Town, Village of Lancaster Police Blotter

LANCASTER- Nov. 10

Aggravated Harassment

At 12:16 a.m., patrol received a walk-in complaint at the station of harassment. The complainant, 50, of Lancaster, stated he received several text messages from the subject, 24, of Depew, on his cell phone in a harassing manner.

The complainant stated he wrote the subject text messages that stated “stop calling, emailing, and text messaging me. I don’t want you to bother me anymore.” After the complainant wrote the text message to the subject, she followed it with several text messages attempting to annoy the complainant. The text messages were observed by patrol during the investigation.

Patrol contacted the subject and advised her that she is not to contact the complainant at all in any way by phone or in person. Patrol advised the subject that the complainant was given the same warning. At that time, the subject agreed that she would not contact the complainant. The complainant did not wish to pursue charges at this time, but was advised on his rights.

Driving with Suspended Registration

While on route at 6:25 p.m. patrol observed a 1993 Chevrolet Van traveling west on Walden Avenue pass a steady red light at Central Avenue. Patrol stopped the vehicle and found the subject, 41, of Lackawanna, to be the driver. The subject was unable to produce any documentation.

A computer check showed that the registration was suspended for no insurance. The subject was issued tickets for operation of a motor vehicle with registration suspended, operation of a motor vehicle without insurance, and a traffic device violation: passed red light. The subject was released at the scene.

Nov. 13

Referral

At 9:03 a.m., patrol responded to a Bowen Road address for a report of loose goats. Upon location, the goats were back in their pen by a neighbor. On inspection patrol noticed no fresh water or a food source.

Patrol contacted the owner who stated that the nine goats and five chickens are supposed to be taking care by another person while he is out of town. Patrol spoke to this person who claimed she dropped off vegetables occasionally, but told patrol that she is not taking care of the animals. The last time she was there was Nov. 9. The animals have only wet hay to eat and unclean water.

Patrol contacted the SPCA and the SPCA representative was informed of the situation and said she has been in contact with the owner due to previous calls made against him.

The owner made other care arrangements for the animals until he could return home in a couple of days. The owner is a truck driver and is often gone for weeks at a time. There was no further action by patrol. The SPCA is handling the case.

Nov. 15

Driving While Intoxicated

At 4:53 a.m., patrol was dispatched to Genesee Street on an attempt to locate a motor vehicle that was operating recklessly. While on Genesee Street, patrol was informed through dispatch the subject’s vehicle, a red Volkswagen Passat, had been stopped by three complainants on Genesee Street near Town Line Road.

Patrol located the vehicle and upon making contact with the subject, Timothy L. Mitchell, 26, of Raleigh, N.C., patrol immediately noticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle. Mitchell appeared to be unaware of his surroundings and was unable to answer simple questions asked by patrol concerning where he was coming from and where he was heading too.

Mitchell was directed out of the vehicle and given several standard field sobriety tests all of which he failed. Mitchell was taken into custody and transported to the station. At the station he submitted to a breath test with a result of .21 percent BAC.

Mitchell was charged with DWI and aggravated DWI

Nov. 16

Attempt: Scheme to Defraud

At 12:33 p.m., the complainant, 40, of Lancaster, came to the station to report a fraud. The complainant stated he put an ad on Craigslist to sell an antique wooden boat for $1,800. The complainant was contacted by a male subject that identified himself as “John Berry.” The subject told the complainant that he was interested in purchasing the boat and over a period of time called the complainant numerous times and sent multiple text messages in regards to the boat.

The complainant received a check from FedEx containing a check for the boat in the amount of $4,000. The FedEx envelope was addressed to the complainant and sent from Hayneedle Inc., in Omaha, Neb. The subject told the complainant to deposit the $4,000 check and of the $4,000 the complainant could keep $1,900: $1,800 for the boat and $100 tip.

The remaining $2,100 was to be sent to a “Patricia Ladaga” in California. The complainant deposited the check and approximately an hour later, the bank contacted him and advised him that they were going to place a “hold” on the check. The bank believed that the check might not be paid.

The complainant then checked Craigslist and discovered that the subject was on their scam list. The bank canceled the check. The complainant provided patrol with a copy of his deposit slip and the FedEx envelope. The complainant and the bank did not incur any financial loss. The complainant stated the bank’s fraud department was going to look into the matter and the bank advised him to report the incident to police.