Teens spotted wrestling with mailbox

(Editor's note: The Bee's police blotter is a sampling of unusual, sometimes humorous calls received by the police department. It is not intended to be a complete record of all incidents reported.)

Friday, Aug. 15

• A West Klein Road resident called police because she found something on her lawn that didn't belong to her — a sign with numbers on it.

• A Maple Road woman complained that her clothes were covered in black grease, and she suspected someone in the building was responsible. She was advised to wash her laundry.

• On Woodcrest Drive someone reported hearing a gunshot. Police searched the area and believed the noise was thunder.

Saturday, Aug. 16

• A Maple Road hotel employee called police about a customer refusing to leave. The customer was upset about having a reservation and the hotel being overbooked.

• A man called police about a stolen cell phone from Sheridan Drive. The suspect reportedly wanted to return the phone for a reward. Police assisted him.

• A Fairgreen Drive resident complained that when the neighbors were evicted, they took two of the complainant's bikes with them.

• A Stanton Street resident reported that youths were in the area ringing doorbells, and one pulled his pants down. Police reported that the youths were handing out charitable fliers, and one had pulled down another's pants as a joke. No exposure occurred.

• Police were called about damaged political signs on Colony Court.

• Cars were spray painted overnight in a lot on Transit Road. A masked person was caught on surveillance.

Sunday, Aug. 17 • On Allenhurst Road, five teenage boys were body-slamming a mailbox, trying to knock it over.

• Police were called to North Bailey Avenue about a man who keeps taking stones from a large pile in front of a church and carrying them to his property, where he lives in a yellow house. Police were unable to locate the suspect because there was more than one yellow house in the vicinity.

• Someone complained about a trampoline being too close to a tree on New Road because youths could get hurt. No problem was found, as it was not a police matter.

Monday, Aug. 18

• A Miller Road resident reported that an unknown dog ran into his garage during a storm.

• A woman requested that police respond to Main Street after a man started calling her names as she backed out of a parking spot. She left the scene, asking for no further action.

• Police were called to Sheridan Drive about a 17-year-old who refused to get back into a car with his cousin. He then started walking down the road and reportedly stole a bike from a store. He was located down the street.

• A Palmdale Drive resident complained that a neighbor sometimes yells at her about her children and that the neighbor may have thrown an egg at her car.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

• On Lemontree Court, a raccoon was found in a garbage can, and a man put the can with the raccoon inside in the Dumpster. Assistance was requested to get it out.

• A Richfield Road resident reported that someone from Main Street was shooting arrows into her yard.

• An elderly woman reportedly hit four cars on Niagara Falls Boulevard.

• A Charlesgate Circle resident called for help after her neighbor's head caught on fire from a candle. She had fallen asleep next to the candle and suffered minor injuries. The victim reportedly refused aid.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

• On Wehrle Drive, a very intoxicated man had stumbled into the traffic circle at Kensington Avenue and Harlem Road. He was reportedly the owner of a car that was stuck in the other traffic circle at Cleveland Avenue and Harlem, a call that Cheektowaga police were responding to. He was located and had an injury to his right arm.

• A Hamilton Drive resident called for police about a bat in the house. Patrols were rerouted to a call involving a gun, so it was decided the man with the bat should call a private exterminator.

• Two symbols were burnt into a front lawn on Clearfield Drive.

• Police were called to Charter Oaks Drive about an argument between a mother and her 29-year-old daughter. It was reportedly about a tax refund and other money issues.

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Six adults were refusing to leave a pool on Main Street. They had reportedly hopped the fence to gain access.

• A Stonybrook Lane resident complained that she found a paint capsule on fire on her front step, and now the step is purple. Four teenage boys were reportedly seen running from the area. A second call about a similar incident was reported on Chapel Woods.

• A complainant reported a suspicious vehicle on Transit Road. It was described as a new car, being driven with no plates, that pulled into a dealership that was closed. Police found that a transporter truck was parked across the street, and new cars were being shuttled into the lot.