Police increase presence over fights

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A News 4 viewer e-mailed the newsroom to say part of downtown Buffalo is becoming so dangerous he won't go outside around 3 in the afternoon. On Friday, we discovered a beefed up NFTA Police presence after a fight broke out the day before.

PHOTO GALLERY | Cops line the streets in a show of force

Transit Police officers walked the sidewalks just as kids getting out of school boarded the Metro rail in Fountain Plaza on Friday. Downtown workers were happy to see officers.

Barb Bove said, "I think the police being around makes them aware. It kind of holds them down."

After a fight on Thursday, NFTA Spokesman Douglas Hartmayer says one student was detained and turned over to Buffalo Public School representatives.

"What happened yesterday was more of an anomaly than a regular occurrence. It's my understanding that when school lets out and started in September, we haven't noticed a lot of issues in Fountain Plaza, whatsoever," Hartmayer said.

But workers say they have seen fights before.

Jon Ferlito said, "It doesn't look good to tourists who are staying in these hotels and everything."

"They're brutal. Innocent people could get hurt," Bove added.

Hartmayer contends there is a police presence each weekday in Fountain Plaza during school dismissal, and people should not be concerned.

He said, "Yesterday was a situation that is rare. Two kids got into a fight. That does not make the whole area unsafe."

And on Friday, patrols stopped two men for questioning. They say the incident had nothing to do with the kids waiting to catch the train.