Erie County Sheriff's Office

02/02/2021

PAIR WHO STOLE TRUCK FROM SPRINGVILLE STORE IDENTIFIED
Female Suspect Arrested, Male Suspected Arrested in Ohio

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of 43-year-old Jennifer Broad of Buffalo and the identification of 42-year-old Steven Remington of Otto.

On February 1, Detectives arrested and charged Broad after the agency published security footage of suspects at the Country Fair store in Springville. Broad is charged with a felony count of grand larceny – auto and a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle from the January 27 incident.

Further investigation revealed the identity of the male suspect to be Remington. Remington was found to be in police custody in Ohio on a separate stolen vehicle incident out of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office submitted an arrest warrant application to the Village of Springville Justice Court for Remington's arrest on the same charges as Broad.

Broad was released with appearance tickets, and the agency is awaiting Remington's return to Erie County before he can be formally charged.

Once again, the Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the public for their vigilance and tips, which helped identify the suspects.

The brown 2011 Ford F-150 is still missing.

The Sheriff’s Office also want to recognize the Erie County Crime Analysis Center for assisting in the investigation.

01/29/2021

AGENCY ASKING CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY PERSONS OF INTEREST

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard is turning to the people of Western New York to identify two people of interest for a stolen vehicle incident in Springville.

On January 27 at approximately 3:40 p.m., a contractor from Pennsylvania called the Sheriff’s Office after his work truck, with work tools, was stolen from the Country Fair parking lot.

Detectives have identified two individuals from the store’s security system as persons of interest and now needs help from the public to identify and locate the male and female in the footage.

The subjects are a white male with facial hair and a female with long hair last seen at the store.

The truck is a brown 2011 Ford F-150 with a Pennsylvania license plate – ZMK5875.

Anyone with information about the truck's location and the subjects and their identities is asked to call the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at 716.858.2903 and reference CL# 21 006707.

01/29/2021

SUSPECT WHO THREW A CHEMICAL AGENT AT A DEPUTY ARRESTED
Numerous Tips from the Public led to Suspect’s Arrest

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of a suspect who was involved in a pursuit earlier this week where a non-lethal chemical grenade was thrown at a Deputy.

Following the incident on January 25, the Sheriff’s Office went to the public to identify the people involved. Detectives followed up on several tips received from the public. They worked with the Erie County Crime Analysis Center to issue a region-wide alert looking for the suspect and associated individuals.

On January 28, the Niagara Falls Police Department contacted the Sheriff’s Office about two individuals in custody matching the suspects within the law enforcement alert. Detectives met Niagara Falls officers and took 40-year-old David Coffey of Marble, North Carolina, into custody and charged him with:

• Reckless endangerment, a class-D felony;
• Unlawful fleeing from police, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Obstruction of governmental administration, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Resisting arrest, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Unlawful possession of a noxious matter, a class-B misdemeanor.

Also taken into custody was 23-year-old Abigail Klink for multiple out-of-area warrants.

Both defendants are held at the Erie County Holding Center. Klink is awaiting extradition for outstanding warrants, and Coffey is remanded without bail.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the concerned citizens who provided information about the incident, the Erie County Crime Analysis Center for the region-wide alert, and the Niagara Falls Police for efforts that resulted in the arrest of the subject.

01/29/2021

3 ARRESTED ON DRUG DEALING CHARGES FOLLOWING TRAFFIC STOP

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports an investigation following a traffic stop resulted in three subjects arrested for multiple drug-related felonies.

A Deputy stopped a vehicle on Bagdad Road in the Town of Collins at approximately 11:20 pm on January 27 after observing vehicle and traffic violations. The Deputy discovered that 40-year-old Anthony Krepps, a passenger in the vehicle, had an outstanding warrant and was taken into custody, and the operator’s license is suspended.

A subsequent search of the vehicle and its occupants discovered approximately 15 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 1.5 grams of crack cocaine, one sheet of LSD, and four Suboxone tabs. Deputies found brass knuckles, a double-sided dagger, multiple drug pipes, and drug paraphernalia in addition to the narcotics. Also seized during the investigation was $5,254.00 in U.S. currency.

The three individuals arrested and charged are:
Anthony Krepps – 40 of Freedom, NY
• Criminal possession of meth with intent to sell, a class-B felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD with intent to sell, a class- B felony;
• Criminal possession of meth, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of cocaine, a class-D felony;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class-D felony;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a class-A misdemeanor.

Crystal Krepps – 39 of Freedom, NY
• Criminal possession of meth with intent to sell, a class-B felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD with intent to sell, a class- B felony;
• Criminal possession of meth, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of cocaine, a class-D felony;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class-D felony;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, class-A misdemeanor;
• Two (2) New York State vehicle and traffic law infractions.

Brian McGonagle – 28 of Cherry Creek, NY (convicted felon)
• Criminal possession of meth with intent to sell, a class-B felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD with intent to sell, a class- B felony;
• Criminal possession of meth, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of LSD, a class-C felony;
• Criminal possession of cocaine, a class-D felony;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class-D felony;
• Two (2) felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon – previous conviction;
• Criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a class-A misdemeanor;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class-A misdemeanor.

All three defendants were arraigned January 28. Anthony Krepps and Brian McGonagle were remanded to the Erie County Holding Center without bail. Crystal Krepps was released without bail.

01/28/2021

A PA driver reported their car stolen yesterday while leaving it run to warm up.
Don't warm it up for the thieves.

01/26/2021

SHERIFF SEEKS HELP LOCATING MAN WHO TOSSED A NON-LETHAL CHEMICAL AGENT AT A DEPUTY
Deputies Attempting to Locate the Driver of a White Pickup Truck Trailering an ATV and Tires

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard is seeking to identify a male subject who deployed a gas grenade during a vehicle pursuit.

On January 24 at approximately 6:15 p.m., a Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop along Route 438 on the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Cattaraugus Territories. The vehicle refused to pull over, and the operator tossed a non-lethal chemical grenade at the patrol vehicle. Powder residue from the gas grenade entered the vehicle’s cabin, causing a reaction. Due to Deputy’s discomfort and safety issues, they terminated the pursuit. The vehicle was last observed traveling westbound on Rte. 438, and Deputies believe the truck was heading west along the route before the attempted traffic stop.

Sheriff’s Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicle, operator, and persons associated with the incident. The vehicle is described as an older model white pickup truck, possibly a Dodge, towing a trailer. The trailer is a black tandem-axle utility trailer with round tubing railings carrying an older model ATV and several tires. The trailer did not have a ramp or gate, and the rear passenger tail light was missing. Also, the trailer’s plate appeared to be from a different state.

Anyone with information about the truck, trailer, or operator is urged to call the Erie County Sheriff’s Office at 716.858.2903. The Sheriff’s Office is also asking area businesses and residents along the highway to review security footage and share any images showing a truck matching the description with Detectives.

Seneca Nation EMS transported the Deputy to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment. The Deputy was later released from the hospital.

# # #

01/25/2021

A look into the Sheriff's...
Special Operations Unit Winter Rescue Capabilities
This specialized capability for the SWAT Team was born from the November 2014 snowstorm. During the storm, people were stranded in vehicles and structures because snowmobiles, ATVs, and other equipment could not reach them.
Sheriff Timothy B. Howard organized a group to develop cold-weather rescue capabilities to reach people when snow vehicles could not operate in deep, heavy snow conditions.
The Sheriff’s Office utilized grant funding to train the SWAT Team and purchase winter equipment including, skis and extreme winter clothing. The agency enlisted former special ops personnel from the United States military to develop tactics, training guidelines, and survival techniques.
What makes this enhanced capability even more unique is members of the SWAT Team are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and can provide medical treatment to victims at the scene before extracting the individual from the area.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement agency in the greater Western New York region with this enhanced winter rescue capability. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office provides this service to residents in Erie and surrounding counties.

01/25/2021

FELONY CHARGE FOR DRIVER WITH 24 SUSPENSIONS
The Rochester Man Failed to Pay Fines and Answer Summonses

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of a Rochester man following a traffic stop on January 23 in Grand Island.

Deputies stopped a vehicle operated on I-190 and Long Road at approximately 11:18 p.m. for vehicle and traffic law violations. Deputies discovered 37-year-old Quintin Lewis has twenty-four active suspensions on his license.

Lewis was arrested and charged with a felony count of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and operating an unregistered vehicle.

Lewis was later released with appearance tickets.

01/25/2021

FRAUD ALERT: The Sheriff's Office has received multiple complaints about unemployment insurance fraud. People are encouraged to regularly check their accounts & make sure someone else isn't getting your benefits

01/21/2021

From Sheriff Howard & everyone @ECSONY1,
We want to send our deepest sympathy to the families of the @USNationalGuard soldiers killed in the crash yesterday. Your honor, duty & sacrifice will not be forgotten.

01/21/2021

CRASH UNIT INVESTIGATING FATAL CRASH IN CLARENCE
Sheriff’s Office Seeking Additional Witnesses

January 20, 2021, Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the crash unit is investigating the cause of a crash that killed one driver in Clarence on January 19.

At approximately 12:50 p.m., Deputies responded to reports of a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Main and Goodrich roads in the Town of Clarence yesterday.

A vehicle traveling westbound on Main struck a vehicle head-on; that vehicle was waiting at the intersection to turn onto Goodrich Road. The westbound truck traveled further, striking two other vehicles near the intersection.

Emergency responders from multiple fire companies extricated Jeanette Helms from her vehicle and administered first aid. Ms. Helms, a resident of Clarence, died at the scene.

The driver of the westbound truck was transported to ECMC for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. EMS evaluated and cleared the drivers of the other vehicles at the scene.

A portion of Main was closed for about 7-hours yesterday, and the incident remains under investigation.

The Crash Investigation Unit is requesting anyone who witnessed the incident or events leading to the crash to call 716.858.2903 and refer to CL# 21-004626.

01/21/2021

Deputies responded to reports of footsteps in the snow that led to multiple vehicles along Webb Rd in #GrandIsland. Now the good news..all the vehicles were locked & nothing missing #AWESOME (The graphic is a reminder for those still not locking their car doors)

01/19/2021

Hey #Alden residents - We received multiple calls about vehicles entered over the weekend.
Lock'em up & don't leave it for them!

01/19/2021

Snowmobilers - please enjoy the marked trails and remember these safety tips...

01/19/2021

If you are traveling Rte 219 or anywhere in southern Erie County SLOW THE HECK DOWN!!!
We have responded to multiple vehicles off the roadway

01/15/2021

PAIR STEALS FROM SPRINGVILLE STORE AND FLEE
One of the Suspects was wanted by Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports two individuals were arrested after stealing merchandise from a Springville grocery store and fled the scene Thursday.

In the morning of January 14, the store’s loss prevention employees observed two subjects loading stolen groceries into a moving van. The suspects proceeded to flee the parking lot, and the employees contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies located the van traveling southbound on Route 219 and initiated a traffic stop. The Deputies’ investigation discovered that 37-year-old Jeffery Spriegel of Kenmore had an outstanding warrant from the Town of Batavia and was wanted by law enforcement agencies in Erie and Niagara counties.

Spriegel was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. He was also cited for numerous vehicle and traffic law infractions. He was later turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for the outstanding warrant.

The other suspect, 42-year-old Cathy Sickler of Amherst, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and possession of stolen property. She was released with appearance tickets.

01/15/2021

ROAD CLOSURE AND TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR SATURDAY’S BILLS GAME
Abbott to Close In Front of Stadium, Big Tree East & Westbound Open in Both Directions

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces road closure and traffic patterns for the Saturday playoff game.

Abbott Road
• The section of Abbott in front of the stadium closes to north and southbound traffic at 5:15 p.m. (see attached map);
• The road will remain closed until after the game;
• Parking pass holders can still access Lots 2 and 6 from Abbott Rd, but there is no through traffic, so;
o Lot 2 can only be accessed from Big Tree Road, south of the Abbott Rd barricades;
o Lot 6 can only be accessed from Southwestern Blvd., north of the Abbott Rd barricades;
• Drivers not attending the game are advised to find alternate routes.

Route 20a (Big Tree Road)
• Rte. 20a will be open in both east and west directions throughout Saturday;
• The Sheriff’s Office will not close 20a to westbound traffic after the game.

01/14/2021

Western District of NY Human Trafficking Task Force

January is #HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth and the ECSO is encouraging people to learn more about this present and continuing problem. If you are interested you can register for a virtual training Jan 25-27
register
www.brooklynda.org/htawareness2021/
info
January is #HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth & the ECSO is encouraging ppl to learn more about this present & continuing problem. If u r interested you can register for a virtual training Jan 25-27 register
www.brooklynda.org/htawareness2021/
info
www.wnytrafficking.org

The Western District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force is a multi-disciplinary task force that brings law enforcement and social service agencies together to identify and investigate human trafficking utilizing a victim centered and trauma informed response. We serve the seventeen counties co...

01/11/2021

Erie County Sheriff's Office

01/11/2021

How y'all feeling today?
#BillsMafia
#letsgobuffalo

01/11/2021

#WearBlueDay for all the victims of human trafficking.
January 11 is #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay and January is #HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth
It takes all of us to fight human trafficking @DHSBlueCampaign