Two arrested after car chase in stolen vehicle
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

A Buffalo man and Niagara Falls woman are both in Amherst police custody after allegedly striking a detective's car while fleeing police.

Blair Chattley, 43, and Michelle Munter-Lee, 32, are facing an extensive list of charges involving a car chase in a stolen vehicle.

The incident began at 12:40 p.m. Monday when Amherst police received a report of a stolen purse from a store on Niagara Falls Boulevard near East Robinson Road.

According to the victim, she saw Chattley reach into her vehicle and grab her purse. He then drove away in a gray minivan. Witnesses were able to supply police with the license plate number.

"The information was given to the officers, and it was realized the van was stolen from Kenmore five days earlier," Assistant Chief Timothy Green said.

Officer Sean Charleson located the vehicle approximately 30 minutes later at a store at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sheridan Drive.

The vehicle was vacant when he arrived. Additional officers responded to the scene, and the male and female suspects were observed getting into the vehicle.

Green said the officers approached the vehicle with their lights and sirens on. At that time, Chattley, who was behind the wheel, reportedly accelerated, hitting the driver side door of an investigator's unmarked vehicle, which had its lights and siren on.

Chattley allegedly sideswiped the length of the police vehicle and drive off. The detective involved was not injured, and $3,000 in damages to the vehicle were reported.

Police followed the suspects into the Tonawanda side of Niagara Falls Boulevard where they turned into a plaza across from the Boulevard Mall.

Green said the two bailed out of the vehicle and started running. Munter-Lee was apprehended on the scene by Officer Greg Bund. Chattley jumped a fence and was caught on Wrexham Court in Tonawanda by investigator Thomas Ratzel.

The suspects were taken to Amherst headquarters for processing.

Chattley is facing charges of reckless endangerment - a D felony, resisting arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, reckless driving, criminal possession of stolen property (the van), criminal mischief for intentionally damaging a police car, obstructing government administration and traffic charges.

Munter-Lee is charged with petit larceny, resisting arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, obstructing government administration and criminal possession of stolen property (the van) which is a felony.

Green said the purse was recovered.

The suspects were arraigned before Judge Mark Farrell on Tuesday. Munter-Lee was held on $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond, and Chattley is being held on $20,000 cash or $50,000 bond. They were being held in Erie County Holding Center.