When it comes to dumb criminals, it sometimes seems like Niagara Falls had cornered the market on the criminally stupid.
Our most recent entry to the list just adds to the Cataract City’s reputation for being home to some folks who probably should be locked up for their own safety, as opposed to yours.
A check of court records shows this desperado is still on the loose, so we’ll see if anyone decides to gives the cops a ring to turn him in. Even though the crime is pretty petty (pun intended).
Joel Zsebenazy faces a charge of petit larceny after a visit last Friday to the Walgreens on Pine Avenue. According to a police report of the incident, Zsebenazy walked into Walgreens at 11:20 a.m. and asked a cashier for a carton of Newport cigarettes.
The cashier asked Zsebenazy for his driver’s license to check his age. As she entered Zsebenazy’s birth date into the register, her would-be customer decided it was time to take a five-fingered discount.
Zsebenazy grabbed the carton of smokes, ran from the store and disappeared down Pine Avenue. There was just one problem for this slick shoplifter.
He left his drivers license with the cashier.
Oops.
Another cops calls it quits
The 520 Hyde Park Blvd. exodus continues, with longtime patrol officer, and lately, court security detail Officer Roland Johnston calling it a career.
Longtime C shift patrol Officer Mike Scozzofava now mans the front door at the Public Safety Building. The overnight shift officers seem to be getting a little younger as another veteran C shift officer, Dave Kelly has also joined the City Court detail.
Kelly is the big friendly guy folks see on the way into Traffic Court (at least there’s one friendly faces there as you prepare to pay your fine).
The new domestic violence guy
Congratulations to the Falls Police Department’s newest detective. Joe Paul, a veteran crime scene investigator, has taken over as the top cop in the department’s Domestic Violence Unit. Paul replaces retired Detective Ed Janese.
He’s taking on one of the toughest jobs in the department, but when I dropped in to see him last week, he seemed pretty excited.
He said he’s learning as he goes and is eager to bring some new ideas to the unit. Some of the most vulnerable crime victims are about to find out they’ve got a good guy taking care of their cases.
Local News
PFEIFFER: I think you forgot something
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SLIDESHOW: Memorial Day Weekend 2012
Niagara Falls celebrates Memorial Day Weekend activities on Saturday with a parade on Pine Avenue, a memorial service and viewing of the new Veterans Memorial at Hyde Park, a concert series on Old Falls Street and free boat safety inspections by the Niagara County Sheriff Department Marine Division at the City of Niagara Falls Boat Docks on Buffalo Avenue.
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Legislation protecting Falls air base units moves forward
The effort to protect jobs at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station got a boost from a committee in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
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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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Davis will not seek Murphy removal
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew “Bones” Davis say their client will not ask to have Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III removed from his case.
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Labor group laments economic development efforts
Economic development in New York state has become a joke to some in the area. And many of them are demanding changes to a process which spends approximately $3 billion a year.
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Repaving work on Old Military Road rises to $790K
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Fifth-grader presents list of 400 names asking for new playground
A 10-year-old boy carrying a petition containing more than 400 signatures asked members of the Niagara Falls School Board on Thursday to consider building a new playground at his school.
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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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Marching to the new veterans memorial
It's the unofficial beginning of summer.
Memorial Day may mean cookouts with hot dogs and hamburgers, a trip on the river in a boat or simply a day off from work Monday.
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