Gasport man charged with false personation

Sept. 28--A Gasport man was arrested after repeatedly giving deputies a false name Thursday evening, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office said.

Joshua M. Bachman, 26, 8430 Chestnut Ridge Rd., was charged with second-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, false personation, operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device and a safety glass violation.

According to the Sheriff's Office, a report of a suspicious vehicle at the Citizens Bank on South Transit Road came in at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday. The responding deputy checked the area, but did not see the vehicle, which was described as a silver Pontiac. Continuing to check the area, the deputy located the car at Walmart.

Bachman was found outside of the car, moving flowers in front of the lawn and garden section, accompanied by the store manager. He got back into his vehicle and was pulling forward when the deputy initiated a traffic stop.

After pulling into a parking spot, Bachman got out of the car and approached the deputy. He was instructed to put his hands against his vehicle and was patted down for weapons. At that point, he identified himself by a different name and said he could not provide identification, according to the arrest report.

An additional deputy arrived and in speaking with the manager, discovered that a customer complained that Bachman was stealing flowers. The manager was unsure if Bachman had taken any Walmart property, but was advised to contact the Sheriff's Office if missing items were discovered.

Bachman's wallet was placed on the hood of the car and although the deputy could clearly see a benefit card and insurance card identifying him as Joshua Bachman, he continued to insist that he was someone else, even after being warned of the consequences of false personation. When asked for his social security number to help prove his identity, he admitted that he was in fact Joshua Bachman.

Bachman was held at the Niagara County Jail on $250 bail and is due Oct. 7 in Town of Lockport Court.

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