Victim in first of three weekend shootings in Jamestown dies...
One of the three shootings that occurred in a recent 24-hour span in Jamestown has turned fatal. That from Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt... who provided an update on the investigations into the three incidents between early last Friday and early Saturday. Schmidt says a male, now identified as 24 year-old Corey Johnson, succumbed to injuries that resulted from the first shooting, which took place in the parking lot area of a downtown establishment early Friday. Schmidt says Johnson was rushed to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa... where he was pronounced brain-dead on Sunday... turning it into a homicide case. Meanwhile... Schmidt says persons of interest have been developed in that shooting through police investigation. He adds that there also persons of interest in the shootings on Prendergast Avenue and Victoria Avenue. The victim of the Victoria Avenue shooting, now identified as 24 year-old Austin Patterson, is now in stable condition at UPMC Hamot in Erie.
City Council committee approves resolution calling for legal action, demand of restitution from retired City Court Judge Fred Larson for dental insurance benefits he was not entitled to...
A dispute over whether retired Jamestown City Court Judge Fred Larson should reimburse the city for dental insurance benefits he was not entitled to boiled over into public last night. The City Council's Finance Committee approved a resolution calling for a state investigation into whether Larson received the benefit as part of what some called a "backroom deal" with the previous administration that allowed the current county legislator to get the benefit. Finance Committee Brent Sheldon read the resolution... which says "numerous" requests in writting that Larson reimburse the city. Sheldon says they area also asking the state Comptroller investigate the matter. City officials say the dispute is over $1,576 in dental benefits they say Larson and his family were able to obtain. While former City Councilman, and current County Legislator Tom Nelson pled Larson's case... current Councilman Jeff Russell interjected that council never knew about the agreement... and never approved it.
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For his part... Larson did speak at the beginning of the council's public comment portion of the meeting... and, says he believed that everything was on the "up-and-up" because it was okayed by the city's Corporation Counsel. He says he believed that he was entitled to the same benefit because retired City Court Judge Samuel Alessi had also received it. However... Alessi had been allowed in because up until 1977... city court judges were employees of their city. Larson says... on Aug. 1... he had agreed to the city's terms on ending the agreement... and, questioned why "this defamatory resolution is here tonight."
City woman arrested for burglary in town of Ellicott...
A Jamestown woman is accused of breaking into a garage in the town of Ellicott, damaging two windows... and, stealing property from inside the structure. Ellicott Town Police say 32 year-old Jena Croakman was taken into custody following an investigation into the Aug. 11 incident. Officers were called to the scene on Buffalo Street Extension on a report of a suspicious person.. and, Croakman was taken into custody on charges of third-degree burglary... fourth-degree criminal mischief... and petty larceny. She was issued appearance tickets for Ellicott Town Court.
Man and woman from Falconer arrested following violent domestic...
Two Falconer residents have been arrested following a domestic incident during which the man involved choked the woman... and, the woman then stabbed him with a knife. Ellicott Town Police say they were called to the scene at a hotel back on Aug. 12... and found that 31 year-old Jacob Matherly had covered 38 year-old Danielle Olsen's mouth... preventing her from breathing. However... she's later accused of grabbing the knife and stabbing Matherly in the arm. Matherly is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing... while Olson is charged with second-degree assault. Both were take to the county jail for centralized arraignment... and, issued appearance tickets for Ellicott Town Court at a later date.
Borrello supports proposed bill making fleeing a police officer a charge that is "bail-eligible..."
A New York state lawmaker from the Capital regon recently introduced a bill that would reclassify criminal charges related to unlawfully fleeing a police officer to make all of them "bail-eligible." The proposed legislation has support from State Senator George Borrello, who believes most "common sense" New Yorkers would say instances of fleeing from the police create a "dangerous, even deadly" situation, and should land a suspect behind bars. However... Borrello says that's not always the case... with most receiving an appearance ticket and many don't return to court. Borrello says he hopes the bill gets support from Democrats in Albany... but, notes there is still "tremendous resistance" to any possible changes made to the state's bail reform law that was enacted in 2020. Borrello... a Republican from Sunset Bay... adds that addressing quality-of-life issues needs to be the top priority for the State Legislature when its next session begins in January.
