TOWN OF NIAGARA — On April 27, 2024, at 0521 hours the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division received a 9-1-1 call from a female caller in the 800 block of Sunnyside Drive. She stated that a male in a mask approached her idling vehicle and stole it from her driveway. As Deputies and New York State Troopers responded to the area, a second 9-1-1 call came in from a motorist on Niagara Falls Blvd in the Town of Wheatfield. This motorist reported a vehicle was following him, driving erratically and that the male operator had a firearm. Deputy Drake located said vehicle and attempted to initiate a Traffic Stop. The vehicle, confirmed to be the same stolen vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.
Law Enforcement from 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 all worked together as the incident unfolded. The pursuit led south on Niagara Falls Blvd, through a parking lot roadside and back north on Niagara Falls Blvd into the City of Niagara Falls. It continued in the area of Cayuga Drive, 87th Street and the surrounding LaSalle area before entering Cayuga Village. During the pursuit, a Tire Deflation Device was successfully deployed twice, once by the Sheriff’s Office and once by the City of Niagara Falls Police Department. Ultimately, the vehicle fled to the 1200 block of Dogwood Drive where it crashed into the carport and the operator exited the vehicle and fled into the home, locking the door behind him.
Responding Units set up a perimeter and were able to breach the home from the back door. The operator was identified as ROBERT C. ASHCROFT, a 33-year-old-male from the Town of Niagara. He was taken into custody without incident. ASHCROFT was evaluated by EMS and signed off. No firearm was located.
ASHCROFT was remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility awaiting centralized arraignment on the following charges: Grand Larceny 3rd (D Felony), Criminal Mischief 4th (A Misdemeanor), Fleeing an Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd (A Misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (A Misdemeanor), Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd (A Misdemeanor), Reckless Driving (Misdemeanor), Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2nd (Misdemeanor) and numerous VTL Violations. ###
