Jamestown High School has "larger-than-usual" police presence Thursday after safety threat rumor circulates...
A rumor of a potential safety threat at Jamestown High School was found to not be credible after city police "fully investigated" all leads about the rumor. In a printed statement late Thursday... School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker said Jamestown police was made aware of the rumor late Wednesday night... and they worked with the district to investigate. Whitaker adds that "out of an abundance of caution, the department provided a larger-than-usual police presence at the building earlier this morning." He added the district "appreciates the immediate response, investigation, and strong partnership with Jamestown Police to ensure the safety of our students and staff."
North county woman arrested for serious assault on young child...
A Dunkirk woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a young child back in late April of 2021 in Fredonia... seriously injuring the child. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Departments Criminal Investigation Division conducted a probe into the incident... which occured on Apr. 28 of last year. Deputies say their investigation found that 34 year-old Titiana Berrios caused the serious injuries to the child... who needed immediate medical attention. Officers arrested Berrios Wednesday on charges of first-degree assault... two counts of second-degree assault... and, endangering the welfare of a child. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says the indictment was filed in late June of this year. However... Berrios fled the county before she could be arrested on the indictment. Sheriff's investigators located her Wednesday, and she was arrested on the outstanding warrant. Barrios was arraigned and sent to the county jail on $750,000 cash bail... $1.5-million property bond.
City woman pleads guilty in drug-related death case...
A Jamestown woman has pleaded guilty for her role in a narcotics conspiracy that resulted in a drug overdose death more than two-years ago. U-S Attorney Trini Ross says 36 year-old Rachelle Allison entered the plea before U.S. District Court Judge John Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Prosecutors say that between 2019 and June of this year... Allison conspired with others -- including her boyfriend -- Ryan Bloom -- to sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. During that time... she bought and sold the illegal drugs for profit and her own use, using Facebook to conduct her drug trafficking activities and to assist Bloom, which included making drug deals. They also used a Fairview Avenue home in Jamestown to conduct their drug trafficking activities. In April of 2020... Chautauqua County Sheriff’s officers were called to a home on Hoag Road in Ashville for a possible overdose death. Upon arrival, an individual identified as D.R., was found dead. Allison admitted that she and Bloom sold heroin and fentanyl to D.R. the day before his death.
Task Force in Jamestown announces two temporarily homeless shelters to open to help during cold weather...
Two temporary homeless shelters are expected to come on line by the end of the month to deal with a spike in the number of homeless people in Jamestown. The city's Homeless Task Force met Thursday at Christ First United Methodist Church to go over final preparations to open the shelters at the Joy Fellowship Church... which will provide beds for mainly families. Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the other will be located at the Mental Health Association in the Gateway Center on Water Street for single housing. Sundquist says the temporary beds are being provided by an organization called "Relief Beds..." which produces air-inflatable mattresses. Sundquist... who led the meeting... says the two shelters will be available for up to 30 people. He says the beds will be available when there's a "Code Blue." That's when the temperature or wind chill makes the air temperature fall to 32-degrees -- or lower. Sundquist says the program is being started with $194,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding.
Start of Sidewalk Plowing around JPS school not a certainty yet...
The agreement between the Jamestown Public Schools and the city to get sidewalks plowed around schools this winter has hit some stumbling blocks: the plows aren’t here, yet -- and there’s no one to operate them. The school district put up most of the $300,000 for the two plows, and Superintendent Kevin Whitaker says they’ve been ordered, but, says there's been a shipping or delivery delay until likely mid-December. He's hopeful there's no major snowfall before that. In the meantime... Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the city’s been looking for people to do the early morning plow work. Initially... the city was looking at hiring two full-time workers who would do other work as well. However... the City Council wanted to go with hiring "seasonal" workers. Sundquist adds they’ve had a few applicants, but no one’s been hired yet. Anyone interested in the work should contact the city's Public Works Department.
Jamestown man arrested for shoving person during domestic incident...
A city man is accused of pushing a person to the ground during a domestic violence incident... and, then resisted arrest. Jamestown Police say they were called to a location on the southside late last Sunday for the incident. Officers say their investigation showed that 23 year-old Michael Bane had gotten into the altercation... and, violently shoved the victim to the ground. Police say Bane was also found to have violated an order of protection the victim had against him. He then allegedly tried to fight officers when they were arresting him. Bane faces charges including two counts of first-degree criminal contempt... and, was jailed pending arraignment.
