Published: July 18, 2008 08:33 pm      

BLOTTER: Police reports published July 19

Niagara Falls

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after a shoplifting incident at a supermarket in the 1000 block of Portage Avenue. Michael A. Hurst, 33, no permanent address, was charged with third-degree robbery and petit larceny. A store manager said Hurst tried to leave the store with two cases of Budweiser beer that had not been paid for. He also struggled with store employees who tried to hold him for police.

• BURGLARY: Police are investigating a burglary at a restaurant in the 7300 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard. A store manager told officers that sometime between 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 10:30 a.m. Friday someone broke into the business through a side door. The manager said a cash register, containing $400, was taken.

City of Tonawanda

• STALKING: Barrett W. Miller, 30, 19 Benton St., was charged at 10:02 p.m. Thursday with first-degree harassment, unlawful imprisonment and trespassing, according to police reports. Officers said Miller was trying to solicit young girls in the Canal Fest area and was asked to leave the premises. An hour later, they saw him back in the festival walking with his arm around a 17-year-old girl. The girl, whom police said looked scared, told police Miller wouldn’t let her go, saying that she was his. Miller was held for court.

• ALCOHOL: A 14-year-old Wheatfield girl was taken to Erie County Medical Center after police found her passed out at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday on the grass near a game post at Canal Fest. The girl told police she drank vodka, but was unsure of how much.

City of Lockport

• DRUGS: Gregory A. Bentley, 26, 178 Niagara St., upper, was charged Thursday with second-degree harassment, resisting arrest, false personation and unlawful possession of marijuana. Bentley allegedly pushed a woman during an argument at his apartment building July 6. He allegedly slammed a door on the woman’s foot. She sought treatment at Inter-Community Memorial Hospital for minor swelling to her foot, the report said. A warrant was issued for Bentley’s arrest. On Thursday, officers reportedly saw Bentley riding a bike on South Niagara Street and approached him. Bentley allegedly told officers his name was Matt Bentley. After being told he was under arrest, Bentley allegedly began to ride away on his bike. Officers found him after a brief search in the brush area east of Michigan Street. Bentley allegedly had marijuana in his shorts pocket when he was found. He was held without bail and is due Monday in Lockport City Court.

Gasport

• BURGLARY: An East Avenue man reported Thursday that he saw a white male with a shaved head and multiple tattoos enter his mother’s house, which is across the street from his own. The man told deputies he went over to investigate and heard noises upstairs. He called out, “Can I help you?” The man came downstairs and said he was looking for his cousin. After he left, the man noticed pry marks on the door frame and called 911. Deputies responded and found a pillowcase filled with household items at the top of the stairs. The items were worth about $500, and the damage to the door frame was estimated at $50, the report said.