POLICE & COURTS

Bandit bearing a note robs Fountain Plaza M&T

The M&T Bank at Fountain Plaza was robbed at about 2:10 p.m.Friday by a man who passed a note to a teller, Buffalo police said.

The bandit was described as black, in his 40s or 50s, with a thinmustache, large build and wearing glasses. Chief of Detectives Dennis J. Richards said no weapon was displayed. Anyone with information is asked to call Buffalo police TIPCALL at 847-2255, or by texting www.bpdyny.org.

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Man, 42, pleads guilty to Internet child porn

An Orchard Park man pleaded guilty to a felony charge Fridayafter federal agents learned that he was a subscriber to anInternet child pornography Web site.

Daniel Nowakowski, 42, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessionof child porn, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh said.

Nowakowski was investigated by agents from U.S. Immigration &Customs Enforcement, who discovered that he was a subscriber to a child porn site and that he had packages of child porn mailed to his home from Toronto, Wydysh said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12.

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Jury selection facing third day in Wright case

Jury selection in the rape and incest trial for Luke J. Wrightwill enter its third day Monday before Senior Erie County JudgeMichael L. D'Amico.

Friday, two more jurors were seated, bring the number to eight, with four more jurors and four alternate jurors yet to be selected. Court officials said D'Amico is looking at testimony getting under way Tuesday, and the trial is expected to last a week.

Wright, 32, jailed since his arrest eight days after his mother, Eva M. Cummings, killed his 23-year-old half sister in their North Collins flat Jan. 21, 2010, faces a possible life term if convicted of rape, criminal sexual act, predatory sexual assault, incest and other charges.

Wright, a high school graduate who authorities say has been mentally disabled since birth, is accused of sexually assaulting his half sister, who was developmentally disabled, and helping his mother beat her as she was tied to a chair and hooded.

D'Amico on Nov. 16 sentenced Eva Cummings, 51, to 52 years tolife in prison on her murder conviction for suffocating herdaughter in the family's home.

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Guilty plea entered in 'Move Over' case

A Buffalo man pleaded guilty Thursday in Elma Town Court tocharges under the new "Move Over" law after crashing his car into avolunteer firefighter who was helping direct traffic at an accident scene on Route 400 during a snowstorm in January.

Kyle Patterson, 22, was sentenced to 50 hours of communityservice and fined $275 as well as an $85 surcharge by Town JudgeRobert Pierce.

The new law requires motorists to either steer away from policeand other emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road or, ifthat's not possible, slow down and pass cautiously.

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Cambria couple accused of growing pot at home

CAMBRIA -- Authorities arrested a couple and seized about 60 marijuana plant, grow lights and weapons in a raid Monday on a North Ridge Road home, Niagara County sheriff's deputies said Friday.

Duane Kneeppel, 60, and his wife, Pamela, 53, were charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and unlawful growing of cannabis. Deputies said they discovered marijuana being cultivated throughout the residence, including plants growing in buckets on a deck.

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Damage put at $1 million in Welland laundry blaze

WELLAND, Ont. -- Damage was estimated at more than $1 millionafter a fire Thursday night swept through Superior Laundry Serviceson Vaughan Road.

Welland Fire and Emergency Services Chief Denys Prevost said firefighters were called to the scene at about 9:15 p.m., when they discovered heavy fire, according to the St. Catharines Standard. An aerial truck poured water on the roof from outside.

"It was the only option we had," Prevost said.

Welland fire investigators were on scene Friday looking into the cause.

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Suspicious packages close Rainbow Bridge

NIAGARA FALLS -- The Rainbow Bridge was closed for several hours overnight Friday as authorities investigated suspicious packages left on the Canadian side.

The bridge was closed shortly before 1 a.m. Friday, as members ofthe Niagara Regional Police Service's Explosives Disposal Unit investigated the packages. According to Canadian media reports, three unattended packages had been spotted on the pedestrian walkway.

Clothing was found in the packages, Niagara Regional Police said Friday; an investigation continues.

The bridge reopened at approximately 4:30 a.m.