Man arrested for allegedly punching and choking one person, and locking another in a Stockton home...
A Sinclairville man has been arrested for allegedly hitting one person multiple times in the face... and, then choking the person in the town of Stockton. Sheriff's officers were called to a reported fight on Cassadaga Road in the town of Stockton about 4:30 p.m. Friday... and, learned that 55 year-old Gerald Haley had struck the person, and then locked a second-person inside the home for a period of time against their will. Haley had fled the scene... but, was later stopped in his car... and, was allegedly found to be impaired by drugs and alcohol. Deputies arrested him for second-degree harassment, criminal obstruction of breathing, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment. He was also arrested for driving while intoxicated... and, sent to the county jail pending arraignment.
Cuomo signs 10-bill Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative measure...
Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order that all police agencies in New York state develop a plan to address use of force and de-escalating conflicts. During a press conference today... Cuomo announced the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative... which he says will require local governments to sit down and address policing. If they don't do that by next April 1st... the governor says they will get no additional state funding for their programs. Cuomo says they need to sit down with the community, and hash-out a plan for policing their community. He rattled off a list of issues that have to be addressed in the collabortive plan...including use of force, crowd management, community policing, and deescalation of situations. Cuomo later signed a sweeping package of police accountability measures that received new backing following protests of George Floyd's killing. The laws include one allowing the release of officers' long-withheld disciplinary records. Some of the bills had been proposed in years past and failed to win approval, but lawmakers moved with urgency in the wake of nationwide demonstrations.
Borrello votes no on most police reform measures, but, does vote to ban chokeholds...
Local State Senator George Borrello says New York leaders should have let the "wound heal" before taking action on police reform legislation. Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign a 10-bill police reform package that cleared the state Legislature this week. Borrello, who voted against most of the bills, felt the action taken by the legislature was a "knee jerk" response to the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota. He says he's concerned about "making a rush to do something for the sake of doing something." Borrello did vote in favor of one of the bills, a ban on chokeholds. But... he says taking away the civil rights of first-responders in a "knee jerk" fashion is wrong.
Sharp increase in negative COVID-19 cases due to stepped up testing over past week...
There is one new confirmed case of the COVID-19 Virus in Chautauqua County over the past day. However... several other numbers continue to trend in the right direction. That from County Executive P-J Wendel during his weekly COVID-19 Press Conference in Mayville... who says the new case is a woman in her 30s, and that brings the total confirmed cases to 106. Wendel says there are now 12 active cases -- down from 22 a week ago. He also says there are 130 people under quarantine or isolation orders... but, he adds there is no one hospitalized at this time. Wendel says that 88 people have now recovered from the COVID-19 Virus... and, there are now 8,427 negative test results to date. Wendel says that's nearly double the number from last week. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says the huge increase is due to increased testing requirements for nursing home workers... people getting elective surgeries... and other professions where COVID-19 testing is required.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul in Jamestown to check out local businesses reopening from Coronavirus shut-down...
New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul took a whirl-wind tour of some downtown Jamestown businesses Friday morning and found what she called 'resiliency," and, she encouraged people to get out and patronize those businesses. However, she also cautioned people to be safe, and wear their masks. Hochul visited restaurants, a hair solon and a real estate office. During a breezy on-street news conference, she would not speculate on when Phase 3 might start in Western New York. Hochul says she'll leave it to the governor to make that announcement. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized "it's up to the people" as to how well it goes from here, and encouraged people to "keep wearing the masks." Hochul also advised anyone going to a rally or protest to wear a mask... and if they've been to one, get tested for COVID-19.
Sundquist restarts city's former Human Rights Commission...
In the wake of recent peaceful protests in the city of Jamestown over the police-involved death of George Floyd... Mayor Eddie Sundquist is reinstating the citys Human Rights Commission. Sundquist says he will empanel the 12-member group to "bring a better understanding between the diverse people that make up the city." Sundquist says the former commission was disbanded many years ago... but, given current tensions and conflicts nationwide, he felt it was needed to help ease some of the tension in the city, and to find ways to be move inclusive as a city, and city government. Sundquist says bringing the Human Rights Commission back came out of the dialogue between himself, and Police Chief Harry Snellings with many of the protesters at Dow Park. He says he will make appointments to the commission, and they would be approved by the city council. So far... Sundquist says already received over 50 applications. For more information, and to apply for any board... go on-line to jamestownny.gov/boards.
