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WJTN News Headlines for Sept. 10, 2019

Two men from Jamestown area are accused of trafficking illegal drugs following their arrest during a traffic stop Monday morning....  

Jamestown Police say they pulled over a car on East Second Street about 8:45 AM and, found 91 bags of a heroin-fentanyl mixture, weighing 9.1-grams.  Officers say they arrested 42 year-old Melvin Galarza, and 31 year-old Jonathan Negron-Rosario for third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and using drug paraphernalia.  Both men are jailed pending arraignement.  Anyone with information on illegal trafficking and sales of narcotic drugs is asked to call the JPD Tips line at 483-TIPS. You can also contact the confidential JPD Tips 4-1-1 app.


City officials are not responding directly to the firefighters union's call to more adequately staff the department for ambulance and fire truck operations...  

During last night's City Council work session, Mayor Sam Teresi warned lawmakers about getting pulled into a public debate about collective bargaining.

Teresi says the union has been without a contract since January of 2016 and, says the union filed a notice of arbitration later in 2016, and nothing more has been done since.  He says the problem hasn't been enough staffing for an ambulance but, what the private provider -- now UPMC Chautauqua Hospital -- has done in recent years.  Teresi says they have been "gearing down their level of service..." and, he says that's put pressure on the fire department.  Teresi says the only full-time public ambulance service was provided at one time by the former Jamestown General Hospital before it closed in the late 1980s.


The head of the Jamestown fireman's union says a lack of manpower is making it difficult to adequately staff both their ambulance and fire trucks...  

Fire Lieutenant Shawn Shilling is also president of Jamestown Professional Firefighters Association Local 137.  Shilling is blasting the administration of Mayor Sam Teresi for keeping the department chronically understaffed for nearly two decades now.

The Jamestown Fire Department has run an ambulance, along with it's fire trucks, for several decades now.  However, Shilling says they only have 9 firefighters on duty at any time and, a national report says they should have at least 13 to 15 firefighters at all times.  He says the department often has to call in an off-shift when responding to a fire in the city.  He says, though, that means they may not have enough people to fight a blaze for 15 to 20 minutes.  He says the city currently has 50 rank-and-file union firefighters.  Shilling says they are making their voices heard now because a new mayor will be elected this November.


A Jamestown man faces charges -- including reckless endangerment -- for allegedly throwing an incendiary device out of a house "full of smoke" and barricading himself inside....  

City Police responded to 17 West 12th Street for the incident last Saturday night and, confirmed that 21 year-old Brendon Hinson threw the object that almost struck an 11 year-old victim.  Officers made entry into the smoky home and, tried to talk to Hinson but, he allegedly refused commands and tried to run away.  He was later taken into custody on additional charges of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree obstruction. 


The annual class to train referees for middle and high school basketball starts Wednesday at Jamestown High School....  

And Roger McTavish, the man who teaches the class, says officials are desperately needed.

The class takes ten weeks, and there are some fees involved.  But, McTavish says candidates who pass the test will quickly earn their investment back.  The first session is Wednesday night in Room 250 at Jamestown High School at 7 PM.  Interested candidates can attend the class or phone Roger McTavish at his home in West Ellicott.  


Jamestown Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the person who allegedly broke into a Crescent Street business in the early morning hours of August 19th....  

On their Facebook page, City Police posted two photos of the alleged suspect taken from surveillance video.  Investigators say anyone who may recognize the suspect, or has information on the break-in, is asked to contact city police at 483-7537 or you can call the anonymous Tip line at 483-8477 (TIPS) or via the Tips 411 App.  All calls and tips are kept confidential.