By Rick Pfeiffer
Niagara Gazette
TOWN OF NIAGARA —
Niagara Falls police, looking for a fugitive at a Town of Niagara trailer park, found drugs, a loaded gun and a “person of interest” in a recent Cataract City killing.
Narcotics Division detectives, Warrants Squad officers and Town of Niagara Police went to the residence at 5033 Wildwood Acres early Wednesday evening and got more than they bargained for.
“Based on some intelligence Detective (John) Faso developed, we went there looking for a fugitive in our ongoing (gang violence) investigation,” Narcotics Division Capt. Morris Shamrock said.. “When we got there, our suspect wasn’t there, but a person of interest in a recent homicide was.”
That person is reportedly of interest to detectives investigating the murder of Lelton Kemp. Kemp was gunned down outside a Monteagle Ridge Estates apartment early last Wednesday morning.
As investigators were talking to that person, Warrants Officer William Gee saw what he believed was a stash of “illegal substances.” Shamrock said Town of Niagara Justice James Faso granted a telephoned request for a search warrant and officers then recovered five pounds of pot and a loaded .9-mm semi-automatic handgun, along with a number of knives.
Investigators also recovered a pair of sneakers tagged with “Eighth and Pine Avenue.” Sources say the trailer is now believed to be tied to the 8th Street gang.
That group is believed to be playing a large role in the current gang violence in the city and is believed to be moving between 15 and 20 pounds of marijuana on the street weekly.
“A good portion (of the violence) is over the marijuana trade,” Shamrock said.
The narcotics captain said the “person of interest” discovered at the trailer was turned over to Criminal Division investigators. He said arrests tied to the marijuana and weapons that were seized are expected.
