Three arrested in Wednesday morning drug raids in Dunkirk...
Three Dunkirk residents face drug-related charges following two simultaneous raids in the north county city Wednesday morning. Dunkirk Police were joined by Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office Narcotics investigators... and, Jamestown police in conducting the raids at 408 Plover St., and, 54 East Sixth St. shortly before 8 a.m. Police say they seized just over 15-grams of crack cocaine... scales and packaging material for the distribution of narcotics... and, $1,921 in cash. Investigators say 31 year-old Chastity Martinez and 19 year-old Antony Alvarez-Luna were both charged with third-and fourth-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance... second-degree criminally using Drug Paraphernalia... and, first-degree criminal nuisance. Police add that 41 year-old Alejandro Gonzalez-Virola was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a Controlled Substance... and, first-degree criminal nuisance. All three were jailed pending arraignment in Dunkirk City Court.
Jamestown man arrested as fugitive from justice for alleged kidnapping...
A city man has been arrested during an overnight street check as a fugitive from justice for an alleged kidnapping in Warren County, Pennsylvania. Jamestown police say they were conducting the check shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Harrison and North Main Streets when they stopped 38 year-old Michael D. Johnson. Officers say their investigation revealed the warrant out of Warren for interference with custody of children... concealment of whereabouts of a child, and kidnapping of a minor. Johnson was taken into custody without further incident.... and, was charged with being a fugitive from justice.
City Development Director outlines plan for creating new Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Code for Jamestown following vote to hire contractor...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have approved hiring a firm to update and develop the city's first new Comphrensive Plan and Zoning Code in more than 25 years. The City Council this week approved contracting with C-&-S Companies for the drafting and delivery of the new plan for $200,000. City Development Director Crystal Surdyk says the process will take about 18 to 24-months to complete... and, says the current plan played a lot into developing the city's riverwalk. Surdyk says a lot has been done with the riverwalk, and the plan played a key role in the city's Urban Design Plan. The last comprehensive plan in Jamestown was done in 1998... but, Surdyk says it was also the basis for the first Urban Design Plan in 2006... and, the updated one in 2018. As for the Zoning Code... she says after a number of years... the code becomes kind of a hodgepodge that needs to be dissected and updated. Surdyk says the main people involved will be meeting soon... and, will develop an agenda for meetings, and public sessions on the proposal. Some of the $200,000 for development of the new comprehensive plan and zoning code is being provided through the city's $28-million American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
Maryland man arrested following Jamestown domestic...
A man from Maryland has been arrested for allegedly violating an order of protection following a domestic incident in Jamestown early Wednesday morning. City police were called to a downtown residence shortly after Midnight for an "in-progress" domestic. Officers say when they arrived... they located the female victim... and, 28 year-old Thomas Diggs of Frederick, MD. Police say they found the woman had a stay-away order against Diggs... and, he was arrested without incident. He ws taken to the city jail pending arraignment on one count of second-degree criminal contempt.
Paterniti urges replacement of broken traffic light on Baker St. -- in front of Persell School -- once county begins project to improve the intersection with Hazeltine Ave....
Work is expected to be done to improve a major intersection near Persell Middle School in the city of Jamestown... and, it will hopefully include a new traffic light. That from City Councilman Joe Paterniti... who recently brought up the on-going issues surrounding the intersection of Baker Street and Hazeltine Avenue. Paterniti says he's been discussing the matter with Acting Public Works Director Mark Roetzer... and, highlight what the director said in a recent e-mail. He said Chautauqua County is taking the lead on the project because Baker is a county road. An even bigger issue... says Paterniti... is the fact the traffic light in front of the school on Baker Street is not working. He says... once the county is ready to begin the project... they should look into that. Since Baker Street is maintained by Chautauqua County... the county will be heading up any possible re-design that would hopefully make the road and intersecton safer.
Hochul nominates new State Police superintendent...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has nominated a 32-year veteran of the State Police to be its new leader. If the state Senate agrees... Steven James would be the second Black person confirmed to hold the rank of superintendent and the third to lead the 5,000 member force, which has struggled for years to diversify its ranks. It is not immediately clear when state lawmakers will vote on his confirmation, but for now, James will lead in an acting role. Hochul says "I was very intentional in selecting a leader who understood, starting out from the very beginning, what it was like to be in the shoes of our state police. Someone who rose to the ranks, someone who has led with integrity and dignity." James, a graduate of SUNY Albany, has held various leadership roles over two decades, most recently as deputy superintendent for employee relations, according to the governor's office. James replaces Acting Superintendent Dominick Chiumento.
