NEWS & INFO

Mark Laurrie, superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District, has been selected as the Buffalo Bills’ 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker, an annual honor the team presents to local leaders advancing meaningful progress in their communities. The recognition aligns with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative that focuses on four pillars of education, economic advancement, police–community relations and criminal justice reform. Laurrie was celebrated for decades of work on b

The long-stalled plan to transform the former Howard Johnson building at 472 Main Street in Niagara Falls into a rock-themed destination hotel has been given new life. The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency voted Wednesday to extend Live Inc.’s Cataract Grant funding through the end of 2027, allowing the developers additional time to assemble financing and prepare for construction, which they now say could begin in the spring. The IDA originally approved $450,000 in

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 3pm on December 8th after reports of an assault with a weapon on North Avenue in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller - the girl's father - said that his 18-year-old daughter was threatening him with a knife. She had, in fact, cut him at least once. The severity of his cuts are unknown. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the daughter was arrested. No further information is available at this time. These

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 12:30am on December 10th after reports of a mental health emergency in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller said that her soon-to-be ex-husband was posting on social media that he wanted to harm himself and jump off a "tall bridge." The male's location was not disclosed on the call. No further information is available at this time. These are merely allegations and should not be taken as fact. LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO HE

Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman announced Friday that Darrion A. Cotton, 59, of Niagara Falls, pleaded guilty to assault in the 1st degree for attacking a gas station cashier with a hammer during a January robbery. Prosecutors said Cotton admitted in court to striking the cashier in the head - causing serious injuries - during the January 19th, 2024 incident in Niagara Falls. Cotton now faces a prison term ranging from 14 to 20 years when he appears for sentenci

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:10pm on December 9th after reports of a neighbor dispute on the 400 block of 22nd Street in Niagara Falls involving weapons. The 911 caller stated that neighbors were arguing on the front porch over an Amazon package. Both of the individuals pulled guns and acquired a target on the other person. Each of the men threatened to shoot the other over the package. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if e

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received multiple calls around 9:40pm on December 8th of shots fired in the area of 9th and Niagara Street in Downtown Niagara Falls. Multiple 911 callers reported hearing several shots (3 or more) in the area. Police then received reports from two separate individuals who said they were being shot at. Officers were given a description of at least one suspect who is believed to have fled on foot. It was not relayed over police audi

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 3:40pm on December 5th after reports of a medical emergency on the 2900 block of Diamond Park Lane in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller - a young child - stated that her mother was unresponsive. Niagara Falls Fire and medical responded to the scene. First responders spoke to the daughter who stated that the mother had been drinking the previous night. The daughter told firefighters that she came home from school

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 3:30pm on December 5th reporting a robbery on the 2700 block of Forest Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY. The 911 caller stated that a male came up to her and forced her to give him the keys to mailboxes, threatening her with bodily injury. He was described as a tall black male wearing a black hoodie and ski mask. He then fled. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the male was apprehended. No further inf

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 10:15pm on December 6th after reports of a possible assault and/or attempted child abduction at the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Niagara Falls. The 911 caller stated that a man grabbed her son and pushed him into an elevator. However, his plan failed and the child was able to escape. The man then fled to his hotel room. The mother told police that she knew what his room number was. Police responded to the sce

Niagara Falls Police responded to the River Inn on the 5900 block of Buffalo Avenue around 12:30pm on December 4th after reports of criminal mischief. Upon arrival, officers were met by the owner of the motel and suspect, Randy Banks. Officers spoke with Mr. Banks who explained that he rented room 18 for one night (December 3rd) and at approx. 11am today he was involved in an argument with a female whom he described as a “friend.” The woman whom Randy Banks shared his motel r

Niagara Falls Police responded to the 2700 block of Falls Street around 3pm on December 3rd after reports of menacing with a weapon. Upon arrival, officers observed the complainant on the front porch who stated that “she” had a hammer and was being held down inside of the house. The female, later identified as Fatima Nevitt, was indeed being held down inside the home by multiple individuals with the house in disarray. Fatima was detained without incident and she was placed in

Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in the case against a Niagara Falls man accused of shooting another man outside a neighborhood convenience store last spring. Prosecutors allege that Jalik George, 27-years-old, opened fire on Thomas Carter, 31, during a confrontation near 19th Street and Ashland Avenue on March 3rd, 2024. George was charged with 2nd-degree attempted murder, 1st-degree assault and 2nd-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted on all count

Niagara Falls Police responded to 7-Eleven on the 2800 block of Pine Avenue around 11:40am on December 3rd after reports of a shoplifter. En route to the call, radio advised officers that the caller – who was the assistant manager – was following the suspect on Pine Avenue. Radio then updated officers that the suspect, who was a black male wearing a camo jacket, walked into Mario’s located at 2304 Pine. Officers arrived at Mario’s. As an officer approached the store, a black

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 2:50pm on December 3rd after reports of an assault with a weapon on Falls Street in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller stated that there was a fight between two women, one of which was weilding a hammer. The caller further said that medical was possibly needed due to injuries sustained by one or two of the women. The cause of the altercation was not immediately clear. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown i

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 12:15am on December 4th after reports of a neighbor dispute with injuries and menacing on the 1500 block of Niagara Street in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller - a tenant in an apartment complex - told police that her female neighbor "Charlene" pushed her down a flight of stairs. Afterward, the neighbor made threats to set the caller on fire with lighter fluid. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the

Niagara Falls Police were on routine patrol on the 8700 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard around 6:30pm on November 29th when they observed Tywaun Barnes inside Sandhu Express Mart. Officers were aware Barnes had active CID paperwork. Officers entered the store and informed Barnes he was under arrest. He became argumentative and repeatedly requested to go to the bathroom to use his suboxone. Officers refused this request. One officer grabbed ahold of Barnes and informed him fo

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:30pm on November 30th reporting a vehicle vs pedestrian motor vehicle accident with injuries in the area of 7th Street and Niagara Street in Niagara Falls. Bystanders called regarding the accident, including reports that they needed to send an ambulance due to serious injuries sustained by the pedestrian. Niagara Falls Police, Niagara Falls Fire and medical responded to the scene. It is believed the pedestr

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 1:20pm on November 30th after reports of a violent domestic incident on the 1000 block of South Avenue in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller said that he was asaulted by being spit on and then attacked with a knife. He told police she currently had the knife on her. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the woman was arrested. No further information is available at

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 1:20am on December 1st after a reported mental health crisis at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls. The male 911 caller - who was highly intoxicated - stated that he is a veteran with PTSD. Police noted that he was making some "questionable statements" during the 911 call that raised concern for his safety and that of other people. The male said that he was "willing to die" but that he was not going t