Log in to your account.
Police Log Feb. 23, 2012
By:Sun Staff
Date: 2012-02-22
email
print
Facebook
Twitter
comments(0)
One car vehicle accident, leaves one seriously hurt
Town of Eden Police report that at 3:03 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Officer Nicholas Blasz responded to a single car crash at the intersection of Route 62 and Route 75.
A 2010 Toyota, operated by Michael Zittel, 22, of Eden, crossed over center, before leaving the highway at a high rate of speed.
The car sheered off and broke a utility pole in half, before coming to rest against a large tree near a house.
Zittel, alone in the car, had to be extricated by the Eden Emergency and Rescue Squad.
He was then taken by Mercy Flight to the Erie County Medical Center in critical condition. Since then his condition has been upgraded.
Eden, East Eden and Hamburg fire departments had to divert traffic because of concerns with the power lines. By 7:30 a.m. the power was restored and both highways were open to traffic.
Zittle was issued summonses for speed not prudent, failure to keep right and no safety belt.
Deputies from the Erie County Sheriff’s Road Patrol Unit and Accident Investigation Unit assisted at the scene.
‘The Hulk’ bank robber linked to theft in Eden
Town of Eden Police have made an arrest in connection with the Dec. 20 burglary at the East Eden Tavern, on East Eden Road in Eden.
According to Sgt. Shawn D. Bishop, over $1,000 was taken from the bar area and some evidence was left at the scene at the time of burglary.
The evidence was collected from the scene and transported to the Central Police Services lab in Buffalo.
As Town of Eden Police continued its investigation, Town of Hamburg Police were investigating the Jan. 9 armed robbery of the McKinley Parkway branch of Northwest Savings Bank by a man wearing an “Incredible Hulk” mask.
On Jan. 26, Hamburg Police responded to a larceny call at Sears and Officer Joseph O’Brien realized the suspect, Jacob Lester, 28, of Angola, matched a composite drawing of the robbery suspect.
A search warrant of Lester’s residence revealed items that allegedly were used during the robbery, including a black gun.
Following Lester’s arrest, his finger and palm prints were entered into the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
“On Feb. 1, we were notified through SAFIS that our evidence now linked Lester to the East Eden Tavern burglary,” Bishop said.
Lester, who was being held at the Erie County Holding Center in lieu of $50,000 bail in regards to the Hamburg bank robbery, was additionally charged by Town of Eden Police with felony third-degree burglary, felony fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
He was transported to the Eden Town Court, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, where he appeared before Justice Melissa Zittel who set bail at $20,000.
Theft of items in Hamburg and Evans linked to couple
Both the Town of Hamburg and Town of Evans police departments have charged Danielle R. Pericak, 21, of Evans and Steven M. Klopp, 24, of Hamburg with felony grand larceny in connection with two separate thefts.
According to police, on Dec. 26, 2011, while residing at a family members home, Klopp found a sterling silverware set, valued at $6,000, under the bed in his room.
He then allegedly took the set to an antique dealership in Orchard Park, and with the help of his girlfriend, Pericak, sold it for $1,800.
A warrant was issued for Klopp’s arrest.
On Feb. 14, Town of Evans Police were informed by an Evans resident that three rings were missing from her house, including a custom made two-tone yellow and gold ring with multiple diamonds, worth $2,500.
The victim went to several jewelry stores in an attempt to find the ring and at one business, the jeweler said that a man had been to the store trying to sell that ring.
The victim was able to identify the suspect as Klopp, who is known to her through Pericak.
On Feb. 15, Klopp was picked up on Hamburg’s warrant and the Evans Detective Bureau was advised of the arrest.
The victim of the Evans burglary was informed by Pericak the custom made ring had been taken to a South Park Avenue pawn shop and sold for $175. She went to the store, where she identified the ring as being one of the three stolen rings and she had to pay the shop $190 for the $170 given to the offenders and a credit card fee.
Pericak made a statement she had taken only the one ring and had driven to the pawn shop in Buffalo to get the money.
Town of Evans Police charged Pericak with felony fourth-degree grand larceny and Klopp with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
In connection with the silverware theft, Town of Hamburg Police were told by the antique store owners the silverware was melted down shortly after it was acquired for the value of the metal.
According to police, $800 was given to Pericak, who provided her New York State driver’s license at the time of the sale, and a $1,000 in cash was given to Klopp.
Town of Hamburg Police charged Klopp with felony third-degree grand larceny.
Mobile home in Brooks Garden destroyed in fire
A mobile home in Brooks Garden was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, Feb. 16.
According to Town of Hamburg Police, the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when Officer Christopher Butera arrived at the scene.
Officer Robert Paas, evacuated the residents from next door as firefighters from Big Tree, Newton Abbott, Lake Shore and Blasdell volunteer fire companies battled the blaze.
The home owner and child were not home at the time of the fire and no one was hurt.
After the fire was extinguished, Fire Investigator/Detective Todd Ehret climbed the entry stairs and enter the platform remains of the mobile home and fell through the floor supports. The building is considered a complete loss.
The cause of the fire is undetermined in nature, though there is no evidence of foul play or any other suspicious circumstances which would indicate any type of criminal activity, police said.
Child left home alone nets charges for both parents
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Town of Eden Police Sgt. Shawn Bishop responded to a welfare check initiated from the Eden Central School.
According to police, when a young child is dropped off by a school bus an adult has to meet the child before the bus will leave. If no one is there, the child is taken back to the bus garage.
At the time, a 6-year-old was to be dropped off, but no parent was there to meet her, so she was returned to the school and Bishop was sent to check out the situation.
When Bishop knocked at the door, a 5-year-old boy answered and said his father was asleep in the basement bedroom.
Bishop told the boy to get the father. The child went downstairs and then returned to say no one was there and he was in the house alone.
According to police, Bishop took the boy and went to the bus garage to pick up the sister and returned to the police station.
Child Protective Services was contacted and the parents came to the police station, claiming an older sibling was left to watch the young boy, but he left to play with friends instead.
Charged with endangering the welfare of a child were David D. Paradiso, 36 and Annmarie Paradiso, 36, both of Eden. They were released on an appearance ticket and are scheduled to appear back in court on Feb. 28.
Narcotics arrest
Town of Evans Police report that at 3:10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, Officer Matthew Stonitsch initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle on Mill Street for unapproved headlights.
When questioning the vehicle operator, Richard J. Zuppelli, 33, of Blasdell, became nervous, police said.
When asked if there were drugs inside the car, he allegedly said there were Lortabs underneath the driver’s seat.
Police located the narcotics in an unmarked plastic pill container. A license check revealed that Zuppelli’s license was also revoked.
He was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, controlled substance in non-original container, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and equipment violation for the headlights.
Zuppelli was released on $500 bail.
House burglarized
Sometime between 2 and 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 someone broke into a home on Heltz Road, Hamburg.
According to Town of Hamburg Police, the victim returned home from running errands and found the side door had been forced open and the house had been ransacked.
According to police, $15,550 was reported stolen along with some prescription drugs.
The investigation is continuing.
Theft foiled by employee
At about 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a tractor trailer was observed pulling up to a Republic Steel warehouse to pick up a load of product.
The driver, Eric D. Bennett, 56, of Ohio, was observed to take four pieces of aluminum beams, worth $400, and place them in an enclosed cargo box, which was attached to the tractor trailer.
Security and the business management was contacted by the witness and Bennett was apprehended.
Bennett was charged with petit larceny and released on an appearance ticket. He was transported back to pick up his vehicle and was advised he is no longer allowed on the property.
Theft of wallet leads to warrant for arrest
At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, a Hamburg man went to the Tops Market on McKinley Parkway and went to the service desk to complete some paperwork.
According to police, the victim left his wallet on the service desk and when he returned a short time later, the wallet was gone.
A video surveillance camera showed a suspect cashed a check and then take possession of the victim’s wallet, leaving the area.
The suspect has been identified as a white male, 48, of an apartment complex on Southwestern Boulevard in Hamburg. A felony warrant has been issued for his arrest, police said.
Confrontation leads to arrest of Hamburg man
At 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Town of Hamburg Police Officer Daniel Cronmiller was conducting a traffic stop on Bayview Road near Lakeshore Road.
While conducting an investigation on the traffic stop, Clifford R. Cummings, 27, of Hamburg approached the officer on foot from the area of the Woodlawn Credit Union.
According to police, Cummings was yelling at Cronmiller had no right to make the traffic stop and that he was violating the operator’s “Bill of Rights,”
The confrontation forced Cronmiller to stop what he was doing, interfering with his job as a police officer, police said.
Three other officers then arrived on the scene moments later and after the driver of the motor vehicle was allowed to move on, police then stopped Cummings from walking away down Lakeshore Road.
As officers approached, Cummings placed a backpack down on the shoulder of a road, where the officers were able to observe a bag of suspected marijuana in the open top pocket of the backpack.
Cummings was charged with second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and unlawful possession of marijuana.
He was transported to the police station and a subsequent search of Cummings’ possessions revealed three vials, one with a white powdered substance in it. It was sent to the lab for identification.
Clothing theft arrests
At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Town of Hamburg Police charged Antonia M. Giuga, 20, of West Seneca with petit larceny after she put on two shirts and then tried to leave the JC Penny’s store at the McKinley Mall without paying for them. Value of the items was set at $36.
At 5:34 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 Town of Hamburg Police charged Jessica M. Diaz, 21, of Lackawanna, with petit larceny after she put three sets of underwear and two swim suits, worth $105, into her purse and tried to leave the Sears store in the McKinley Mall without paying for them.
Brant monthly report
During the month of January the Town of Brant Police handled 1,171 complaints.
This included nine accident calls (four injury), 11 criminal complaints, 15 non-criminal complaints, 10 misdemeanor arrests and one violation arrest.
There were 16 first aid, nine assists to other agencies, 53 assists to motorists, three assists to the dog control officer, one detail/community policing, 416 premises checked and 37 money escorts.
Police officers issued 222 traffic and vehicle violations and patrolled a total of 4,018 miles in the three vehicles.
Chief of Police Donald Hepkins reported that he and other members of the Brant Police Department and Town of Evans Police Dispatcher Lynette Braeuner have been updating the street addresses in the Town of Brant computer system. In doing so, they have found several residences and businesses in the Town of Brant and Village of Farnham that do not have a house number on the building or mailbox.
According to Hepkins, in a case of an emergency, it would be difficult to locate the residences or businesses without these posted numbers.
Town of Eden Police report that at 3:03 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Officer Nicholas Blasz responded to a single car crash at the intersection of Route 62 and Route 75.
A 2010 Toyota, operated by Michael Zittel, 22, of Eden, crossed over center, before leaving the highway at a high rate of speed.
The car sheered off and broke a utility pole in half, before coming to rest against a large tree near a house.
Zittel, alone in the car, had to be extricated by the Eden Emergency and Rescue Squad.
He was then taken by Mercy Flight to the Erie County Medical Center in critical condition. Since then his condition has been upgraded.
Eden, East Eden and Hamburg fire departments had to divert traffic because of concerns with the power lines. By 7:30 a.m. the power was restored and both highways were open to traffic.
Zittle was issued summonses for speed not prudent, failure to keep right and no safety belt.
Deputies from the Erie County Sheriff’s Road Patrol Unit and Accident Investigation Unit assisted at the scene.
‘The Hulk’ bank robber linked to theft in Eden
Town of Eden Police have made an arrest in connection with the Dec. 20 burglary at the East Eden Tavern, on East Eden Road in Eden.
According to Sgt. Shawn D. Bishop, over $1,000 was taken from the bar area and some evidence was left at the scene at the time of burglary.
The evidence was collected from the scene and transported to the Central Police Services lab in Buffalo.
As Town of Eden Police continued its investigation, Town of Hamburg Police were investigating the Jan. 9 armed robbery of the McKinley Parkway branch of Northwest Savings Bank by a man wearing an “Incredible Hulk” mask.
On Jan. 26, Hamburg Police responded to a larceny call at Sears and Officer Joseph O’Brien realized the suspect, Jacob Lester, 28, of Angola, matched a composite drawing of the robbery suspect.
A search warrant of Lester’s residence revealed items that allegedly were used during the robbery, including a black gun.
Following Lester’s arrest, his finger and palm prints were entered into the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
“On Feb. 1, we were notified through SAFIS that our evidence now linked Lester to the East Eden Tavern burglary,” Bishop said.
Lester, who was being held at the Erie County Holding Center in lieu of $50,000 bail in regards to the Hamburg bank robbery, was additionally charged by Town of Eden Police with felony third-degree burglary, felony fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
He was transported to the Eden Town Court, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, where he appeared before Justice Melissa Zittel who set bail at $20,000.
Theft of items in Hamburg and Evans linked to couple
Both the Town of Hamburg and Town of Evans police departments have charged Danielle R. Pericak, 21, of Evans and Steven M. Klopp, 24, of Hamburg with felony grand larceny in connection with two separate thefts.
According to police, on Dec. 26, 2011, while residing at a family members home, Klopp found a sterling silverware set, valued at $6,000, under the bed in his room.
He then allegedly took the set to an antique dealership in Orchard Park, and with the help of his girlfriend, Pericak, sold it for $1,800.
A warrant was issued for Klopp’s arrest.
On Feb. 14, Town of Evans Police were informed by an Evans resident that three rings were missing from her house, including a custom made two-tone yellow and gold ring with multiple diamonds, worth $2,500.
The victim went to several jewelry stores in an attempt to find the ring and at one business, the jeweler said that a man had been to the store trying to sell that ring.
The victim was able to identify the suspect as Klopp, who is known to her through Pericak.
On Feb. 15, Klopp was picked up on Hamburg’s warrant and the Evans Detective Bureau was advised of the arrest.
The victim of the Evans burglary was informed by Pericak the custom made ring had been taken to a South Park Avenue pawn shop and sold for $175. She went to the store, where she identified the ring as being one of the three stolen rings and she had to pay the shop $190 for the $170 given to the offenders and a credit card fee.
Pericak made a statement she had taken only the one ring and had driven to the pawn shop in Buffalo to get the money.
Town of Evans Police charged Pericak with felony fourth-degree grand larceny and Klopp with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
In connection with the silverware theft, Town of Hamburg Police were told by the antique store owners the silverware was melted down shortly after it was acquired for the value of the metal.
According to police, $800 was given to Pericak, who provided her New York State driver’s license at the time of the sale, and a $1,000 in cash was given to Klopp.
Town of Hamburg Police charged Klopp with felony third-degree grand larceny.
Mobile home in Brooks Garden destroyed in fire
A mobile home in Brooks Garden was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, Feb. 16.
According to Town of Hamburg Police, the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when Officer Christopher Butera arrived at the scene.
Officer Robert Paas, evacuated the residents from next door as firefighters from Big Tree, Newton Abbott, Lake Shore and Blasdell volunteer fire companies battled the blaze.
The home owner and child were not home at the time of the fire and no one was hurt.
After the fire was extinguished, Fire Investigator/Detective Todd Ehret climbed the entry stairs and enter the platform remains of the mobile home and fell through the floor supports. The building is considered a complete loss.
The cause of the fire is undetermined in nature, though there is no evidence of foul play or any other suspicious circumstances which would indicate any type of criminal activity, police said.
Child left home alone nets charges for both parents
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Town of Eden Police Sgt. Shawn Bishop responded to a welfare check initiated from the Eden Central School.
According to police, when a young child is dropped off by a school bus an adult has to meet the child before the bus will leave. If no one is there, the child is taken back to the bus garage.
At the time, a 6-year-old was to be dropped off, but no parent was there to meet her, so she was returned to the school and Bishop was sent to check out the situation.
When Bishop knocked at the door, a 5-year-old boy answered and said his father was asleep in the basement bedroom.
Bishop told the boy to get the father. The child went downstairs and then returned to say no one was there and he was in the house alone.
According to police, Bishop took the boy and went to the bus garage to pick up the sister and returned to the police station.
Child Protective Services was contacted and the parents came to the police station, claiming an older sibling was left to watch the young boy, but he left to play with friends instead.
Charged with endangering the welfare of a child were David D. Paradiso, 36 and Annmarie Paradiso, 36, both of Eden. They were released on an appearance ticket and are scheduled to appear back in court on Feb. 28.
Narcotics arrest
Town of Evans Police report that at 3:10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, Officer Matthew Stonitsch initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle on Mill Street for unapproved headlights.
When questioning the vehicle operator, Richard J. Zuppelli, 33, of Blasdell, became nervous, police said.
When asked if there were drugs inside the car, he allegedly said there were Lortabs underneath the driver’s seat.
Police located the narcotics in an unmarked plastic pill container. A license check revealed that Zuppelli’s license was also revoked.
He was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, controlled substance in non-original container, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and equipment violation for the headlights.
Zuppelli was released on $500 bail.
House burglarized
Sometime between 2 and 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 someone broke into a home on Heltz Road, Hamburg.
According to Town of Hamburg Police, the victim returned home from running errands and found the side door had been forced open and the house had been ransacked.
According to police, $15,550 was reported stolen along with some prescription drugs.
The investigation is continuing.
Theft foiled by employee
At about 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a tractor trailer was observed pulling up to a Republic Steel warehouse to pick up a load of product.
The driver, Eric D. Bennett, 56, of Ohio, was observed to take four pieces of aluminum beams, worth $400, and place them in an enclosed cargo box, which was attached to the tractor trailer.
Security and the business management was contacted by the witness and Bennett was apprehended.
Bennett was charged with petit larceny and released on an appearance ticket. He was transported back to pick up his vehicle and was advised he is no longer allowed on the property.
Theft of wallet leads to warrant for arrest
At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, a Hamburg man went to the Tops Market on McKinley Parkway and went to the service desk to complete some paperwork.
According to police, the victim left his wallet on the service desk and when he returned a short time later, the wallet was gone.
A video surveillance camera showed a suspect cashed a check and then take possession of the victim’s wallet, leaving the area.
The suspect has been identified as a white male, 48, of an apartment complex on Southwestern Boulevard in Hamburg. A felony warrant has been issued for his arrest, police said.
Confrontation leads to arrest of Hamburg man
At 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Town of Hamburg Police Officer Daniel Cronmiller was conducting a traffic stop on Bayview Road near Lakeshore Road.
While conducting an investigation on the traffic stop, Clifford R. Cummings, 27, of Hamburg approached the officer on foot from the area of the Woodlawn Credit Union.
According to police, Cummings was yelling at Cronmiller had no right to make the traffic stop and that he was violating the operator’s “Bill of Rights,”
The confrontation forced Cronmiller to stop what he was doing, interfering with his job as a police officer, police said.
Three other officers then arrived on the scene moments later and after the driver of the motor vehicle was allowed to move on, police then stopped Cummings from walking away down Lakeshore Road.
As officers approached, Cummings placed a backpack down on the shoulder of a road, where the officers were able to observe a bag of suspected marijuana in the open top pocket of the backpack.
Cummings was charged with second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and unlawful possession of marijuana.
He was transported to the police station and a subsequent search of Cummings’ possessions revealed three vials, one with a white powdered substance in it. It was sent to the lab for identification.
Clothing theft arrests
At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Town of Hamburg Police charged Antonia M. Giuga, 20, of West Seneca with petit larceny after she put on two shirts and then tried to leave the JC Penny’s store at the McKinley Mall without paying for them. Value of the items was set at $36.
At 5:34 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 Town of Hamburg Police charged Jessica M. Diaz, 21, of Lackawanna, with petit larceny after she put three sets of underwear and two swim suits, worth $105, into her purse and tried to leave the Sears store in the McKinley Mall without paying for them.
Brant monthly report
During the month of January the Town of Brant Police handled 1,171 complaints.
This included nine accident calls (four injury), 11 criminal complaints, 15 non-criminal complaints, 10 misdemeanor arrests and one violation arrest.
There were 16 first aid, nine assists to other agencies, 53 assists to motorists, three assists to the dog control officer, one detail/community policing, 416 premises checked and 37 money escorts.
Police officers issued 222 traffic and vehicle violations and patrolled a total of 4,018 miles in the three vehicles.
Chief of Police Donald Hepkins reported that he and other members of the Brant Police Department and Town of Evans Police Dispatcher Lynette Braeuner have been updating the street addresses in the Town of Brant computer system. In doing so, they have found several residences and businesses in the Town of Brant and Village of Farnham that do not have a house number on the building or mailbox.
According to Hepkins, in a case of an emergency, it would be difficult to locate the residences or businesses without these posted numbers.
ADD YOUR THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS
