No one hurt in overnight fire on Charles St. in Jamestown...
An overnight fire on the city of Jamestown's southside has heavily-damaged an older, two-and-a-half story house. City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Coon says crews were called to the scene at 106 Charles Street shortly before Midnight last night... and, says they found light smoke initially coming from the peak of the roof, and ceiling areas. When crews arrived... Coon says they sent crews to the first and second-floors and the attic area... and found the fire started on the first-floor and quickly moved into the second-floor. He says crews extended hoses into the first and second-floors... but, at one point they had to evacute the building to knock down heavy fire on one exterior wall. He says it took some time to get the blaze under control because of the building's "balloon wall" construction. Coon says they were able to get the lone occupant out safely... but, adds they couldn't save the structure... which had extensive damage to all three floors of the building. He says an off-duty shift of eight firefighters and a shift commander were also called in. He says crews were there until shorlty after 5 this morning. Coon says no injuries were reported... and, the cause remains under investigation.
City man arrested on local, and possibly federal gun possession charges after drug raid late Friday...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs... and, being in possession of several "long-guns" following his arrest while walking his dog on the city's eastside. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, State Police C-NET Team... and, the FBI... had been investigating 27 year-old Tyler Anderson for some time, and were conducting surveillance on his home at 2256 Willard St. Ext. just before 2:30 p.m. Friday in the town of Ellicott. Samuelson says they moved in when Anderson took the dog for a walk... they then raided the home and found 4 pounds of marihuana, just over two ounces of powder cocaine, 15 "long" guns, and cash inside. Samuelson wasn't sure if any ammunition was found during the raid... or if the guns were loaded. However... he says they are pleased to have those illegally possessed guns off the street. He says that's likely why the FBI was involved in the raid operation. Samuelson says Anderson initially resisted arrested... but, was eventually taken into custody on several local charges... including third and fourth-degree criminal possesson of a controlled substance. He was jailed pending arraignment in Jamestown city, and Ellicott Town Courts.
First "Gun Done Cases" in the county disposed of with manditory sentences...
The first defendants sentenced under a new policy enacted just over a year ago in Chautauqua County for defendants on simple, illegal gun possession, have made their way through the court system. District Attorney Patrick Swanson says his office implimented a "Gun Done Case" policy in January of 2017 that takes a tougher stance on people convicted of having a gun in their possession. Basically... Swanson says the policy says the D-A's office will not "plead down" a possession case. He says they are seeing success with those. Swanson says a person convicted in the basic, criminal possession of a weapon's case will receive 3 1/2 years in state prison. However... he adds they are also working with the U-S Attorney's Office in Buffalo to make sure they pick up cases involving Felons... who cannot legally have a gun... as well as being in possession of drugs. One of those people sentenced... James Blue of Jamestown... received 4-years in state prision, and 2 1/2 years post-release supervision. Another Jamestown man... 18 year-old Eduardo Rivera... received 3 years in prison and two years post-release supervision.
Catt. County teen arrested for alleged, multi-school threats last week...
A Cattaraugus County teenager is being held on $2,500 cash bail in connection with an alleged school threat a week ago Thursday. Following investigation by Sheriff's officers in Little Valley... the unidentified teen was taken into custody for allegedly instructing others in a Facebook chat room on how, and where to purchase items that would be used by a school shooter. Deputies say the actions caused alarm and concern by multiple Cattaraugus County School Districts. The districts along with School Resource Officers followed proper protocols... which, ensured no immediate threats. The teen was sent to the Little Valley Jail on a charge of making a terroristic threat.
