Around the NeighborhoodWilliamsville · Amherst · Clarence · Newstead →
Two In Custody
Pink-Hair Shoplifters Hail an Uber, Then Spend the Morning Arguing With the Driver Over a Trunkful of Loot
An Amherst PD pursuit that hopscotched from the Five Below at Walmart to the awning of Bob's Furniture before two women in their twenties were taken in by 10:44 a.m.
What started just after 10:30 a.m. as a shoplifting complaint at the Walmart at Sheridan and Niagara Falls Boulevard turned, by 10:37 a.m., into one of the strangest live-narrated pursuits Amherst-Clarence has produced this spring. Officers reported that "the shoplifters used an Uber to get there," loaded the merchandise into the trunk, "and now the driver's refusing to open up the trunk and give them the property — so they're arguing outside the car."[1][2] The dispatcher kept a running play-by-play as the silver Hyundai out front rolled off, the two women — one with hot pink hair, both in their twenties — ended up "under the awning of Bob's Furniture" with the Uber driver tailing them on foot.[3][4][5] By 10:44 a.m. an officer was on the air with "we've got two in custody, Boulevard, you'll meet up" — signed off, in the unit's words, with a flat "Peace out."[6][7] The pair was transported back to the Five Below for stolen-property identification.[8][9] Follow-up calls between 11:17 and 11:29 a.m. tracked an apparent secondary suspect vehicle — "GOA" was the eventual verdict — while officers walked the supervisor over to LaBelle to wrap reports.[10][11]
Newstead
Tree Crew Clips a 500-Gallon Propane Tank on Brucker Road — "Actively Leaking, No Ignition Sources"
Amherst Fire toned out NUSA to 12525 Brucker Road just before 12:43 p.m. for a residential tank struck by a limb during routine tree work; about 240 gallons remained inside.
At 12:42 p.m. Amherst Fire Dispatch sent crews to a leaking residential propane tank at 12525 Brucker Road in Newstead, between Captain Drive and Cedar Street, after a tree crew working the property hit the tank with a falling limb.[12][13] A 94 unit was first in from 725 Brucker; the dispatcher pushed the caller to keep "back about 300 [feet]" while a fume cloud built around the tank.[14] The size was significant: "a 500-gallon tank with approximately 240 gallons still inside," in the dispatcher's words to the on-scene officer at 12:58 p.m.[15] NUSA units were directed to channel 2 at 13:03 once everyone was on location.[16] By 14:14 the call valve had been replaced and the standoff was effectively over — no smoke, no fire, no transport.[17]
Open Line
"Unknown Trouble, Open Line, 165 Grandview" — Amherst PD Rolls Ambulance and Police at 7:34 a.m.
A first-whistle open-line 911 with the caller audible but not engaging; an EMS unit and a patrol unit are dispatched, no recent history at the address.
The first real call of the morning came at 7:34 a.m., a dispatcher relaying an "unknown trouble, open line" from 165 Grandview — an active 911 connection where the line is hot but no one is answering questions: "first whistle, I'm asking for an ambulance, I'm asking for police."[18] A patrol unit (305) was assigned, another unit ("Six is cleared and heading"), and the dispatcher noted "no recent history there" before instructing the caller to "leave it open or close it, whichever."[19][20][21] No follow-up traffic ran on the channel; the call appears to have resolved without incident.
Stalked & Threatened
National Fuel Tech in a White Van is Followed by an Angry Customer — "They're Going to Kill Them"
At 11:01 a.m. Amherst PD walks a utility crew toward the station after a shut-off goes sideways; the suspect vehicle is lost in traffic.
At 11:01 a.m. an Amherst PD dispatcher passed along that a National Fuel technician — a complainant in a "white National Fuel van" — said he was "being followed and saying that they're going to kill them."[22][23] Dispatch confirmed the crew had been directed to drive to the station and "turn on the Dodge towards the station," with officers attempting a plate run on the pursuing vehicle.[24] The trigger surfaced two minutes later in a dispatcher aside: "turned off his gas because he wasn't paying his bill, and that sparked the argument."[25] The trailing vehicle was lost in traffic shortly after; the gas crew arrived safe at the front lot.[26]
5140 Main
EpiPen Already Administered at a Main Street Allergic Reaction; EMS Rolls Toward Lafayette & South Forest
The complainant got out in front of it before the radio even tagged a unit.
Just after 10:25 a.m., Amherst PD pulled EMS to 5140 Main Street, between Lafayette and South Forest, on what appeared to be an allergic reaction with the patient already self-treated: "had an allergic reaction… I gave it EpiPen already."[27] A white Honda in the parking lot was flagged as the patient's vehicle.[28] No transport-vs-refusal disposition was broadcast on the channel; Twin City Ambulance picked up the call thread shortly after.
Eviction Day
"The Resident Who Resides There is Curled Up in a Ball, Sitting Across From the Unit"
A 9:19 a.m. hoarding-unit clean-out gets the kind of dispatcher dictation that sticks with you.
At 9:19 a.m. an Amherst PD unit was on scene for what dispatch summed up plainly: "There's a company on location cleaning out the hoarding unit. The resident who resides there is curled up in a ball, sitting across from the unit."[29][30] The unit (Department D) requested a contact for the responsible party so the call could be added to "the call screen for future calls with this guy."[31] No criminal complaint resulted; it was logged as a civil/eviction stand-by.
Two Mulch Fires
Sheridan Drive at Whole Foods, and Lowe's on Niagara Falls Boulevard, Both Smolder Inside an Hour
Amherst Fire and Ellicott Creek pull two mulch-bed flare-ups before 3 p.m. — neither escalates.
At 1:41 p.m., Ellicott Creek 7 took a mulch fire in the construction area of 1342 Amherst Place "near Whole Foods" on Sheridan Drive; Twin City Ambulance was pulled in to stand by for an evaluation that turned into a patient refusal.[32][33][34] Just before 3 p.m., North Bailey was toned out for a second mulch fire at 1659 Niagara Falls Boulevard "in front of Lowe's," between Romney Road and Ridgely Road, with the caller reporting no exposures and crews staging near a Bison Turf Equipment truck in the lot.[35][36][37] Both calls ran short on the radio.
Overheard: The WiresEight Hours of Banter, Bewilderment, and the Occasional Sigh →
Mistranscription
"Small Mouse Fight On the Woods Season"
Amherst Fire Dispatch reads the call back, and the scanner produces a poem.
At 12:15 p.m. an Amherst Fire dispatcher closed out a small-incident handoff with the perfect five-act tragedy of a sentence: "Small mouse fight on the woods season turned over to APD."[38] Twenty seconds later, an aide clarified, calmly: "Small forest fire. Small fire in the woods. It's been extinguished."[39] The radio is a noisy room.
Mid-Pursuit Aside
"Everybody's Calling Me, and it Sounds Like I'm Tossing These Chips Down the Cliff"
The Walmart shoplifter pursuit produces its own line of cosmic frustration at 12:33 p.m.
Twenty minutes after the cuffs went on at Five Below, an Amherst PD voice on the air, fully spent: "Everybody's calling me, and it sounds like I'm tossing these chips down the cliff."[40] No further explanation. None required.
Peace Out
Amherst PD's Two-Word Custody Sign-Off
10:44 a.m., a unit confirms the cuffs and signs off with the casual contempt of a teen-ager texting goodnight.
Logged at 10:44 a.m. immediately after the second confirmation of "two in custody, Boulevard, you'll meet up": "Peace out."[7][41] Whether intended for the suspects, the supervisor, the Uber driver, or the dispatcher remains a matter of editorial speculation.
Med-43
"Coming At You Hot With Holland"
A 10:20 a.m. radio check from Med-43 advises EMS dispatch with the energy of an action-movie cold open.
Med-43, transmitting at 10:20 a.m.: "Coming at you hot with Holland, 60 Legion Drive…"[42] The Holland in question is the town in southern Erie County. The phrasing is for free.
Saturday Cartoon
HMS Security Just Needs the Coach's Janitor Closet Unlocked
10:10 a.m. arena-side radio sounds like a backstage stage manager begging for a key.
From HMS Security, 10:10 a.m.: "Just in Coach's room, they need to unlock the janitor closet, just some concrete ceilings there."[43][44] Closer: "Tell him to give me a copy."[45] The day before a Sabres event always sounds like this.
SharpBusLine
"Heart to the Road"
A Canadian motor-coach dispatcher signs off to a driver with the gravitas of a benediction.
From Can. Transport at 8:41 a.m., SharpBusLine: "Heart to the Road."[46] Drive safe.
Regional BlotterBeyond the Village, Around the Region →
East Amherst: Crosby's, Two Patients Passed Out in a Vehicle — Sheriff Staged
EAFD Dispatch at 10:07 a.m. staged EMS at the Crosby's between Savage and West Strut for two patients passed out in the vehicle, waiting on a Sheriff's Office unit.[47][48] No transport disposition broadcast.
Cheektowaga: 45-Minute Domestic on Providence — "Male and Female Yelling and Getting Thrown Around"
Cheektowaga PD 1 logged a 45-minute disturbance call at 9:47 a.m. on Providence, the complainant calling from apartment 1103.[49][50] Patrol responded.
Cheektowaga: Terminated Employee Threats on Alden Avenue
At 2:40 p.m., Cheektowaga PD 1 was told by an Alden Avenue business manager that an employee just terminated had made threats on the way out the door.[51]
Niagara Falls / NC FD: 65-Year-Old Male Unable to Ambulate, 3143 Bowery Drive Apt 11
Niagara County Fire Control at 12:38 p.m. toned out a BLS-standard EMS run between Lawson Drive and Main Street; the run was assigned to LaSalle Volunteer FD.[52][53]
Niagara County: 67-Year-Old Male, Rapid Heart Rate & Head Pain on Master Street
NT Truck 1 at 9:03 a.m. on EMS 1603 Master Street between Ellis Street and Rewady Road, BLS recommended.[54][55]
Orchard Park: 37-Year-Old Male, Chest Pain & EKG Changes at 3346 Southwestern Boulevard
OPFD 1 Dispatch at 1:00 p.m. logged a hard-response EMS request from staff at Western New York Medicare; available units were assigned in 13:00-hour rotation.[56][57]
Buffalo (BFD Ch1): 2-Year-Old Female Call on Goethe Street
Agent 28 EMS dispatched at 1:40 p.m. to 42 Goethe Street, lower, between Schiller and Ludington for a two-year-old female on the floor.[58]
Other Calls of Note
[07:34] Amherst PD: open-line 911 at 165 Grandview — cross-listed above.
[18]
[08:39] Amherst Fire: alarm activation at 461 John James Audubon Parkway between Gordon Arnaeger Drive and Bryant Woods South — cleared as avoidable, testing through 2 p.m.
[59][60]
[09:00] Amherst Fire: Getzville fire-line activation, 136 Shell Ridge Drive between Beech Ridge and Lurie Ridge — first-floor smoke detector, homeowner reset remotely.
[61][62]
[10:17] Amherst Fire: response into the Walker Center parking lot between Lafayette Boulevard and Park Club Lane.
[63]
[11:37] Amherst Fire: small forest fire behind dumpsters at 97 East Somerset, extinguished at the scene.
[38][39]
[11:54] Amherst PD: 911 verification at 203 Park Club Lane (Roswell Park).
[64]
[12:21] Amherst PD: spillover from family court "this morning" — dispatched as a civil-side dispute.
[65]
[12:31] Amherst PD: dispute on 226 Vine Lower over Amazon packages "the owner returned… they're disputing that."
[66][67]
[12:44] Amherst Fire: 68-year-old female COPD patient, Apartment A at 825 Robin Road (Parkside Apartments).
[68]
[13:37] Amherst Fire: Ellicott Creek EMS at 295 North French Road for a 20-year-old male cardiac patient "in pain and trouble."
[69][70]
[14:03] EC Sheriff Patrol: suspect Ford F-150, black with red stripe down the driver's side, sought near Garfield.
[71][72]
[14:26] Amherst Fire: mulch fire on the side of the building at 201 South Lake Village (UB campus).
[73]