Racist flyers found strewn along some side streets in Cheektowaga has led to one man being issued a summons.
Cheektowaga Police Chief David Zack says residents along Standard Parkway and Edmund Street notified police about finding multi-page pamphlets in their neighborhood off William St., near the Thruway, late Thursday and early Friday.
"This is clearly white nationalist literature. It's hate-filled," Zack said.
Zack says several detectives and a number of officers spent a day investigating.
"What we wanted to make sure of and took great care was to make sure that no single individual was targeted. So we actually had our officers out there and we canvassed a two to three block radius and knocked on just about every door out there," Zack said.
When detectives found the man listed on the flyer, the chief says the man "freely admitted" tossing them out of his car window randomly.
"This individual has done this sort of thing before and he promises to do this sort of thing again," Zack said.
To avoid giving the man any recognition, the chief wouldn't name him. But the pamphlet's return address, in Lockport, includes the name Karl Hand. He has been holding poorly attended racist rallies in the Buffalo area for nearly 40 years.
No criminal charges have been filed, but Zack says Hand was ticketed for littering.
"[That] carries with it a $350 fine and or ten hours of community service, so it ain't free," Zack said.
Cheektowaga Police also notified the FBI, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office and Lockport Police about Hand's activity.