A Jamestown man faces several charges for allegedly assaulting two young males in the presence of a 5 year-old girl....
Jamestown police responded to 14 Cedar Avenue for two males fighting on Monday night and, on arrival identified the suspect as 51 year-old Jesse Waite-junior. Police say -- while an intoxicated state -- Waite reportedly pinned a 9 year-old boy to ground before punching him in the face and choking him. Waite was confronted by an 18 year-old male victim that was also pinned down and choked. He's is also accused of pushing his fingers into the teen's eye sockets and punching him in the face before he was able to get away. The victims sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Waite is being held pending arraignment on two counts of third-degree assault, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. He also faces second-degree strangulation and criminal obstruction of breathing charges.
A new multi-agency program in Chautauqua County has already been successful in diffusing four potential threat situations in local school districts....
That from District Attorney Patrick Swanson, who says he and current SUNY College at Fredonia Public Safety Director Brent Issacson were called to a situation about two-years ago. Swanson says the unnamed school's administration was made aware of a situation but, just didn't feel they were equiped to deal with it.
Swanson then reviewed a report on what's called a "School Threat Assessment and Response" or STAR Program that had shown success in Onondaga County. He says they then moved forward on the county's own STAR program, which involves law enforcement, public and mental health, and child protective services. Swanson says their 20-member team's interventions have led to "positive outcomes." He says the entire process is confidential, and he is the "point-person" for it. He says they recently met with all the county's superintendents to inform them about what the STAR program is all about. Swanson is quick to add that if law enforcement needs to be brought in to deal with an immediate situation, they are.
Local Congressman Tom Reed is calling for a federal investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo's refusal to fix a stretch of Interstate 90 on Seneca Nation territory........
Reed held a news conference Tuesday afternoon at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo. The Corning Republican says he has sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr, asking him to look into misuse of federal funds allocated for repairing the highway.
Reed is also asking Barr to investigate Cuomo for potential abuse of power for not taking care of the traveling public. He was joined in the press conference by Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello and motorists whose cars were damaging while traveling on that five-mile stretch of the Thruway.
Quick work by Dunkirk city police helped them nab two suspects in connection with a robbery on Washington Avenue late last Sunday night....
Police Chief David Ortolano says police were able to locate 29-year-old Jonathan Sidaui and 35-year-old David Anzalone just minutes after the hold-up. Ortolano says they has forcibly taken property from the victim before running off.
Sidaui and Anzalone were arrested near King Street and charged with second-degree robbery and, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were arraigned in Dunkirk City Court and, remanded to the Chautauqua County Jail with bail to be set.
A woman was arrested for drug possession following a check on her well-being Monday in the village of Falconer....
Ellicott Town Police say they came to check on the woman sitting on bench and, identified her as 31 year-old Maddie Williams. Officers say while speaking with Williams, they allegedly saw drug paraphernalia on top of her purse and, asked if she had any illegal drugs. Williams reportedly turned over a small bag of heroin, while a further search revealed 13 hypodermic needles, one needle containing heroin and a small scale. She was sent to the county jail pending arraignment.
The head of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities says the agreement reached between the New York Power Authority and 50 other power entities in the state is "extremely important."
That from BPU General Manager Dave Leathers after the board late Monday approved a 15-year extension with NYPA to receive hydropower. Leathers says it helps with planning, and making sure the power is there for their customers. However, while it helps keep the BPU's rates low, he says it doesn't "lock them in...".
The NYPA Board previously agreed to the extension, which continues the sale of about 765 megawatts of low-cost hydropower from the Niagara Power Project to all 51 municipal, and rural electric cooperative systems in the state. Leathers says it took a couple of years to negotiate the new agreement and, he was one of the people directly involved. Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign the contract in the coming months.
Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public's help regarding a hit-and-run accident in Warren County's Columbus Township Monday night.....
Troopers in Warren say 24 year-old Robert Hill -- of Savannah, Georgia -- was operating a bicycle on State Route-6 near Scotts Crossing Road when he was allegedly struck by a tractor-trailer traveling the same direction. Police say the big-rig driver failed to stop and fled the scene. The accident occurred about 9 PM Monday. Anyone with information is asked to call officers at 814-663-2043.
