Published: September 07, 2008 11:05 pm      

POLICE BLOTTER: Reports published Sept. 8

Four people are in custody after Falls Police narcotics detectives, Criminal Investigation Division detectives and members of the Emergency Response Team raided a home at10:30 p.m Friday at 1526 Pierce Ave.

Inside the home, police found 11 people ranging in age from 16 to 24 years old. They also recovered two loaded handguns, a rifle and a large quantity of drugs.

“Drugs were being dealt out of the location and used there,” Narcotics Division Captain Morris Shamrock said. “That location was part of an on-going investigation into drug trafficking in that neighborhood.”

Shamrock said Detectives john Faso and Tom Rodriguez developed information that lead to the raid.

In addition to the weapons that were seized, police found 44 baggies of marijuana, packaged for sale, a baggie containing a large quantity of crack cocaine and 52 Darvocet prescription pain pills.

Agents from the Niagara County SPCA took three dogs from the home and city building inspectors also responded an indicated that violations notices would be issued to the building owner.

Detectives charged Lawrence Smith, 19, 3222 Dudley Ave., with fifth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Antwan Rose, 24, of Walnut Avenue, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fifth-degree possession of marijuana.

Kenya Spencer, 21, 1526 Pierce Ave., was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and Naficia F. Wallace, 19, 1526 Pierce Ave., was arrested on two outstanding warrants.

On Sunday afternoon, officers returned to the scene after reports of a shooting incident there.

Witnesses told police that around 3:33 p.m., a gold car with two men and a woman inside pulled up in front of the home and the driver stepped out with a rifle and fired two shots at a group of people standing outside. No one was hit or harmed during that incident.

Sunday morning, police also responded to a report of a fight outside the home. The shooting incident in the afternoon is believed to be linked to the fight.

The home is also in close proximity to the scene of the city’s most recent homicide.

Officers responding to a call of a disturbance just after 11 a.m. Friday, found the body of Dorothy Joelle Banks slumped in the front seat of her car in an alley in the 1300 block of Ashland Avenue. Banks had suffered a gunshot wound to her right side and died later at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

A possible suspect as seen fleeing the murder scene and heading in the direction of the Pierce Avenue home.

Niagara Falls

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after an investigation into a shooting incident. Ray Anthony Crockett, 45, 1807 Niagara St., was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest. Police said the responded to Crockett’s home at 4:25 p.m. Sunday after a call of a man shooting a handing there. Officers found three men, a woman and three children at the house and a search of the home lead to the recovery of a handgun and ammunition. Crockett was charged after he struggled with officers during their investigation.

• THEFTS: Police are investigating a rash of car break-ins in a motel parking lot in the 700 block of Rainbow Boulevard. All of the break-ins reportedly occurred between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. Sunday. A 30-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa., man said the driver’s side front window on his 2008 Mazda 5 SUV was smashed and $10 was taken. A 28-year-old Ohio woman said the front passenger side window on her 2002 Ford Taurus was smashed and her purse was taken. A 37-year-old Maryland man said a driver’s side window on his 2000 Dodge Caravan was taken and a GPS system and $4 was taken. A 27-year-old Pennsylvania woman said a passenger side window her 2008 Chevy Malibu was smashed. A 42-year-old Danish tourist said a passenger side window was pried open on his 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser and a GPS system was taken.