NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO

Smoke break puts worker in danger

A 38-year-old construction worker at the Fallsview Plaza Hotel has one more reason to quit smoking.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at the former Renaissance Hotel shortly before 9:45 a.m. Monday, to a call a man had fallen into an excavation hole.

Alec Harper, an employee of the Balmain Group out of Toronto which is doing renovations at the site, slipped 25 feet when reaching to grab a cigarette from a co-worker in the hole below.

Niagara Falls Fire Dept. platoon chief Ken Moore said the crane operator pitched in to assist emergency crews by hooking the basket up to his machine.

Moore said Harper was conscious when he was brought up to street level shortly after 10 a.m., and was able to move his arms and legs. Moore said the extent of Harper’s injuries did not appear to be serious and he is expected to make a full recovery.

— Niagara Falls, Ontario, Review



TOWN OF LOCKPORT

Rusted shotgun found in old mattress

A man called the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday to report finding a shotgun inside an old mattress.

The man said his mother, a Dysinger Road woman, had bought the mattress for her niece over 10 years ago. When the mother was finished with the mattress, she placed it in the yard, where it disintegrated, revealing a rusted shotgun inside.

The man said he wanted to turn in the shotgun and see if it could be tested for involvement in any crimes. If it wasn’t, he wants it back, the report said.



Niagara Falls

• INCIDENT: A loose dog was shot and killed by police after an incident in the 1500 block of Whitney Avenue on Monday. Officers were called to the area after a woman reported that two loose dogs had killed a cat. Police found a pit bull and a St. Bernard-type dog running loose and contacted the SPCA to have the animals picked up. The pit bull ran from the area, but the other dog repeatedly charged at both the SPCA and police officers. A police officer then shot the dog.

Cambria

• LARCENY: A Saunders Settlement Road man reported Sunday that overnight, someone stole a circular saw, a generator and a welder from his tool shed. The items are worth $2,800.

Ransomville

• ID THEFT: An 87-year-old New Road man reported Friday that someone used his HSBC credit card account in Indonesia to purchase an airline ticket online for $556.81. The man said he’d disputed the transaction with HSBC, but his dispute had been denied and he was told he was responsible for the transaction.

Wilson

• LARCENY: A Sunset Island man reported Monday that sometime since Aug. 3, his wife’s diamond ring, worth about $4,000, was stolen from her dresser drawer.

City of Lockport

• DWI: Raymond D. Pierce, 59, 92 Allen St., was charged Sunday afternoon with driving while intoxicated and failure to signal. Officers were told to be on the lookout for a gray station wagon after its driver was seen urinating outside a Main Street store. Officers found the car and executed a traffic stop on Pine Street. Pierce allegedly failed several field sobriety tests. He was released on his own recognizance.

• ASSAULT: Edwin S. Harris, 40, 67 Webb St., Apt. 2, was charged Sunday afternoon with third-degree assault. A Webb Street woman told police she and Harris were arguing when he allegedly grabbed her and punched her in the mouth, causing her to fall to the floor. The woman spoke with her husband, who then called police. The Lockport Fire Department responded and treated the woman in her home. Harris was held without bail.

Town of Lockport

• LARCENY: A Leete Road woman reported Saturday morning that overnight, someone stole their 2002 Nissan X-Terra. The woman said she’d left the keys in the center console. The vehicle is worth about $10,000, and the woman said there were several CDs and a stethoscope worth about $200 inside. The woman said the vehicle’s low gas light had been on when she parked it. About two hours later, deputies found the vehicle unoccupied in the shoulder on Lockport-Olcott Road. Another Leete Road man reported Saturday morning that his 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe was stolen from his driveway. The man said he’d left the keys on the floor of the vehicle. The vehicle, worth about $10,000, was later found on Genesee Street in the City of Lockport, the report said.

• LARCENY: A Bear Ridge Road man reported Monday that overnight, someone stole a Hewlett Packard laptop computer from his bedroom. The computer is worth about $1,200.

Gasport

• BURGLARY: A Rochester Road man reported Sunday that sometime since Thursday, someone entered his garage and stole a 1979 Harley Davidson motorcycle and a helmet, together worth about $13,050.

• BURGLARY: An employee of Star Seal of NY reported Sunday that overnight, someone entered the warehouse and stole several items, including postage stamps, documents, computer software and cash, together worth about $1,070.

Newfane

• LARCENY: A Coomer Road man reported Saturday that sometime since July 8, someone stole a red, two-seat Ocean kayak from his detached garage. The kayak is worth about $700.

• VANDALISM: The owner of Cafora’s Pizza and Pastaria on Lockport-Olcott Road reported Saturday that overnight, someone removed and damaged a sign attached to a poke outside the business. The sign, worth about $1,000, was found on the north side of the building.