Hamburg Police chief confirms investigation of incident at Patrick Kane's home

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Police in this Buffalo suburb addressed on Friday rumors swirling around Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, confirming their investigation of an “incident that allegedly occurred” at Kane’s lakefront home here last weekend.

It was the first official acknowledgement of the probe that first became widely known on Thursday morning. But Hamburg police officials declined to specify the nature of the allegations, which have been described in media reports as involving a woman.

And Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett cautioned that a resolution to the case involving the three-time Stanley Cup champion is not imminent.

“At this time, we are gathering information and awaiting forensic testing results,” Wickett said, suggesting that Chicago reporters covering the case here should not “waste” time expecting further details to emerge from authorities in the coming days.

Wickett did not take questions from reporters after reading a brief statement. He declined to say whether law-enforcement officials have spoken with Kane or if the player is cooperating with the probe.

Police said the alleged incident at his house — which cost nearly $3 million — happened late Saturday or early Sunday.

The front gates of Kane’s home were closed Friday morning. But his white 2015 Chevy Tahoe with Illinois plates was parked in the driveway of his parents’ house in the middle-class neighborhood of south Buffalo where he grew up before becoming an NHL star and buying the nearly 6,000-square-foot mansion in Hamburg, on the shore of Lake Erie.

Neighbors in this suburb 13 miles from downtown told the Chicago Sun-Times they saw plainclothes police arrive in unmarked cars and search the 26-year-old’s home on Sunday night, wearing synthetic gloves and shining flashlights in and around the property.

The investigation follows the Blackhawks’ third Stanley Cup championship in six seasons. Kane was scheduled to enjoy his day with the cup in Buffalo on Saturday.

Blackhawks management said in a statement Thursday that they were “aware of the matter” and gathering information but declined to comment further. The NHL added that it also was “aware of a police investigation” and “following developments.”

Contributing: Mark Lazerus, AP

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Patrick Kane’s house in Hamburg, N.Y. / Dan Mihalopoulos