HTN: Amherst Father Accused of Threatening Toddler

Officers tasered a suspect allegedly threatening a baby with a knife early Thursday morning. Police say they were called to an apartment on Travers Circle about four in the morning on the report of a woman being beaten by her boyfriend. Cops say they found 19-year-old Jeffrey Hernandez of North Tonawanda holding the woman's six-month old baby at knifepoint. One of the officers tasered Hernandez as he was putting the knife to the baby's throat. Hernandez was arrested after dropping the baby. He faces charges of attempted murder and assault. Police say officers did not want to fire bullets fearing the baby my get hit. The tasers were just implemented a few months ago.

Hometown News: Search for Amherst Suspect

Amherst police continue searching for a possible suspect in connection with killing Sunday night. Authorities say the hunt is on for 24-year-old Andre Ridgeway. Investigators want to speak to him regarding the shooting death of 21-year-old Jesse Garnettt in an apartment on Yale Avenue. Authorities say Garnett was shot about 9:30 Sunday night and died a short time later at Erie County Medical Center. Police are urging anyone with information on Ridgeway's whereabouts to call authorities. However, cops say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are still trying to piece together the alleged incident but say they do not believe it was a random attack.

Hometown News: Fatal Shooting in Amherst

A fatal shooting shot late Monday evening on Yale Avenue in Amherst. The victim, 21-year-old Jesse Garnett, was taken to ECMC where he later died. Amherst Police say he had a local address, as well as an address in the Bronx. Police say that the shooting is a homicide and they're looking for 24-year-old Andre Ridgeway in connection . He is a black male, 5'6" tall, and weighs about 150lbs. If you come in contact with Ridgeway, you're asked to call 911.

Hometown News: Ground Collapse in Amherst

Town of Amherst emergency crews responded to the scene of a partial ground collapse on Tonawanda Creek Road near Transit early this morning. About a 300-foot section of ground dropped about 25-feet. A house lost a part of its back porch, and is now unsafe for its residents.

Hometown News: Rape Report in Amherst

Amherst police are searching for a rape suspect. A 17-year-old girl said she was attacked late Tuesday night in the area of Hopkins and Klein. The victim says she was jogging about 10 p.m. when she was hit with an object, then forced behind a building where the sexual assault took place. Anyone with information is urged to call Amherst Police.

Good Morning Buffalo: Amherst Downsizing

Loraine and Tom spoke to Amherst Councilwoman Shelly Schratz.

Amherst, Tonawanda Schools on Alert after Stranger Danger Cases

Amherst and Tonawanda schools have followed up on two reports of motorists offering rides to middle school students. The districts are now on alert after incidents last Tuesday within a couple of hours of each other. Descriptions of the driver and the vehicle were similar in each case.

Amherst Cops Investigate Possible Abductions

A report Monday morning that a man tried to grab a mother who had just put her kids on a school bus on Twilight Lane now is being described by police as a misunderstanding. Police in Amherst are still concerned about other reports of possible attempted abductions. Monday night a teenager was approached by a man on North Brier, and a similar incident happened Tuesday afternoon on Vine Lane.

Amherst Fire Causes Significant Damage

The Main-Transit Fire Department had to call for extra help to battle a blaze at The Lion's Mane hair salon yesterday. The early morning fire caused about a half-million dollars in damage to the salon and four apartments above it on Melrose Road. A woman living in one of the apartments called the fire department after being awakened by the smell of smoke. The cause is under investigation.

Amherst Water Super Stays Home

Paul Drof’s appointment as the new superintendent of Amherst's wastewater treatment facility was about at short-lived as can be - he never showed up for work! Drof, who works as the water superintendent of North Tonawanda, apparently changed his mind about the new job. He was expected to start work last Friday, but administrators got a letter from him this Monday saying he was staying in his current job.

Mother Charged for Locking Kids in Car

Shoppers at the Target Store on Transit Road in Amherst contacted police when they came across a large SUV with its windows rolled up and four young children locked inside. Yesterday's temperatures were as high as 88. The mother, 32-year-old Tiffany Adams of Amherst, was charged with four misdemeanors. The children were evaluated at Women and Children's Hospital, and are expected to be okay.

Amherst Town Center Approved

The Amherst Town Board has narrowly approved controversial plans to redevelop the Buffalo Gun Club property on Maple Road. Hundreds of residents turned out last night at Sweet Home High School Auditorium. Benderson Development wants to turn the site into shops, restaurants, housing, and office space. The board was split 3-3, and Supervisor Satish Mohan cast the deciding vote in favor.

Benderson Development Vote Tonight

Amherst town board members are scheduled to vote tonight on Benderson Development's plan to take the former Buffalo Gun Club on Maple Road and turn it into a town center. The meeting happens tonight at the Sweet Home High School auditorium. Benderson's proposed plan calls for a hotel, theatre, restaurants, offices, shops and a housing complex. Opponents say the project would cause traffic problems and damage the area's character.

More Amherst Trees May Be Cut

Last week residents of Snyder went to court to try and stop the town from taking down trees damaged in the 2006 storm. They got a temporary halt, but the town fought it and got to resume the cutting. Town officials say that 8-thousand more trees still need to come down, but they add that they only have until this coming Thursday when federal funds run out.

Cutting Could Continue

Amherst crews could resume cutting down damaged trees after a decision today. Judge Patrick NeMoyer's refused to extend a two-day-old court order that stopped the work. NeMoyer will schedule another court hearing on a possible permanent injunction to stop the tree cutting. Attorney and town resident James says he will think about that offer this weekend.

Amherst Tree Cutting Halted

State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Makowski has issued a court order stopping the cutting of Amherst trees. Attorney and resident James Duggan filed the motion. The town wanted to cut down the trees while school kids were on break, and before federal money ran out.

Amherst Fire

Carelessly discarded fireplace ashes triggered a fire on Oakwood Drive in Amherst last night. Fifty-nine firefighters responded from Main- Transit and Snyder. Damage is estimated at 200-thousand-dollars; no injuries.