NIAGARA, N.Y. — A man was arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing a woman's car from her driveway, leading to a police chase that saw a tire deflation device used twice.
Robert C. Ashcroft, 33, of the Town of Niagara faces one felony count of grand larceny, plus misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, fleeing from an officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation. He was also issued numerous traffic violations.
The sequence of events started around 5:20 a.m. Saturday, when a woman who lives on Sunnyside Drive called 911. She said a man in a mask approached her vehicle, which was idling, then stole it from her driveway.
Not longer after that, another 911 call was made from a motorist on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Wheatfield.
"This motorist reported a vehicle was following him, driving erratically, and that the male operator had a firearm," the Niagara County Sheriff's Office said.
New York State Police soon identified the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit soon began.
The pursuit went south on Niagara Falls Boulevard, then north on the boulevard before heading into Niagara Falls, where the vehicle around Cayuga Drive, 87th Street, and the LaSalle area before entering Cayuga Village.
"A tire deflation device was successfully deployed twice, once by the sheriff’s office and once by the City of Niagara Falls Police Department," the sheriff's office said.
When the vehicle ultimately stopped, Ashcroft fled on foot, entered a home, and locked the door. Law enforcement officials were able to enter the home through a back door and arrest him without incident.
Ashcroft was evaluated by EMS at the scene. No firearms were found by police.
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Town of Niagara Police, City of Niagara Falls Police, and New York State Park Police worked together during the pursuit.
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