Man arrested following stolen vehicle pursuit around Niagara Falls

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Town of Niagara man was arrested Saturday morning following a stolen vehicle pursuit around Niagara Falls that ended in a standoff with authorities, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Deputies said around 5:20 a.m., a woman called to report that a man wearing a mask, later identified as 33-year-old Robert C. Ashcroft, had allegedly stolen her idling vehicle out of her driveway on Sunnyside Drive. A second call later came in reporting a vehicle operated by a male was driving erratically on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Wheatfield.

Authorities eventually located the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle allegedly failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, according to deputies.

Deputies said the alleged pursuit led authorities down both directions of Niagara Falls Boulevard, into the area of Cayuga Drive as well as the surrounding LaSalle neighborhood. After tire deflation devices were utilized, the vehicle eventually crashed into the carport of a residence on the 1200 block of Dogwood Place, at which time Ashcroft allegedly fled into the home and locked himself inside.

Authorities established a perimeter and were eventually able to breach the back door and take Ashcroft into custody without incident, deputies said.

Ashcroft was remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility and is slated to be arraigned on the following charges:

• Third-degree grand larceny
• Fourth-degree criminal mischief
• Third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle
• Resisting arrest
• Second-degree obstruction of governmental administration
• Reckless driving
• Second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation
• Numerous vehicle and traffic violations

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .