City man arrested for allegedly leading Jamestown police on High-Speed Chase, and foot chase on eastside...
A Jamestown man faces several charges after allegedly leading police on a high-speed car chase... then a foot-chase on the city's eastside early Sunday morning. City police say a patrol spotted a pick-up truck driving recklessly in the Community Bank-Tim Horton's parking lot in Brooklyn Square shortly before 4 a.m. Officers say they tried to stop 27 year-old Daniel F. Johnson when he accelerated through the bank's drive-thru... and, fled eastbound on Harrison Street at a high-rate of speed. Police say Johnson tried to turn at a high-speed onto Allen Street... but, the truck crashed. Officers say the suspect then tried to run... but, was caught, and he tried to resist arrest. However... Johnson was taken into custody... and, faces numerous charges... including third-degree unlawfully fleeing an officer... and, DWI. No one was hurt. Johnson was being held pending arraignment.
Horrigan says police consolidation committee "making progress" on final report to city, county lawmakers...
There may be a proposal in the next two to three months for county lawmakers and Jamestown city officials to look at regarding police consolidation. However... Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will only say a regional policing committee looking at merging the Jamestown Police Department with the Sheriff's Department is making "good progress." A well-placed source tells Media One News that a proposal may be ready by August. Horrigan says work on a consolidation agreement has been a "step by step" process... with a framework for the restructuring committee next up. The committee -- made up of city and county leaders -- including police officials -- has been meeting the past few years on investigating whether consolidation is an option... and, how it would be done. In addition to the police consolidation... Horrigan says there's also an Emergency Medical Services Committee looking at ways to strengthen services with falling numbers of firefighters, and EMS members. He says the county's EMS Council will look at a final report sometime soon. He made his comments for this past weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.
Cuomo's economic development programs taking recent "bad" hits...
It has been a bad few months for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's signature economic development programs. Federal investigators are looking into potential conflicts of interest in the Buffalo Billion, the Democratic governor's plan to revive Buffalo's economy. Another Cuomo program, Start-Up NY, has created only 408 jobs so far according to a state report quietly released by the administration this month. In addition... this past Thursday, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit that found officials couldn't verify that companies given tax credits for creating jobs were living up to their obligations. State economic development officials point to lower unemployment as evidence Cuomo's efforts are working. But... the struggles facing the governor's high-profile programs are giving fresh material to critics who say Cuomo needs to rethink some of his proudest accomplishments.
LECOM Health Challenge touted as big success at Peek 'n Peak, Lamb wins four-way play-off to grab the title...
Pro Golfer Rick Lamb won a four-way play off to take the first annual LECOM Health Challenge Sunday at Peek N' Peak. As sunk his crucial putt for a birdie on the second playoff hole... the cheers erupted from the gallery. In addition... Chautauqua County was a big winner over the weekend. Executive Director Kevin Sandvidge with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, spoke quietly to our Dennis Webster as the players were taking their final shots. Sanvidge says they "exceeded the Web.com tour's expectations..." regarding crowds size, and sponsorships. The LECOM tournament marked the return of pro golf to the Peak after nearly ten years. One of the web.com tour coordinators, Brad Mc Gahey, said it went great... though they weren't expecting a four-player play-off at the end.
Local Police officials talk everyday concerns in the wake officer shootings in Dallas...
Local police officials are telling their "rank and file" members to stay on their toes... but, not do anything much differently in the wake of last week's police shootings in Dallas, Texas. That was especially the case for Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings... who says he always tells his officers to have "situational awareness" depending on what the call may be about... or when they're out patroling. Snellings says he told them to be cautious, and careful. At the same time... Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace says there is "concern every day... " as officers put on the uniform, and put their lives "out there to help other people." Gerace says there is always worry about "copycats." Snellings says they can't control what the media puts out on recent police-involved shootings... but, he says there are things police can do and say about how they work. He says they sometimes need to do a better job explaining "use of force" incidents... and, what's right and wrong. Some 100 people were arrested over the weekend in both Louisiana and Minnesota at protests over police-involved shootings late last week in Baton Rouge... and, St. Paul.
More than 70 arrests made in Rochester protests over police shootings of black men last week...
Police made 74 arrests in Rochester, New York, during a weekend protest over the shooting of black residents across the nation. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle said the arrests occurred late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Demonstrators Friday protested the fatal shooting of black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota and also the deaths of some local residents this year. No police officers were injured and there was no property damage reported. Police told protesters they were blocking the streets. Ashley Gantt, one of the protest organizers, says people sat on the ground when a SWAT team arrived because they did not want to appear aggressive. Gantt urged those being arrested to remain calm. Two reporters were briefly detained.
