Niagara Falls
• DWI: John A. Paonessa, 39, 1050 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston, was charged with driving while intoxicated and a traffic infraction about 4:15 a.m. Saturday, according to Falls police. Stopped for a vehicle infraction, officers said Paonessa appeared intoxicated and failed multiple field sobriety tests. He told police he had come from Clancy’s where he had two beers. He later added that he also had a shot of Jack Daniels. Police said Paonessa refused a breath test.
• DWI: Albert Fiocco, 47, 3248 Jerauld Ave., was charged with DWI about 12:49 a.m. Saturday, according to Falls police. A witness called police dispatch to report that a man driving a ’09 Hyundai Elantra had almost driven into him and then tried to get on the Robert Moses Parkway going the wrong way up an exit ramp. The Elantra’s driver, later identified by the witness as Fiocco, managed to get on the Moses the right way and started heading downtown — with the witness following all the way to Seneca Niagara Casino, where police stopped him. Fiocco said he was coming from the Taste of Country where he had had two drinks, the report said. After failing field sobriety tests, he was charged by police.
• DWI: Wayne T. Phillips, 46, 2007 Walnut Ave., was charged with DWI about 4:30 p.m. Friday, according to police. Phillips was charged after a traffic accident on the 2200 block of Falls Street, police said. Phillips told officers he was driving and didn’t see an approaching car before hitting it. He appeared intoxicated and officers said Phillips told them he was coming from Marcel’s Tavern where he’d had “a couple.”
• KNIFE ATTACK: Vernon T. Franks, 58, 901 Cedar Ave., Apt. 505, was charged with second-degree menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault about 12:45 a.m. Saturday, police said. Officers were called to Damici’s Pizza on Pine Avenue where several people had disarmed Franks after he’d come into the establishment waving a small knife. Police said Franks was intoxicated. A man reported a cut to his thumb from the attack.
• DRUGS: Jennifer M. Ackles, 30, 547 71st St., faces charges after she turned over a baggie of marijuana to police following a traffic stop. Officers noted a passenger in the car had two large pill bottles filled with urine. The passenger’s parole officer was notified.
• STABBING: A 48-year-old city man reported to police he was walking down Ninth Street about 12:15 a.m. Saturday when he was approached by another man who demanded money. The victim instead punched the would-be robber at which point the victim was stabbed in the shoulder with a steak knife. The victim walked to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where he was treated for a minor wound, police said.
• INCIDENT: A large tree branch fell onto a ’98 Ford Windstar about 11:10 a.m. Saturday in front of 217 81st Street, police said. The branch also took out multiple power lines. National Grid was contacted.
City of Lockport
• ASSAULT: Clifford A. Davis, 47, 164 Church St., was charged with third-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal mischief. Officers responded to Church Street for the report of a disturbance at 3:15 a.m. Saturday. The victim said during an argument, Davis grabbed her by the neck and also tried to damage the car by pulling wires out. A child got in between them and was lifted off the ground and thrown onto the sidewalk. Davis reportedly left the scene. The victim requests an order of protection.
• ASSAULT: Michael J. Mondello, 23, 3319 Checkered Tavern Road, Gasport, was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest. Officers responded to Taboo at 1:45 a.m. Saturday after reports of a fight. A witness said Mondello punched another victim and fled towards Pine Street. Mondello was located on Pine near Heritage Court and started to walk away, said police. While being handcuffed, Mondello allegedly stood and tried to pull away. One victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of fracture to his right eye. Bystanders reported another person was struck by Mondello. Both victims requested an order of protection.
• ROBBERY: Frank A. D’Angelo, 29, 260 N. Transit St., Apt. 1, was charged with third-degree robbery. The victim said she was approached Friday by D’Angelo who asked her if she had pills. D’Angelo took her ciboxin pills, which she was carrying in a plastic grocery bag, and kicked and punched her several times, according to the report.
• IDENTITY THEFT: Kelley L. Foster, 43, 196 Park Ave., Apt 3, was charged with identity theft. The caregiver for a man who suffers Alzheimer’s learned that someone opened a charge account in the man’s name. The account was opened online and $387 was charged. Foster, a niece of the victim, turned herself in.
• CHARGED: Daisy M. Woods, 28, 409 Clinton St., was charged with second-degree criminal contempt. The victim reported Woods called him nine times and he has an active stay-away order of protection against Woods.
Newfane
• DWI: Holly A. Smith, 39, 6277 Autumn View, was charged with driving while intoxicated, using a mobile phone on highway and driving with a suspended registration. At 4:50 a.m. Saturday, an officer saw Smith using a cellular phone while driving on Lockport-Olcott Road. The driver who had bloodshot, glassy eyes and there was an odor of alcohol, according to the report. Smith failed field sobriety tests, said police. Her plates were suspended and seized.
Somerset
• BURGLARY: A Somerset Drive resident reported an unknown person had taken a Coleman Powermate generator and a 5-gallon gas from her attached garage. The victim estimated the items to be taken sometime between Wednesday and Friday and the total value loss to be approximately $625.
• CHARGED: Robert S. Leff, 46, no known address, was charged with petit larceny. Patrol responded to Tops on Transit Road for a shoplifting report. Leff was located hiding behind a tree. According to the report, Leff took eight DVDs valued at $24.99.
Crime
BLOTTER: Police reports published June 21
- Crime
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Man presumed drowned in Niagara River
Emergency crews called off a search in the lower Niagara River for a person who was swept away by the water Saturday afternoon.
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California tourists robbed at gunpoint in Falls
Falls police are investigating a report of armed robbery from a parking lot in the 100 block of Niagara Street Saturday.
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BLOTTER: Police reports published May 27
Police are investigating a reported theft in the 400 block of 20th Street.
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FIRE CALLS: Niagara Falls fire reports published May 26
For the period of May 14 to 20 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 129 calls. The total number of service calls for 2012 to date is 2,213.
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BLOTTER: Police reports published May 26
Police are investigating a robbery in the 1100 block of Walnut Avenue.
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Korean student robbed at gunpoint in Falls
Detectives are investigating the robbery of a 25-year-old woman Wednesday night in front of a motel in the 400 block of Main Street.
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Bomb threat leads to arrest at NT school
A North Tonawanda teen was arrested Thursday morning for sending a one-sentence bomb threat to the computer of a fellow high school student, resulting in a brief lockdown of the school.
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BLOTTER: Police reports published May 25
Police are investigating a burglary in the 400 block of 24th Street.
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Fugitive in meth case caught
Moments after Falls police narcotics detectives and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents uncovered a clandestine meth lab in the city's Echota neightborhood, their prime suspect sent a cryptic text message to Detective Joe Palmero.
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BLOTTER: Police reports published May 24
A Youngstown woman was arrested after a domestic incident in the 200 block of 61st Street at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday.
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