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WJTN News Headlines

Two Jamestown residents face Felony drug charges... and, police confiscated a large amount of marijuana during two separate raids in the city early Tuesday morning.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers and JPD Swat Team members executed search warrants at 303 Crescent Street... and, 823 Prendergast Avenue about 7 AM.  Samuelson says they were looking for narcotics and marijuana as part of an on-going crack down on drug trafficking in the city. Samuelson says they arrested 26 year-old Randalea Rivera at the 303 Crescent Street location... while they took 23 year-old Raheem Butts into custody at 823 Prendergast.  He says these raids came out of investigations that led to several raids over the past month, or so.  However... he adds they were not directly tied to any of the others.  Samuelson says Butts faces charges Felony charges -- including of third and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  He's being held in the county jail without bail... while Rivera faces a Felony count of second-degree criminal posession of marijuana.  She's being held on 25-hundred dollars bail.

 

A Lakewood man arrested earlier this year for allegedly growing dozens of marijuana plants now faces federal charges in the case.  Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force say they assisted Ellicott Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency in arresting 48 year-old Jeffrey Boardman of Southland Avenue.  Task Force members say Boardman was arrested by Ellicott Town Police on Melvin Avenue in Celoron on a federal warrant Monday without incident.  Officers say a grand jury indicted Boardman for conspiracy to manufacture more than 100 marijuana plants... conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture containing marijuana... and, maintaining a premisis to manufacture... distribute... and, use marijuana.  Task Force agents say Boardman appeared in U-S District Court in buffalo for arraignment... and, was remanded into federal custody without bail.  Investigators accuse Boardman of operating several sophisticated marijuana growing operations.

 

State Senate Democrats have released a report on the rise of heroin and opioid use in New York.  Lawmakers are calling for tougher penalties and increased insurance coverage.  Their six measures include a bill to allow prosecutors to charge dealers with manslaughter if the opioids result in death.

 

The Resource Center has begun the public phase of a major capital campaign called STARS.  Heather Brown, an Assistant Executive Director at TRC, says they need to improve their healthcare buildings.The biggest part of the STARS campaign is 1.8 million dollars to renovate the Cappa Building on East Second Street in Jamestown, and some facilities in Dunkirk.  The rest of the money would go toward a modern data storage system, a centralized call center, and the development of integrated, holistic care.  Executive Director Paul Cesana says The Resouce Center needs broad support to be successful.  Cesana says this campaign is really a "call for action for the entire community."  The overall goal of STARS is to raise 5.1 million dollars.  Around 1.6 million has already been raised for the effort.

 

An investigation into an alleged attack and robbery in downtown Jamestown early this morning has now been determined to be unfounded.  City police are looking for a middle-aged man who allegedly attacked a 22 year-old woman who was jogging on the walkway behind Chautauqua Brick on West Harrison Street about 4:40 AM.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says... though... that as investigators looked further into the incident... the victim's story fell apart. Samuelson says the women reported the incident about 4:40 AM... saying the man hit her from behind... and, stole her i-pod... and, engagement ring.  However... they later determined she had concocted the story.  Samuelson adds that she had apparently been suffering some emotional issues... and, she was sent for a mental health evaluation.  He says it appears that the alleged victim was on the Riverwalk in that area... but, there was no second person involved.  He says the injuries she had were apparently self-inflicted.  No charges will be filed. Even though the attack was fabricated... Samuelson is still warning joggers to be aware of your surroundings.  He says it's probably best not to wearing head-phones so you can hear what's going on around-you.  

 

A construction issue is the apparent cause of a fire inside an interior wall is the apparent cause of a blaze that extensively damaged that wall of a town of Busti home this morning.  Busti Fire Chief Mike Volpe says his department was called to the scene at 463 Pine Ridge Road about 7 AM.  Volpe says crews found some smoke on arrival... and, made an interior attack. Volpe says they called in mutual aid from Lakewood, Kiantone, Frewsburg, Celoron... and, Sugar Grove, Russell and Lander from Pennsylvania.  He says getting the fire out in the two story house was "tricky" because they had to reach a confined area.  However... Volpe says they were able to contain damage to that interior wall. Volpe says it took about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control.  He says a board that had been rubbing up against a pipe triggered the flames.  He says the fire spread through a stud channel to the attic.  Two local Red Cross volunteers are helping the family of three with emergency needs.

 

A north county man has been arrested for allegedly being in possession of a banned assault rifle.  Sheriff's officers say 36 year-old Dennis Wallace of Dunkirk was arrested late Sunday night... with the help of Fredonia Police at his Van Buren Road home.  Once police concluded their investigation... they found Wallace allegedly had the illegal gun.  Deputies say Wallace is currently in custody for an unrelated charge and will answer the charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the Pomfret Town Court at a later date date.

 

Gun control advocates are urging New York lawmakers to require firearm owners to securely store their weapons.  New Yorkers Against Gun Violence also proposes requiring a device for semi-automatic handguns that stamps a code into a shell casing when the gun is fired, making it easier for authorities to track guns used in shootings.