NIAGARA FALLS — ONTARIO

Regional Police investigate hit-and-run accident

Niagara Regional Police have charged a man with drunken driving and attempted murder after a hit-and-run accident in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Police and emergency medical personnel said they were called to the area of York and Misener roads at 1:20 a.m. Saturday for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. When they arrived, officers said they found a victim with what appeared to be life threatening injuries.

The victim was transported to Welland County General Hospital and later to Hamilton General Hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.

Detectives said their investigation showed the victim had been deliberately run down.

Investigators have charged Frank Elia, 20, of Niagara Falls, Ont., with fail to remain at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, impaired operation causing bodily harm, aggravated impaired operation causing bodily harm, dangerous drive causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and aggravated assault.



Niagara Falls

• ARREST: A Wilson woman was arrested on a drug charge. Laurie A. Sheeley, 42, 1635 Lake Road, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Roving Anti-Crime Unit officers said Sheeley was sitting in an SUV in the 40 block of Niagara Street at 5:42 p.m. Sunday, smoking a marijuana-laced cigar.

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after he created a disturbance in the area of Highland and Center avenues at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Brandon “Biz” Carter, 21, 436 10th St., Apt. 2, was charged with disorderly conduct.

• ARREST: A Falls woman was arrested after a shoplifting incident in the 1500 block of Military Road Sunday afternoon. Crystal D. Westerman, 26, 4800 Isherwood Drive, was charged with petit larceny. A store security officer said Westerman took $94 worth of merchandise without paying for it.

• BURGLARY: Police are investigating a burglary in the 1800 block of Cleveland Avenue. A 25-year-old woman told officers sometime between 8 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday someone entered her home by breaking a rear window. The victim said a 32-inch TV was taken.

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after he was found driving a stolen car. James H. Respress, 53, 720 10th St., Apt. 804, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and fourth-degree grand larceny. Officers said they stopped Respress in the 500 block of 10th Street at 10:40 a.m. Sunday, after spotting him driving a car stolen in the Falls on July 18.

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after he caused a disturbance in the 1600 block of Niagara Avenue at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Jamell T. Chapman, 19, 1604 Niagara Ave. Apt. 5, was charged with disorderly conduct.

• ASSAULT: Officers are looking into an assault in the 300 block of Ferry Avenue. A 21-year-old woman told police she was walking in that area at 2:30 a.m. Saturday when she was attacked by two other women. The victim said she was slashed by one suspect who had a box cutter.

• ARREST: A Buffalo man was arrested after police stopped him for driving erratically in the area of 29th Street and Pine Avenue at 2 a.m. Sunday. Dejuan Norman, 25, 33 Academy Road, was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failure to signal. Officers said Norman had no driver’s license and has had his driving privileges suspended 17 times.

• BURGLARY: Police are investigating a burglary in the 500 block of 24th Street. A 20-year-old woman told officers sometime between 1:57 and 2:05 a.m. Sunday someone broke into her home by throwing a concrete block through a back door window. The victim said a DVD player, 30 DVDs, a Nintendo game system and three video games were taken.

• ARREST: A Falls man was arrested after he refused to stop laying down on the hood of a police car. Michael Allen Rickard, 33, 1525 Ashland Ave., was charged with disorderly conduct. Officers said they found Rickard laying on the hood of a police car at 9:47 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Rainbow Boulevard. Police said they told Rickard, who was “highly intoxicated” to sit on a bench instead. Rickard then wandered into traffic, before returning to lie down on the hood of the patrol car.

• ARREST: A Falls teenager was arrested on a drug charge. Samantha K. Nottingham, 17, 115 67th St., was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Roving Anti-Crime Unit officers said they stopped Nottingham, at 9:32 p.m. Saturday after watching her make a hand-to-hand transaction at a known drug house in the 400 block of 19th Street. Nottingham had six Hydrocodone tablets in her possession when she was stopped.

Town of Niagara

• ATTEMPTED BURGLARY: A Niagara County Sheriff’s deputy responding to an alarm at Reed’s Jewelers on Military Road at 2:25 a.m. Sunday found the electric service entrance on the building’s east exterior wall had been tampered with. The lock had been removed and the service panel cover was on the ground below the box. The electric meter had then been pulled partially out creating a power disconnect for the building. Deputies checked the remainder of the building and found it to be secure. No other evidence, vehicles or persons were located.

Wheatfield

• BURGLARY: The manager at Transportation Center of WNY on Niagara Falls Boulevard reported that an unknown person attempted to kick in the southeast side door of the business on Saturday. There was no entry gained to the business and there appeared to be two separate shoe markings on the door.

Youngstown

• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: A Porter-on-the-Lake park groundskeeper reported someone drove a vehicle over the grass, damaging it overnight Friday. The tracks made circles where the grass and mud were dug up. A pavilion at the park was also damaged with black spray paint.