NIAGARA FALLS

Doctor’s office makes bad hire

A representative of a downtown Niagara Falls doctor’s office called police Tuesday to report that a recent hire had tried to use a forged prescription at a local pharmacy.

The employee had been trying to get Tylenol codeine with the forged prescription Monday when pharmacy workers became suspicious and called the doctor’s office.

It was noted that Monday’s was the employee’s second day on the job.

Police said an office manager called Tuesday to let the employee know they were fired.



Infant stops breathing

Falls police said they were called to assist Rural Metro and members of the Falls Fire Department for a report of an 2-month-old infant that had stopped breathing about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday on Stephenson Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers said the infant was being rushed to an ambulance. The mother said the infant had suffered a seizure and stopped breathing. The father added the infant had a severe acid reflux problem and had been to the doctor Monday at which time new medication had been prescribed.

A police lieutenant who went to the hospital where the infant was taken later reported the infant was fine and breathing on its own.



Niagara Falls

• ROBBERY: A 73-year-old Falls woman told police a man grabbed her purse from behind and took off while she was walking in the parking lot of Fashion King, 810 Portage Road about noon Tuesday. The woman said she was knocked to the ground after struggling to hold onto the purse. A small amount of cash and personal papers were taken.

• THEFT: A 19th Street woman called police Tuesday to report that on Dec. 19 she lent a snowblower to a friend and when she tried to get it back, she found out he had sold it. The estimated loss is $100.

Wilson

• BURGLARY: A Beebe Road man reported Friday that sometime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., someone entered his residence and stole $23 in cash, 30 Zoloft pills and 90 oxycontin pills. The pills were worth about $40, the report said.

City of Lockport

• ENDANGERMENT: Sonia I. Matias, 23, 22 Walnut St., upper, was charged Thursday morning with endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest. Matias allegedly left her 3-year-old son alone in her apartment while she walked her daughter to school. She told officers the person who usually watches her son couldn’t do so. Her landlord and a domestic violence caseworker called police. When officers told Matias she was going to be arrested, she allegedly became agitated and distraught and refused to place her hands behind her back to be handcuffed. Child Protective Services was notified.

Newfane

• CAR FIRE: A Bixler Road man reported Monday afternoon that he was attempting to start his son’s 2001 Pontiac Bonneville, which was parked in his driveway. The man said when he turned the key, he heard a loud bang and saw smoke coming from the engine compartment. The Miller Hose Volunteer Fire Co. responded to the scene and put out the fire, which was contained to the engine compartment. The car sustained extensive damage, the report said.

• LARCENY: A West Bluff man reported Monday morning that overnight, someone entered his unlocked car and stole a Tom Tom GPS unit from the glove compartment. The GPS unit is worth about $380, the report said.

Appleton

• LARCENY: A West Somerset Road woman reported Monday that on Dec. 28, someone used her Niagara County Federal Credit Union debit card number to purchase $505.59 worth of merchandise online.

Somerset

• DISORDERLY: James Bitas, 34, 318 W. Center St., Medina, was charged Tuesday morning with disorderly conduct. Bitas allegedly argued with a family member while at the Barker Family Diner on Quaker Road. Deputies responded to the diner in an attempt to resolve the issue. Bitas allegedly went outside and began yelling obscene language. He is due Thursday in Somerset Town Court.