Update on ‘Billy’ Case; Suspect, Pringle, flees out back door; community asked to contact police if Pringle is spotted
It was back in mid-December that Niagara Falls police were “inundated with calls” and requests for interviews regarding the case of a Niagara Falls man who was being intimidated and slapped on video which was made public on the internet.
According to Niagara Falls Police Department Chief of Detectives Kelly Rizzo, “The victim [who has been dubbed ‘Billy’] suffer(s) from both mental and physical disabilities. We believe he was targeted due to his limited ability to communicate clearly with responding officers when police are called. The police were not called to this incident but unfortunately ‘Billy’ has been victimized several times in the past.”
Police identified the victim through the video since he was known to members of the Department since, on a near daily basis, he can be found walking on Pine Ave. between Portage and Hyde Park Blvd where, for the most part, “he keeps to himself and bothers no one,” according to Rizzo.
As the video was available online, outrages citizens called with information on the suspects and police quickly determined that the location of the video where the disabled man was abused was just outside the entrance of Tops Markets 1000 Portage Rd.
Police were also able to identify two of the three suspects in the video. A female is heard off camera participating in the abuse.
“For the three people involved, they are welcome to contact us…. Turning themselves in is the only chance they have to mitigate what they have already done,” Rizzo said in a statement.
Niagara Falls Police have now announced the name of one of suspects as Myquan R. Pringle, of 443 5th St Apt #1 in Niagara Falls. He is a black man, 22 years old, 5’06” and 145 pounds.
The District Attorney’s office negotiated with Pringle’s attorney for several days attempting to have him surrender to authorities, but to no avail.
Hence, there was arrest paperwork for the charge of Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person.
When NFPD Detectives went to the suspect’s home to arrest him, Pringle fled out of the rear of the home and is now also facing charges for Resisting Arrest and Obstructing Governmental Administration. Each of these charges is an A-Misdemeanor and each is punishable by up to a year in jail.
Anyone who has any information on the whereabouts of Pringle should call the NFPD at 286-4553; or if he is within their view they should call 286-4711 immediately.
