008 09:50 pm

— Park police rescue man from gorge
A Niagara Falls man was rescued by Parks Police and Falls fighters after falling from a trail in the river gorge Saturday afternoon.
Witnesses told Park Police officers that they were walking on a gorge trail about one quarter mile north of the Discovery Center, when they heard noise on the trail above them and then saw a man fall from the trail. The victim fell about 70 feet, striking several trees and landing on his shoulder and stomach.
Park police and firefighters went down into the gorge and were able to bring Gary W. Kneeple, 52, 1307 Linwood Ave., back up. Kneeple was transported to the Erie County Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition.
Niagara Falls
ARREST: A Falls teenager was arrested after cops caught him breaking into a car inn the 400 block of Fifth Street. James E. D. Wilson, 16, 451 Eighth St., was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglar tools and petit larceny. Police said they found Wilson sitting in the front seat of a 2000 Nissan Xterra, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, after being called by neighbors who heard a car alarm going off. Officers said Wilson had a screwdriver, a GPS system, a DVD, a cell phone charge and a casino chip in his possession.
ASSAULT: Police are looking for two suspects in connection with an assault in the parking lot of a Third Street nightclub at 3:15 a.m. Sunday. A 20-year-old woman told officers she was leaving Club New York when two other women attacked by pulling her hair, punching and kicking her.
ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after police said they stopped him from breaking into cars. Richard Royster, 42, 8 F Center Court, was charged with first-degree loitering and possession of burglar tools. Officers said they spotted Royster, who has a history of arrests for car break-ins, in the 1900 block of Ferry Avenue, at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, checking out cars in a parking lot and nearby alley. When Royster was stopped by officers, they said he had three screwdrivers and a crack pipe in his possession.
THEFT: Officers are looking for four suspects in connection with a burglary in the 2600 block of Welch Avenue. A neighbor reported seeing four people leaving an unoccupied home in that area, at 3 a.m. Sunday and called police. When officers responded, they found a rear door had been broken in and a significant amount of copper pipe had been stripped from the home.
ARREST: Two Falls men were charged after cops broke up a street corner craps game. Cortez D. Davis, 18, 1648 Cleveland Ave. and Vintaun D. Weathers, 23, 1330 Niagara Ave., were each charged with loitering. Police said Davis and Weathers were shooting dice at 18th Street and Ontario Avenue at 8:55 p.m. Saturday.
ARREST: Four people were charged in connection with a fight outside Club New York early Sunday morning. Jennifer J. Spina, 18, 2242 LaSalle Ave., Shanika L. Pickett, 19, 1852 Willow Ave. and Sanovia R. McGinnis, 6, 587 North Oak St., Buffalo were all charged with disorderly conduct. Jason McGinnis, 33, 587 North Oak St., Buffalo, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Roving Anti-Crime Unit officers said Spina and Pickett were charged for refusing to stop fighting. The McGinnis’ were charged for refusing to leave the area and for fighting with police while being taken into custody.
ARREST: A Falls man was arrested on drunken driving charges. Nathan R. Vandenberg, 53, 479 20th St., was charged with driving while intoxicated, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and running a red light. Police said Vandenberg passed a red light at 19th and Niagara streets at 10 p.m. Saturday. After being stopped, officers said Vandenberg also failed several field sobriety tests.
THEFT: Police are looking for a suspect in a theft from a Main Street convenience store. A store clerk said the suspect entered the business in the 1500 block of Main Street at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, grabbed two cases of Coors Light beer and then ran from the store without paying.
THEFT: Officers are looking into a car break-in in the 1400 block of 97th Street. A 30-year-old man told police that sometime between 1:28 and 9 p.m. Saturday, someone broke into his 2002 Saturn by jimmying the lock. The victim said a tool box was taken.