Staff Reports
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
Apartment residents OK after apartment fire
No one was injured after a damaged electrical wire sparked flames to an apartment complex on Van Buren Street Thursday morning.
Paul Elter, 40, of Appleton, reportedly told deputies he was drilling a hole from the inside of the apartment when he accidentally drilled through a electrical wire.
The damaged wire began to arc causing part of the building to ignite on fire, a report said.
Assistant Chief Jon Miller of the Olcott Volunteer Fire Company said only minor damage was done to the complex, which housed two families.
NIAGARA COUNTY COURT
10 jurors selected in Greco murder trial
The trial of Anthony J. Allen, accused of bludgeoning Renee Greco to death last year, is expected to start in Niagara County Court on Tuesday morning.
As of 3 p.m. Thursday, 10 jurors were selected in the second half of jury selection after the process was halted last week so defense attorney E. Earl Key could request a change of venue motion due to high publicity in Niagara County. That motion was later struck down by an Appellate Court Judge, who asked Key to give the process another chance.
Attorneys said they hope to have four more jurors picked by noon today. If so, trial will begin Tuesday.
Niagara Falls
• ARREST: A Falls woman was arrested after a shoplifting incident at 2:40 p.m. Thursday at a store in the 1500 block of Military Road. Michelle Maracle, 28, 3063 Orleans Ave., was charged with petit larceny. Maracle is accused of taking more than $79 worth of items from the store, including Amazing Adhesive bras and high heel insoles, without paying for them.
• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested at 2:20 p.m. Thursday after he was caught burglarizing a home in the 1100 block of Linwood Avenue. David Vincent Terrell, 43, 2003 11th St., Apt. 4, was charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief and attempted petit larceny. Police said Terrell entered the home by breaking a basement window and was trying to remove $1,200 worth of copper pipe.
Ransomville
• SHOPLIFTER: Sharon Trapasso of Niagara Falls was charged Thursday with petit larceny after an employee said she caught Trapasso taking a $2 tube of lipstick from Rite Aid, 3636 Ransomville Road.
Lewiston
• DWI: Alicia Marie Lagace, 20, 4233 N. Ridge Road, Lockport, was charged Wednesday with aggravated driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with no inspection. A report said deputies pulled over Lagace on Saunders-Settlement Road after deputies received reports that she was driving erratically. Lagace failed field sobriety tests and tests showed her blood alcohol content to be 0.19 percent, the report said.
