Drive-By Shooting In Amherst -- It's True!

[tomac]

Yet another violent crime in the area.
Someone threw some type of fire cocktail on to a roof on Capen the other night. Minimal damage to the building, but again, weird stuff going on.
Drive-bys, arson attempts...........
Also, the media coverage suffers from a deplorable lack of curiosity.
Usually these type of crimes are laden with revenge, yet you hardly ever see the news cover that angle.
I'm guessing these weren't random acts.

Maybe when this trash invading Amherst finally kills somebody, then the media will wake up and start reporting the news. Until then, who's on "American Idol"?

[Townsfolk]

Bailey Ave. used to be the dividing line between the city and the burbs. The lower income families and the criminals have been pushing their way further into the burbs over the past decade. Take a look at what is happening in Sloan and the part of Cheektowaga west of the Galleria including Target, Home Depot, Tops, and Walmart. The same can be said for Eggertsville and soon to be Snyder. The dividing line is now Harlem. Why do you think the Wegman's at Galleria is closing? This is what happens when older neighborhoods are ignored and redevelopment and reinvestment does not take place. The public housing does nothing to help the situation. That's the reality of it, whether you like it or not.

[Downstate Buffaloian]

Bailey Ave. used to be the dividing line between the city and the burbs. The lower income families and the criminals have been pushing their way further into the burbs over the past decade. Take a look at what is happening in Sloan and the part of Cheektowaga west of the Galleria including Target, Home Depot, Tops, and Walmart. The same can be said for Eggertsville and soon to be Snyder. The dividing line is now Harlem. Why do you think the Wegman's at Galleria is closing? This is what happens when older neighborhoods are ignored and redevelopment and reinvestment does not take place. The public housing does nothing to help the situation. That's the reality of it, whether you like it or not.

Well said! Only I'd like to add by 2015 the dividing line will be Union Road and by 2025 it will be Transit Road. Because the area's population is not growing and sprawl continues in the outer suburbs, the area will be one huge donut hole within 20 years. My word of advice to homebuyers worried about their long-term investment either buy east of Transit or in the good parts of the City (Elmwood, Delaware Park, Downtown) The rest of the area is toast!

[communicator]

Bailey Ave. used to be the dividing line between the city and the burbs. The lower income families and the criminals have been pushing their way further into the burbs over the past decade. Take a look at what is happening in Sloan and the part of Cheektowaga west of the Galleria including Target, Home Depot, Tops, and Walmart. The same can be said for Eggertsville and soon to be Snyder. The dividing line is now Harlem. Why do you think the Wegman's at Galleria is closing? This is what happens when older neighborhoods are ignored and redevelopment and reinvestment does not take place. The public housing does nothing to help the situation. That's the reality of it, whether you like it or not.

I think the remodel/rebuild of Wegmans on Dick Rd. caused the final demise of the Walden Ave. store. Dick Rd. was the oldest Wegmans store in Buffalo. I believe the lack of customers from Buffalo also contributed. But it can't only be attributted to lower income families because the Amherst St. store is thriving.

[Downstate Buffaloian]

I think the remodel/rebuild of Wegmans on Dick Rd. caused the final demise of the Walden Ave. store. Dick Rd. was the oldest Wegmans store in Buffalo. I believe the lack of customers from Buffalo also contributed. But it can't only be attributted to lower income families because the Amherst St. store is thriving.

The Amherst Street Wegman's location is close to the high-income Delaware District, even if the immediate Black Rock neighborhood where it's located is low income. The Cheektowaga location has a few middle to lower-middle income areas nearby but not the big bucks that are found in within a mile or two of the Black Rock Wegmans. I think the Cheektowaga location tried to rely on spillover shoppers from more affluent areas that were visiting the Gallaria.

[Downstate Buffaloian]

Attached are maps showing average household income for the areas surrounding the two Wegmans locations:

Attachment 827

Attachment 828

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Well said! Only I'd like to add by 2015 the dividing line will be Union Road and by 2025 it will be Transit Road. Because the area's population is not growing and sprawl continues in the outer suburbs, the area will be one huge donut hole within 20 years. My word of advice to homebuyers worried about their long-term investment either buy east of Transit or in the good parts of the City (Elmwood, Delaware Park, Downtown) The rest of the area is toast!

Are you seriously thinking an investment in Downtown or Elmwood is safer then East Amherst? I mean I know about city pride and all but that is just silly.

Pull one of your maps for the income around East Amherst.

[Downstate Buffaloian]

Are you seriously thinking an investment in Downtown or Elmwood is safer then East Amherst? I mean I know about city pride and all but that is just silly.

Pull one of your maps for the income around East Amherst.

Yes, at least somewhat so. People in the wealthier city neighborhoods have more tolerance for petty crime that would scare away suburbanities. They also tend to send their kids to private schools so they don't worry about the conditions of the public schools. The upscale city neighborhoods have a very strong sense of community. I have friends that live off of Elmwood and when they frequent local business you can see that everybody knows one another. People in that area are dedicated to urban life and intend to stay for the long haul. This is reflected in the steady increase of housing values in these upscale city neighborhoods.

East Amherst should hold together through the 2020's but it's already starting to filter down from being an upper-class area to an upper middle class area, as many of the wealthy from East Amherst are moving to Clarence to build bigger homes and pay lower property taxes.

Unfortunately I see Synder going down the tubes in the next 10-15 years. It's a shame too because there are really some beautiful old homes in that area with real class. The school district demographics tell the story, it's beginning to experience white flight, not too bad yet, but I'm sure the tipping point isn't too far away:
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/repcrd2005/cir/140201060000.pdf

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Yes, at least somewhat so. People in the wealthier city neighborhoods have more tolerance for petty crime that would scare away suburbanities. They also tend to send their kids to private schools so they don't worry about the conditions of the public schools. The upscale city neighborhoods have a very strong sense of community. I have friends that live off of Elmwood and when they frequent local business you can see that everybody knows one another. People in that area are dedicated to urban life and intend to stay for the long haul. This is reflected in the steady increase of housing values in these upscale city neighborhoods.

East Amherst should hold together through the 2020's but it's already starting to filter down from being an upper-class area to an upper middle class area, as many of the wealthy from East Amherst are moving to Clarence to build bigger homes and pay lower property taxes.

Unfortunately I see Synder going down the tubes in the next 10-15 years. It's a shame too because there are really some beautiful old homes in that area with real class. The school district demographics tell the story, it's beginning to experience white flight, not too bad yet, but I'm sure the tipping point isn't too far away:
http://emsc32.nysed.gov/repcrd2005/cir/140201060000.pdf

I can see the logic but I think it is likely. There is too much money in Real Estate for this to happen. Now, if Amherst were to merge with the county, your theory would have some legs. But as long as Amherst has it's autonomy, this will not happen.

If you think Sadam Mohan is a man of the people, just wait for it to edge into the wrong area, not loony acres or the Hud Housing.

[|- Amherst Stakeholder -|]

I have to wonder here how the investigation (if there is/was one one!) into the gunfire on Callodine is going. The initial (later retracted) certaintly of an arrest within 48 hours was obviously nothing but pure fantasy.

And another thing, I've been listening to a police scanner. Relative to the calls that the Buffalo Police get, Amherst's police calls are most definitely 'Hollywood" calls. Loose black & white dog versus man with with gun. PDO on 990 ramp in rain versus road rage incident with 12" knife. Man pounding on door with garden gnome versus man throwing bricks through front windo. Two teenagers drinking in parking lot versus gang of ten youths approaching cars with sledgehammers. Um, which police department has the generally earier job??

I wish the APD would just get down to work and address the enchoachment of crime in Eggertsville. Do the damn job, for Christ's sake!

[The Constable]

I have to wonder here how the investigation (if there is/was one one!) into the gunfire on Callodine is going. The initial (later retracted) certaintly of an arrest within 48 hours was obviously nothing but pure fantasy.

And another thing, I've been listening to a police scanner. Relative to the calls that the Buffalo Police get, Amherst's police calls are most definitely 'Hollywood" calls. Loose black & white dog versus man with with gun. PDO on 990 ramp in rain versus road rage incident with 12" knife. Man pounding on door with garden gnome versus man throwing bricks through front windo. Two teenagers drinking in parking lot versus gang of ten youths approaching cars with sledgehammers. Um, which police department has the generally earier job??

I wish the APD would just get down to work and address the enchoachment of crime in Eggertsville. Do the damn job, for Christ's sake!

As far as the investigation I believe it is still ongoing. As far as the 48 hour comment I guess I'll have to eat a little crow for that one;ok if I take off the feathers.

Now for the police action: A woman winning at the casino in the falls followed home and robbed in her garage by three men. RESULT: an injured woman, three arrest by an alert APD officer. Oh that happened on the midnight shift.

And now for a few arrest that may not have made the paper but show police activities indicating that perhaps they are doing their part to keep the town safe by doing their job.

• PETIT LARCENY: Tashia L. Smith, 29, Ingham Avenue, an Calvin Campbell, 27, Wilmuth, both of Lackawanna, were charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 14. Smith and Campbell allegedly used identity theft to pay for services at a Flint Road business, reports said.

• HARASSMENT: Frederick Plauman, 59, Tunbridge, East Aurora, was charged with aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, at 12:10 p.m. Sept. 14. No further information was available.

• BURGLARY: Andrew J. Latz, 19, Travers, was charged with burglary, a class C felony, at 1:10 p.m. Sept. 14. Latz allegedly broke into a Tonawanda Creek Road cottage, reports said.

• CHILD ENDANGERMENT: William Barksdale, 32, Ontario Street, Niagara Falls, was arrested on a warrant for acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years old, a misdemeanor, at 2:38 p.m. Sept. 14.



• DRUNKEN DRIVING: Michael Caputi, 46, Jeanmoor, was charged with first-degree driving while intoxicated and first-offense driving with a blood alcohol content more than 0.08 percent, both misdemeanors, as well as moving from a lane unsafely, a traffic violation, at 1:03 a.m. Sept. 15. No further information was available.

• DRUNKEN DRIVING: Christopher A. Mahoney, 22, Smith Road, was charged with second-degree driving while intoxicated and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, both class E felonies, as well as first-offense driving with a blood alcohol content more than 0.08 percent, a misdemeanor, and failure to keep right, a traffic violation, at 2:51 a.m. Sept. 15. No further information was available.

• DRUNKEN DRIVING: Ralph E. DiChiara Jr., 37, 15th Street, Buffalo, was charged with first-degree driving while intoxicated, first-offense driving with a blood alcohol content more than 0.08 percent and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, all misdemeanors, as well as moving from a land unsafely, a traffic violation, at 1:21 a.m Sept. 16. No further information was available.

• DRUNKEN DRIVING: Kevin F. Rowland, 22, Flint Village, was charged with first-degree driving while intoxicated, first-offense driving with a blood alcohol content more than 0.08 percent and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, all misdemeanors, as well as following too close, a traffic violation, at 1:43 a.m. Sept. 16. No further information was available.



• CRIMINAL POSSESSION: Eddie Tyson Jr., 48, Cambridge Avenue, Buffalo, was arrested on a warrant for fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and driving with suspended registration, all misdemeanors, as well as driving without inspection sticker, driving without a license, driving without proof of financial security, driving with obstructed vision, driving with improper plates and unlawful possession of marijuana, all violations, at 10:37 p.m. Sept. 16.

• CRIMINAL POSSESSION: Cassandra Tyson, 45, Cambridge Avenue, Buffalo, was arrested on a warrant for fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor, at 11:37 p.m. Sept. 16.

• CRIMINAL NUISANCE: Gerald J. Heim, 49, Catherine Street, was charged with second-degree criminal nuisance, a misdemeanor, at 1:38 a.m. Sept. 17. Heim allegedly allowed underage drinking at his residence, reports said.

• DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED: Peter M. Addie, 47, Wherle Drive, Williamsville, was charged with third-degree driving while impaired by drugs, a class D felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and moving from a lane unsafely, a traffic violation, at 6 a.m. Sept. 17. No further information was available.

• RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: Peter T. Wittemann, 40, Roycroft Road, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, all misdemeanors, as well as a muffler violation, driving with broken glass, three counts of running a stop sign, two counts of speeding and two counts of running a red light, all traffic violations, at 12:33 p.m. Sept. 17. Wittemann allegedly led police on a car chase, reports said.

• PETIT LARCENY: Dawit L. Ogbeab, 20, Darrow Road, Rochester, was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, at 6:42 p.m. Sept. 17. Ogbeab was allegedly stealing money from an Alberta Drive business, reports said.

• CRIMINAL POSSESSION: Richard R. Frank, 38, Hillpine, Cheektowaga, was arrested on a warrant for fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors, as well as a glass tint violation, a traffic violation, at 9:28 p.m. Sept. 17.

• CRIMINAL POSSESSION: Jasmine S. Diggs, 20, Gaulbert, Cheektowaga, was charged with second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors, as well as failure to use designated lane, driving without a license and disorderly conduct, all violations, at 11:24 p.m. Sept. 17. No further information was available.

• ASSAULT: Stuart Sloan, 40, North Street, Buffalo, was charged with assault, a class D felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony, as well as resisting arrest, third-degree unauthorized use of vehicle, second-degree obstruction of justice and false personation, all misdemeanors, at 10:31 p.m. Sept. 17. No further information was available.

• FALSE PERSONATION: Jennifer R. Fulton, 25, Avery Avenue, Buffalo, was charged with false personation, a misdemeanor, at 11:26 p.m. Sept. 17. No further information was available.

[|- Amherst Stakeholder -|]

I've never said that the Amherst Police don't make arrests. I'm not going to praise them for that... that's one of the things expected of them. A worker doesn't get high praise for just doing part of their job.

Based on regular and lengthy monitoring of police calls, relative to the Buffalo police and Cheektowaga police the Amherst Police are hollywood. Are you in any way trying to say that BPD activity is not generally more hazardous that Amherst'S? That would be preposterous.

More serious crime is infiltrating Eggertsville -- which is, like it or not, part of Amherst. My contention is that the APD are not prepared to deal with the "new" crime in Eggertsville. Further, I contend that because it is "Eggertsville" the APD has not made the situation a meaningful priority. They are (in essence) ignoring it.

The Allenhurst and Princeton projects are monuments to the problem.

[The Constable]

I've never said that the Amherst Police don't make arrests. I'm not going to praise them for that... that's one of the things expected of them. A worker doesn't get high praise for just doing part of their job.

Based on regular and lengthy monitoring of police calls, relative to the Buffalo police and Cheektowaga police the Amherst Police are hollywood. Are you in any way trying to say that BPD activity is not generally more hazardous that Amherst'S? That would be preposterous.

More serious crime is infiltrating Eggertsville -- which is, like it or not, part of Amherst. My contention is that the APD are not prepared to deal with the "new" crime in Eggertsville. Further, I contend that because it is "Eggertsville" the APD has not made the situation a meaningful priority. They are (in essence) ignoring it.

The Allenhurst and Princeton projects are monuments to the problem.

I absolutely am not saying being a Buffalo Copper isn't dangerous they clearly are in an enviorment which is much more hazzardous day to day than the suburban areas. But I also am aware that danger to police officers does not have any boundries. My contention is that the Amherst Police Department is prepared to handle any situation presented it. The fact is that Eggertsville is now and always has been the area of the town that has required attention; attention I might add that was given over the years. The Department is not ignoring the problem; it is being addressed. There is a meeting scheduled I believe on October 8th at Windermere School where citizens may attend and voice their concerns. I do agree with you that Allenhurst has been a problem for more years than I care to remember; more so than Princeton. But I also know that the APD has served many search warrants in Allenhurst relative to narcotics investigations.

[|- Amherst Stakeholder -|]

Another Eggertsville meeting at Windermere. How many does that make in the last 5 years? The results? Nothing. Meetings are great for politicians like Moslew. He gets to say a bunch of things that people want to hear. It's nice and cozy. You'll never hear him tell it like it is at Allenhurst... largely because I believe he's blocked it out of his own mind so he doesn't have to deal with it.

I have a single family residential address in Eggertsville (very close to Windermere). I read the Amherst Bee cover to cover every week. I have attended the Eggertsville residents meetings and get their newsletter. When might the police be letting the public actually know about the 10/8 meeting? The first I heard of it was in a posting eariler today on this very message board. Maybe Moslow doesn't want residents to know about the meeting?

It was said (above) that the APD are addressing the Allenhurst problem Well, I can tell you, they've failed. Drug-wise it's still a problem. But that's not the only problem over there. Gangs. Vandalism. Harassment. Threats. Robbery. Nuisance.

I encourage anyone to ask the police about 41 Longmeadow (part of the Allenhurst project). Why are they so familiar with that address? How many calls have they gotten to go there in the last 6 weeks?

Why should the police get high marks for "effort"? Aren't they expected to deliver measurable results? What are the metrics used to imply that things are improving at Allenhurst? Will Moslow present both raw and summarized metrics at the 10/8 meeting? (I'd bet he'd rather have a sharpe stick in the eye rather than face the pubilc with that information.) I remember the guy from the ECHO group posting the real facts once. I think he's moved now. Smart.

I think that the owner of Allenhurst has too much political power over the APD. Maybe he pays money to keep things on the down-low.

I don't give the APD any points for mere "effort".

The unsolved drive-by shooting is just yet another example of crime that is outside of the APD's abilities. If it was solved quickly, I'd say otherwise. And I'd be willing to bet that if that type of thing happened at Moslow's neighbor's house, it would've been solved pronto. Maybe I'm wrong. Exactly when might the Eggertsville drive-by be solved. a month? Two Months? 6 Months? A year? When another one occurs? When someone dies? Never? Does the APD have any really good leads? How many suspects are there? Do they have a car description? License plate number (even partial?)? I don't think it outrageous that nearby residents would want to know this kind of information. After all, we are effected by this.

Another smiley face meeting will serve no effective purpose. I've been to many. I could probably write the script for Moslow... if he even shows up. One time, he sent one of his subordinates. The APD needs to have an accountable timeline of what they've done... what they are doing... and what they will do differently to be effective in the future. The same old/same old isn't working. This is now different from what the hollywood cops are used to. They have to get that fact drilled into their brains. This is different. It isn't mischief. Or even DWI. It's violent. It's war. It's hatred. It's day-to-day now. The APD have not had those elements before.

Last week (for reasons that I care not to explain here), I spent 10 solid hours (no, not even a potty break) of one day looking out my front window in Eggertsville. I did not see a police car during that whole time. Yet they say they have a presence in the neighborhood?

[communicator]

The unsolved drive-by shooting is just yet another example of crime that is outside of the APD's abilities. If it was solved quickly, I'd say otherwise. And I'd be willing to bet that if that type of thing happened at Moslow's neighbor's house, it would've been solved pronto. Maybe I'm wrong. Exactly when might the Eggertsville drive-by be solved. a month? Two Months? 6 Months? A year? When another one occurs? When someone dies? Never? Does the APD have any really good leads? How many suspects are there? Do they have a car description? License plate number (even partial?)? I don't think it outrageous that nearby residents would want to know this kind of information. After all, we are effected by this.

Last week (for reasons that I care not to explain here), I spent 10 solid hours (no, not even a potty break) of one day looking out my front window in Eggertsville. I did not see a police car during that whole time. Yet they say they have a presence in the neighborhood?

You are funny. You spent an entire day looking out your window? You have too much time on your hands. You also said that you moved out of Eggertsville. Which is it? You still live there or you moved out? And if you moved out, where did you look out the window from?
Also, how do you solve a drive-by shooting? Just curious know it all. It takes witnesses and evidence. How many witnesses are there at 2AM? Why weren't you looking out the window then? You probably wouldn't "see anything" even if you were. Oh that's right, you use to live in Eggertsville.