Falconer teen found in Chautauqua Gorge after missing for more than six hours...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department "K-9" Unit is being credited with helping to find a Falconer teenager who went missing for several hours early Sunday in the town of Chautauqua. Sheriff's officers say they received a report that 19 year-old Nathan Nowicki walked away from a group of friends on Beujean Road shortly after 2 AM. Deputies say he went into a heavily-wooded area... and, the group tried to find him -- without luck -- a short time later. Officers say the friends tried to call Nowick's cellphone...but, were unable to reach him. Deputies were called in... and, upon arrival found Nowicki's vehicle. Officers say Erie County Air-1 then conducted a search of the wooded area... but, were unable to find him due to heavy foliage. However... GPS coordinates from Nowicki's cell phone showed that it was in the wooded-area... and, a ground search began. Deputies say "K-9" Drago lead the effort... and, after a short time he found Nowicki's backpack... which also contained his cell phone. The K-9 then lead search teams into the Chautauqua Gorge where they were able to track Nowicki's foot prints... and, found him about 8:45 AM. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia and minor injuries.
One person still jailed, another released following significant drug bust in town of Busti...
One Lakewood area man remains jailed... while another has been freed on bail... following a drug raid last Friday that uncovered both Heroin and cocaine being sold. Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force led a multi-agency effort to take down an alleged drug house at 2915 Third Ave. in Busti. Task Force Commander David Bentley says police found 40 grams of processed or packaged cocaine... and, 20 doses of Heroin. They also arrested 40 year-old Blake Smith... and, 38 year-old Willow Taft... at the location -- just west of Lakewood. Bentley called the pair "mid-level" drug dealers. He says authorities also found a quantity of marijuana... cutting agents... electronic scales... and a large quantity of cash. He says the task force was assisted by Lakewood-Busti and State Police... the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force... and, state Police CNET Team. Smith... who was also arrested on warrants from the city of Jamestown... remains jailed without bail. Taft was freed on bail. Anyone with information on illegal narcotics trafficking around the county is asked to contact the Southern Tier Task Force at 1-800-344-8702.
