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Town man arrested as 'Bike Path Rapist'
Neighbors 'stunned'
By John J. Hopkins Times
 | | SUSPECT IN CUSTODY...Investigators on Monday searched the Allendale Road residence of Artemio Sanchez for evidence against the alleged "Bike Path Rapist." Bottom, Amherst Chief of Police John Moslow addresses reporters as Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark, Trooper M.T. Manning and Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard look on. (Times photo) |
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Allendale Road residents are "stunned" by the thought that the so-called "Bike Path Rapist," believed to be responsible for more than a dozen rapes and three homicides in Western New York since the 1980s, could be their neighbor.
Neighbors described 48-year-old Altemio Sanchez, who was arrested in Buffalo Monday morning, as a quiet family man. Law enforcement officials, however, paint a different picture.
Police say that DNA evidence they recently obtained has linked Sanchez to eight of the 17 crimes- including all three homicides- believed to have been committed by the Bike Path Rapist since 1986.
Police executed a search warrant at Sanchez's home at 76 Allendale Road on Monday morning. Investigators remained at the scene into Monday afternoon as curious residents on the quiet street in the northwest corner of Cheektowaga looked on.
"It kind of scares me to think he was living in my neighborhood," said Darryl Mesmer. "I never would have given it a thought. This is a pretty safe neighborhood."
One neighbor, who spoke to the Times only on the condition that she not be identified, said she was "shaking" from the news. The woman has two children, both of whom grew up and attended Cleveland Hill schools with Sanchez's children.
"We've known him a long time," the woman said. "He was the nicest guy in the world. I never would have thought he could be [the rapist]."
The woman described Sanchez's family as "good neighbors" and Sanchez in particular was a friendly, "neighborhood guy" who would always say "hello" when he saw a familiar face on the street.
"This is upsetting to me and my family right now," the neighbor said. "My kids have been down there over the years and to think that this has been going on for a number of years is upsetting."
Other neighbors expressed similar shock at the possibility that one of the most notorious persons in Western New York history lived nearby.
"He seemed like a regular guy to me," said Mesmer, who recalled talking with Sanchez following the October 2006 snowstorm that paralyzed the region. "It seemed like he was home every day."
Several neighbors said Sanchez lent a hand following that snowstorm that dumped 24 inches of heavy, wet snow and plunged much of the area into darkness.
As news of the arrest spread up and down the street, residents began to emerge from their homes to discuss the situation.
"What's going on?" asked one woman who observed the police vehicles as she returned home in her car just before noon. "Oh my God! I live a few doors away from him," she said when told that police arrested the man believed to be the Bike Path Rapist.
The neighbor who asked not to be identified said that when she saw an updated composite picture of the suspect on Monday morning's television news broadcasts and then saw police vehicles on her street, she got a bad feeling.
"I called my daughter and said, 'you're going to think I'm nuts, but I think that Al might be the Bike Path Rapist,'" the woman recalled saying. "I feel bad for his wife and his children and that no one knew."
Sanchez is married and has two adult sons, Chris- who lives in California- and Mike, who neighbors say lives at home. He is employed by Luvato Buffalo, formerly known as American Brass.
While most neighbors expressed surprise, one noted that Monday's arrest serves as a reminder to make safety a priority, even in a seemingly safe neighborhood.
"I've always told my stepdaughter to take her brother with her when she goes to the store," said Roger Stalworth.
Local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff's Department, Amherst Police and Buffalo Police were involved in the investigation.
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