Florida woman formally charged on federal drug trafficking of large amount of Fentanyl...
A woman from Florida now faces federal charges after allegedly being found with more than 9-pounds of Fentanyl pills during a traffic stop in Jamestown a week ago. That traffic stop... which resulted in the arrest of 64 year-old Elina Martinez of Miami... is also receiving praise from City Councilman Jeff Russell... who is a retired Jamstown Police officer. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Tuesday that Martinez was taken into federal custody on charges of possession with intent to distribute, and distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Russell says it's "alarming" that she was found with 50,000 to 60,000 pills which -- depending on the potency -- could be enough to "kill every man, woman and child in the city of Jamestown." Federal prosecutors say a JPD detective requested a uniformed patrol officer to do a traffic stop on a rental car being driven by Martinez for numerous traffic violations. They say she made some suspicious movements... and, was asked to get out of the car. Police then -- with her permission -- searched the vehicle and found a suspicious powder residue in a suitcase. Two K-9 dogs were brought to the scene and alerted police to the presence of “drugs...” and, further searching uncovered the 9-pounds... 13 ounces of blue pills, which field tested positive for fentanyl. If convicted... Martinez faces a manditory sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life.
Russell also praises effort on last weeks three drug raids in Jamestown and Falconer...
City Councilman Jeff Russell is also praising the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and neighboring agencies for their work on last week's three raids that led to 19 people being arrested on drug trafficking charges. Russell says it was great to see the collaboration between the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and Ellicott Town Police in helping to execute three search warrants at 628 Spring St. and 15 West Cowden Pl. in Jamestown... and, 252 West Main St. in Falconer last Wednesday. At 628 Spring... police arrested six people... and, found a quantity of drugs there. The raid at 15 West Cowden led to 10 arrests... and, investigators found just over 67-grams of Fentanyl... 3-grams of methamphetime... and, $1,100 cash. In Falconer... three people were arrested... and, police seized 40 grams of fentanyl, over 16 grams of methamphetamine... along with a 9-mm pistol that was previously reported stolen in Lakewood... a large capacity ammunition feeding device... and $1,800 cash.
Two city women arrested for possessing meth during traffic stop...
Two Jamestown residents have been arrested on narcotics possession charges following a traffic stop on the city's southside early Monday night. City police were on patrol shortly before 7 p.m. when officers spotted a car with a broken taillight. Police then stopped the car. Officers say the driver, 40 year-old Jamie Warner, started to get out of the vehicle... but, officers commanded her to stay in the vehicle several times. Warner got out of the vehicle... and, started to walk away from officers before being detained. She was found to have an oustanding warrant for her arrest... and, police found 6.5-grams of methamphetamine and a suboxone sublingual film in her possession. Her passenger... 35 year-old Amanda Penhollow... was found with 1.6-grams of meth in her possession. Warner faces charges including third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... while Penhollow faces one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were held pending arraignment.
AAA recognizes 10 local police agencies with Road Safety Awards...
Ten area police agencies from New York state and Pennsylvania were honored Tuesday by AAA's East Central Office for their efforts to improve motorist safety on the highway. AAA East Central Safety Advisor Terry Rae Anthony hosted the police departments for a luncheon at the Olive Garden in Lakewood. Anthony says the organization cares about the "motoring public..." and need the local police to help get the message out. She says six of the departments... including Jamestown... earned the top -- or "Platinum" award for doing at least a five-year project to work on something that needed improvement in their jurisdictions. Anthony says the other five Platinum winners were the St. Mary's and Warren departments in Pennsylvania... along with the Chautauqua County and Elk County Sheriff’s Departments... and the New York State Police in Jamestown. She says the agencies apply for the awards. She says their "Gold" awards... the second highest recognition to be awarded... were given to the Conewango, Warren County Sheriff's, and Youngsville Police Departments in Pennsylvania. She adds a "Bronze" award was given to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Police Department.
Jackson Center host's 22nd Founders' Day Tuesday...
The Robert H. Jackson Center marked its 22nd anniversary Tuesday at the annual Founders' Day event. President Kristan McMahon announced the theme for 2023 programs at the center in downtown Jamestown will be "The U.S. Supreme Court: Final, Infallable, Future." McMahon says the board of directors has approved a three-year plan for the Jackson Center... with details to be made public early next year. Four past board members were honored in a brief, informal ceremony at Founders' Day: Jeanette Carlson, Tom Schmidt, Randy Sweeney, and Greg Peterson. Peterson... one of the founders of the Jackson Center, says he believes the work of the center has just begun.
