M&T Bank city branch robbery suspect arrested

Benjamin Joe, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·3 min read

Mar. 5—M&T Bank robbery suspect nabbed

A Lockport man remains jailed after his arrest last week in connection with the mid-February robbery of the M&T Bank branch at Walnut and Pine streets.

Ajay C.P. Butcher, 24, 144 Michigan St., was charged with robbery, a felony, and petit larceny on Feb. 29.

According to Lockport Police Department, Butcher is the suspect in the mid-afternoon robbery, during which a man presented a note to a teller and was given an unspecified amount of money. No weapon was shown and there were no reported injuries, police said.

Butcher currently is being held at the Niagara County jail.

VanDeMark Chemical building damaged by fire

A building at VanDeMark Chemical sustained about $8,000 damage due to fire Monday evening.

Firefighters from Lockport Fire Department rushed to the building, 1 North Transit St., at 7:50 p.m. and were greeted with flames that could be seen coming from the upper exterior of a building on the western end of the property, on a pipe chase assembly.

Fire Chief Luca Quagliano said the fire mostly had been extinguished by plant crews before LFD's arrival. The apparent cause, he said, was "a wrapped stainless steel pipe overheated and caused the outer covering of the pipe to ignite where it exits the buildings exterior wall."

LFD crews worked for an hour and a half to extinguish the remainder of the blaze. Most of the damage was contained to the pipe, according to Quagliano.

There were no injuries reported by any plant or LFD personnel.

The fire remains under investigation by LFD.

NA meetings available

Narcotics Anonymous is hosting support meetings locally. Meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend, especially those who are battling addiction.

The current meeting schedule is listed here.

SUNDAY: Easy Does It, 3 p.m. at Newfane Methodist Church, 2699 Main St.; Moment of Clarity, 7 p.m. at 185 Locust St., Lockport (enter off Mack Alley and park in back lot).

MONDAY: Steps to Freedom, 10 a.m. at Lockview Plaza, 41 Main St., Lockport, basement; Primary Purpose, 6:30 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 265 Falconer St., North Tonawanda; Recovery Here & Now, 7 p.m. at 144 Main St., Lockport.

TUESDAY: Principles Before Personalities, 10:05 a.m. at 75 East Ave., Lockport; Desperately Seeking Solutions, 7 p.m. at Lockview Plaza, 41 Main St., Lockport.

WEDNESDAY: A New Way To Live, 1 p.m. at 33 Ontario St., Lockport; Complete Defeat, 7 p.m. at 7720 Goodrich Road, Clarence; Gratitude Speaks, 7 p.m. at 32 W. High St., Lockport.

THURSDAY: Plain and Simple, 10 a.m. at 144 Main St., Lockport; Recovery How and Why, 7 p.m. at 265 Falconer St., North Tonawanda; Show Up To Grow Up, 7 p.m. at 555 Davison Road, Lockport.

FRIDAY: Living Clean, 10 a.m. at Lockview Plaza, 41 Main St., Lockport, basement.

SATURDAY: No Matter What, 11 a.m. at 144 Main St., Lockport.

The Niagara Orleans Area NA Helpline number is 716-478-6992.