Impaired charge is lodged in June 22 traffic fatality
A Hamburg woman was charged with a driving while impaired by alcohol in the death of a man who was struck while lying on Sowles Road near Electric Avenue about 3:30 a.m. June 22.
Joyce McNelis, 32, had posted a blood-alcohol reading of .07 percent, Hamburg police said. She could face a possible 15-day jail term and a fine of up to $500. Police officials said they have been unable to determine why the victim, Cameron John, 24, was lying in the roadway.
McNelis faces Hamburg Town Court proceedings Aug. 20.
Georgia man suspected of other area robberies
A Georgia man arrested after the holdup of a restaurant on Transit Road in Amherst Wednesday remains under investigation as a suspect in other area holdups, authorities said Thursday.
Wayne Wright, 56, of Americus, Ga., was stopped on Transit just south of Main Street by K-9 Officer Thomas J. Grillo Jr. shortly after he allegedly stole $48.49 and three cookies from a Subway outlet on Transit near North French Road about 4:40 p.m.
Amherst Police Lt. Eric David said Wright was charged with fraudulent accosting and petit larceny in the Subway case. On Wednesday, authorities said, Wright ordered the cookies and paid with a $50 bill – then asked for change in different denominations. When the employee refused, Wright grabbed his $50 bill, $48.49 from the register, the three cookies and fled, police said.
Serial DWI offender facing 60 days in jail
A Blasdell man with four alcohol-related driving convictions was sentenced to 60 days in jail for driving while intoxicated and driving while his license was revoked earlier this year, Cheektowaga police said.
Aaron Longbine, 38, of Harrison Avenue was arrested March 3 on the Thruway by state police and charged with DWI and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Longbine’s license had been previously revoked for an alcohol-related conviction in 2011.
Longbine pleaded guilty last week in Cheektowaga Town Court and later was sentenced by Judge Paul Piotrowski to 60 days in the Erie County Correctional Facility.
Victim of shooting in critical condition
A Buffalo man who was shot in the head and chest on Sumner Place early Wednesday evening is listed in critical condition in Erie County Medical Center.
A 15-year-old suspect remains under investigation in the shooting, of Jeremy Thomas, 23, in the 200 block of Sumner about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call or text message the Buffalo police anonymous TIPCALL line at 847-2255 or email the information by visiting www.bpdny.org and clicking on “Report a Tip.”
Credit card scam gets woman year in prison
A Buffalo woman was sentenced to 12 months in prison and two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara Thursday on a credit card fraud conviction.
Tynia Cloud, 31, also was ordered to make $21,000 in restitution.
Prosecutors said that between June 28 and Sept. 21, 2011 Cloud conspired with others to obtain credit cards from US Bank in the names of out-of-state residents and through online bank applications. Cloud used the fraudulent credit cards at Buffalo-area retail stores.
Co-conspirator Michael Harris pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and is scheduled to be sentenced before Arcara on Aug. 22.
Hamburg bar brouhaha yields assault charge
A Hamburg man was charged with misdemeanor assault after a bar fight last week.
Brad Rybczynski, 36, of Lake View, told Hamburg police he was pushed by the victim, Stephen Columbo, 53, of Lake View, at Root 5 on Lake Shore Road about 11 p.m. last Friday “My understanding is these two knew each other from before,” Capt. Kevin Trask said.
Trask said the fight was over by the time police responded. Columbo, who refused treatment at the scene, had been wearing glasses that were pushed into his face when he was punched in the eye. He suffered a cut over his brow which required stitches, Trask said. Rybczynski is the chairman of the Hamburg town Zoning Board of Appeals.
Buffalo man accused of heroin trafficking
A Lakeview Avenue man being held on felony narcotics charges is accused of trafficking in heroin.
Anthony E. Roman, 43, was arrested in a police raid on his Lakeview home about 8 p.m. Tuesday. Roman was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third, fourth and seventh degrees, criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree and possession of controlled substances not in their original containers.