Published: October 09, 2008 11:41 pm      

BLOTTER: Police reports published Oct. 10

GASPORT

School bus involved in minor accident

A school bus occupied by nine children was involved in a two-vehicle crash at Rochester and Gasport roads Thursday afternoon.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department received several 911 calls reporting the accident about 3:04 p.m.

Deputies say a 1994 Chevrolet Lumina driven by Gail Urtel was headed west on Rochester Road and allegedly crossed into the path of the bus, which was headed south on Gasport Road.

Urtel was cited for alleged failure to yield the right of way.

Nine children on the bus were evaluated by EMS crews on scene, but no injuries were reported.



Niagara Falls

• PURSE SNATCHING: A 76-year-old Grand Island woman had her purse stolen Thursday after she decided to walk to the falls after dropping her car off at a collision shop. The woman said she was walking on the 400 block of Sixth Street when a man ran up behind her, grabbed her purse and took off. A witness tried to catch up with the man but lost him. The purse was later recovered in an alley between Fifth and Sixth streets missing a cell phone and about $40 in cash.

• THEFT: A 53-year-old Ninth Street told police he fell asleep on his porch about 3 p.m. Thursday and when he awoke about an hour later he went into his apartment and discovered 29 TV dinners and some polish sausage and chicken he had just bought were gone. The estimated loss is $77.

• VANDALISM: A Conneticutt man told police he parked his tractor trailer in a parking lot near the Howard Johnson’s at 66th Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard for a half hour and when he returned discovered a fuel line had been cut. Hotel staff said it was the second time it had happened and told police about recent complaints from 66th Street residents regarding tractor trailers parking in the area. Estimated damage is $1,000.

Cambria

• DRUGS: William J. Grunzweig, 29, 1766 Ellwood Ave., North Tonawanda, was charged Thursday morning with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and speeding after a 10:54 a.m. traffic stop on Ridge Road. Grunzweig allegedly possessed a bottle containing Diflunisal, an anti-inflammatory, prescribed to another person. He was held in lieu of $250 bail and is due Oct. 22 in Cambria Town Court.

Wheatfield

• VANDALISM: A Woodland Court man reported Wednesday that between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., someone removed the filter cap on his ground pool and manually turned on the pump, which pumped out about 40,000 gallons of water next to his home. The sump pump was unable to handle the large amount of water, which caused the finished basement to flood. Damage is estimated at $1,000, the report said.

City of Lockport

• ASSAULT: William D. Horvath, 26, 111 Cottage St., Apt. 2, was charged Wednesday afternoon with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and tampering with evidence. Officers responded to Hawley and Charlotte streets about 4:20 p.m. for a report of a fight. A Florida man was sitting on a front porch, surrounded by people trying to give him medical assistance, the report said. The man told police Horvath had “sucker punched” him, then run west toward Outwater Park. Officers found Horvath and took him into custody. The victim was transported to Erie County Medical Center for treatment, the report said. Horvath was held without bail and is due Monday in Lockport City Court.

• STOLEN: Brandon J. Lake, 17, 76 Park Ave., lower, was charged Thursday afternoon with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Lake allegedly stole a collector’s edition Beatles album from a Renee Place woman. The album is worth about $1,000. The woman said the album was stolen while her children were being babysat. The babysitter reportedly said she’d had several people over, including Lake. Lake’s mother reportedly found the album under his bed. He was held in lieu of $500 bail.

• MENACING: Damien D. Speck, 22, 407 Niagara St., side, was charged Wednesday evening with third-degree menacing. Speck allegedly threatened to kill a Pound Street man on July 13. He was held without bail and is due Monday in Lockport City Court.

• LARCENY: Paul F. Owens, 49, 198 Pine St., Apt. 3C, was charged Wednesday afternoon with petit larceny. Owens allegedly stole a BMX bicycle from an Ashley Place man’s yard. The bike is worth $70, the report said. Owens was held without bail and is due Monday in Lockport City Court.

• CONTEMPT: Jeremiah J. Conert, 31, no permanent address, was charged Thursday morning with first-degree criminal contempt. A Davison Road woman told police Conert came to her workplace on Walnut Street and grabbed her two nights in a row. The woman has an order of protection against Conert, the report said.

Town of Lockport

• BURGLARY: A Purdy Road woman reported Wednesday afternoon that sometime between 7:50 a.m. and 2 p.m., someone entered her home and stole a Vizio 32-inch LCD TV, worth $800. The woman said she arrived home and noticed the air conditioner was not in the front window and that the window was ajar. The air conditioner was on the floor, and a lamp had been kicked over, the report said. The woman said she’s seen a suspicious young boy around her house on several recent occasions.

Gasport

• BURGLARY: An employee of Boyer’s Tavern on Ridge Road reported Wednesday afternoon that overnight, someone entered the bar through the back door and tampered with the cash register. The man said there was no money in the drawer. Someone also attempted to pry open a game machine on the bar and a juke box on the wall, causing about $200 in damage to the juke box, the report said.