Homeless man from Jamestown faces more charges regarding high-speed chase; not paying restaurant bill...
More charges have been filed against the Jamestown man who led police on a high-speed pursuit that went into Falconer and the town of Poland Wednesday afternoon. Ellicott Town Police say they were notified that city police were attempting to stop the speeding car... driven by 36 year-old Chad Walters... which was also reported stolen. Officers say Walters was eastbound on East Second Street, heading into Falconer shortly after 3 p.m., when Ellicott officers tried to stop him. However... Walters failed to comply... and, they followed him but lost sight of the vehicle as they entered Poland. Ellicott police were then notified that the car had gone over a bank, and struck a tree. Walters then ran... and, tried to hide in a nearby garage before a JPD K-9 found him. He was turned over to city police... but, he was later charged in Ellicott with speeding... passing a solid red light... passing on the right... illegal driving in the center lane... second-degree reckless endangerment... and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.
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Walters also faces charges for an incident that occured earlier on Monday before his was arrested for breaking into the J-1 Auto Shop in Jamestown. Ellicott police say he allegedly left a restaurant in the town without paying for services rendered. Officers also later found him in possession of a baggie containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Walters arrested for stealing car, then leading JPD officers on that chase...
The homeless man arrested this past Monday for breaking into an eastside auto repair shop has been arrested again for stealing a car Wednesday afternoon... and leading police on a high speed chase. City police say they were initially called to the 7-Eleven Store on East Second Street about 2:15 p.m. on a report of a stolen car. About an hour later... officers say they were told that the vehicle had returned to the store, and was parked in the parking lot. Officers say when they approached the car... the driver, 36 year-old Chad Walters... fled through the parking lot and down a small embankment and onto East Second. Walters then fled at a high rate of speed... but, police terminated the chase a short time later. However... the car was involved in that one-car crash in the town of Poland, and, Walters ran off. He was arrested by JPD for third-degree grand larceny... unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.. and, reckless driving.
Jamestown man arrested for baseball bat assault...
A city man has been arrested for allegeldy assaulting two people with a baseball bat... and, biting one victim several times during a fight on Jamestown's southside early Wednesday morning. City police were called to the location about 12:30 a.m., and, located 33 year-old Jeffery Smith on a porch roof and refusing to come down. Officers told him to come down... but, Smith refused. After gathering information from multiple victims at the scene, officers determined that Smith had assaulted two people with the bat... and, bit another several times. Smith finally came down off the roof... but, disregarded further commands given by officers and resisted arrest. Following a brief struggle... police charged Smith with two counts of second-degree assault... one of third-degree assault... third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, resisting arrest. He ws jailed pending arraignment.
Person of Interest identified in 1972 Jamestown homicide...
A person of interest has been named in a five-decade old murder of a 14 year-old girl whose body was found in the backyard of a home at 14 West Ninth St. in late November of 1972. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office reports that Patricia Fairbanks' body was found a short distance from her family's home in late December of that year. The death was ruled a homicide... but, police have been unable to locate the killer. The case was reopened earlier this year... and, given to the Sheriff's Office Unsolved Cases Team for further investigation. They now say they have identified a person of interest: 44 year-old William Swartzman... who was living in Jamestown at the time. Swartzman died of natural causes in Warren, Pa. in 1997. If you have any information on this case... call the Unsolved Cases Team at 716-753-4578.
Gillibrand touts report on impact of Anti-Gun Trafficking law she championed...
A new federal gun trafficking law has shown "extraordinary" results in a relatively short period of time. That from U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on a new report on the legislation... which was part of the Bi-Partisan Safer Communities Act approved more than a year ago. The New York Democrat says it's been important to the state... which has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. However... she says it's also seen a lot of illegally trafficked guns get into the hands of criminals. She says about 80% of the gun-connected to crime and confiscated in NYS came from out-of-state. Gillibrand says the report found that more than 1,300 illegal guns have been seized by law enforcement and more than 200 people have been charged under the BSCA’s new gun trafficking statute.
Comedy Center reacts to passing of acclaimed TV producer Norman Lear at age 101...
The late Norman Lear "revolutionized the television landscape, pushed societal boundaries and transformed our culture with groundbreaking comedies that addressed serious issues and offered sharp social commentary while being remarkably funny." That from National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson... commenting on the passing of the well-know producer of the 1970s sitcom "All in the Family." Lear... who was an early supporter of the center... died at the age of 101 Tuesday in California.
