City man arrested for assault after allegedly stabbing victim in the head several times...
A Jamestown man is accused of assaulting another man after allegedly stabbing him in the head several times on the city's northside. City police say officers were called to the scene just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday to assist Parole with a stabbing victim. When they arrived... police found that 25 year-old Robert Brinkley had stabbed the victim... causing several larcerations. They say the victim was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment. Officers say they later found Brinkley inside an apartment in the area of East Second Street and Prendergast Avenue. Police say he tried to run off as they were escorting him to a patrol car... but, he was caught after a brief foot chase. Officers say Brinkley is charged with first-degree assault... and, burglary... fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, first-degree escape. He wa jailed pending arraignment.
Ecklund declares State of Emergency due to homeless crisis in Jamestown...
The homeless issue in the city of Jamestown has reached a crisis stage... with an estimated 300 unauthorized people camping in both public and private lands. With that... Mayor Kim Ecklund has declared a "State of Emergency" in the city because the unauthorized camping is creating -- "severe impacts on public health, safety, and city resources." In a press statement late Thursday... Ecklund noted there are a number of health and safety concerns... led by the fact some of the individuals are contending with mental health and substance abuse issues... leading to the improper disposal of needles and defecation on public properties, including in the Chadakoin River. She adds the improper disposal of needles significantly heightens the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens... such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Ecklund says the State of Emergency helps the city bring more public safety... and, other resources to bear from the state and federal governments. She says part of the problem is "enablers" who... out of good intentions... try to help the homeless. However... they are only helping them stay homeless. We have a call into Mayor Ecklund for comment, but, have not heard back.
City man convicted by federal jury on drug trafficking charges...
A Jamestown man has been convicted by a federal jury of multiple drug possession charges... and, maintaining a drug-involved home. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced the jury convicted 39 year-old Jose Caceras of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of MDMA, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and maintaining a drug involved premises. Prosecutors say in late February of 2023... Caceras was stopped and arrested by Jamestown Police working with U.S. Probation. Following the arrest... Caceras tried to discard a bag of fentanyl he had hidden in his pants. As a result... the officer transporting him was exposed to fentanyl and received treatment for the exposure at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital. During a later search of Caceras’ stash house in Jamestown... Probation officers found over 50 grams of meth, a bag of MDMA, and drug paraphernalia. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life. No sentencing date has been set.
Kennedy man pleads guilty to federal Child Porn charge...
A convicted sex offender from Kennedy has pled guilty to new child pornography charges in federal court in Buffalo. U-S Attorney Trini Ross says 57 year-old Jeffrey Paden entered the plea before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford to possession of child pornography following a prior conviction... which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20... and, a $250,000 fine. Prosectors say Paden was convicted in 2015 on a federal charge of possession of child pornography and sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and five years’ supervised release. Last Aug. 29... they say State Police raided Paden's home after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children... and, seized several electronic devices... including a thumb drive and a laptop computer. They found approximately 83 images of child porn that were stored on the thumb drive... and about 468 images on the laptop computer. Sentencing is set for next Nov. 13.
Final preparations underway for Lucille Ball Comedy Festival next week...
Final preparations are underway for the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in downtown Jamestown... and, other smaller activities taking place just outside the city. The festival begins on Thursday, Aug. 1... and, runs through Sunday afternoon, Aug. 4. Three main headliners... Nate Bargatze... Nicole Byer and Jeff Ross will entertain evenings... and, National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson says some 50 other events and activites will also be taking place. Gunderson says attendees "can enjoy an excellent curation of comedies greatest hits and heritage by day (at the Comedy Center)... and, the best of live comedy by night in Jamestown, New York." Gunderson adds that tickets are still available for all three headliners... but, adds that tickets for Bargatze's performance have been moving quickly so there are only some single seats left. As for Byers and Ross... Gunderson says those tickets are also going fast. Both of them will perform at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts on Jamestown's eastside. For more information on tickets... or other festival events... go on-line to ComedyCenter.org.
