City Council committees approving hiring five new JPD Officers...
A pair of Jamestown City Council committees have approved a resolution to add five new police officers to bring the police department up to it's minimum of 62. One committee chair adds that he feels the "sooner the better..." to have the new officers brought on. During last night's work session... Public Safety Committee Chairman Jeff Russell said JPD Chief Tim Jackson told the panel that timing is critical... and, he would like to have the officers hiring and brought in for training by the end of February. If that doesn't happen... Russell says they "run the risk of losing them to other agencies." All five hires are in the city's 2025 budget. Mayor Kim Ecklund says there were intially four replacements needed... but, officials learned of a fifth opening coming later this month. Russell... who is a retired JPD officer... added that he is concerned about officer safety with the numbers soon falling to 57. Mayor Ecklund said Monday that... while Chief Jackson would ideally like to have 65 rank-and-file officers... she'll be happy to see the department get back to 62. She says... right now... there are a lot of people not looking to go into that profession. The council's Finance Committee also approved the measure Monday night.
Russell says weekend accident with car going through intersection where Persell Middle School is located shows need for barrier between that and the school...
For the most part... the newly-designed intersection at Baker Street and Hazeltine Avenue on Jamestown's westside has worked well. However... there are still concerns about not having some kind of vehicle barrier at that intersection -- in front of Persell Middle School. That concern was voiced again at last night's meeting by Councilman Russell. He says there was an accident there early last Saturday morning... where a car went through the intersection due to the icy, snowy conditions, and knocked down a street sign. He says the person was going too fast for conditions, and the car wouldn't turn either right or left. Russell says it still points to the need for some kind of barrier to be placed there.
City man arrested on several drug-related charges following Monday morning raid...
A man from Jamestown faces about a dozen drug-related charges following a raid on an apartment on the city's southside late Monday morning. City police say members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force... and, Sheriff's Department Narcotics Investigators executed a search warrant on the lower apartment at 613 Newland Avenue... and, arrested 26 year-old Jaydaicus Black. Once the residence was secured... police say they found 76.4 grams of methamphetamine... 1.9 grams of fentanyl... 52 dosage units of fentanyl... 10.7 grams of crack cocaine... 3.5 grams of powder cocaine... and, 2-grams of MDMA. Investigators have charged Black with nine counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance... ranging from second to seventh-degree... as well as two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphenalia. City police say the investigation is on going and more arrests are expected. If you have any information on drug, or other criminal activity in the area... call the JPD tip line at 483-TIPS... that's 483-8477... of the Sheriff's Department tip line at 1-800--344-8702 or 664-2420.
City man arrested for contempt following domestic incident at hotel...
A Jamestown man has been arrested at a hotel on the city's westside for allegedly violating a stay-away order of protection for a woman and a toddler. Police in Jamestown say they responded to a 911 hang-up call shortly before 3 a.m. Monday... and, found that 19 year-old Jezreel Deleon was with the woman and child in violation of the order. Deleon was found hiding under a bathroom sink... and, refused to obey officers when he was ordered to come out. He eventually complied with officers and was arrested. Deleon was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal contempt and resisting arrest. He was jailed pending arraignment.
Fugitive from Justice in Jamestown arrested near condemned house...
A Jamestown man sought on a warrant from Erie County, Pa. has been arrested in the city for allegedly being spotted near a condemned house Sunday night. City police say they were called to the northside location about 11:30 p.m., and, made contact with the people at the scene. One of them was 35 year-old William Tilyou... who was sought on the warrant out of Erie. He was taken into custody without incident, and transported to the city jail on a charge of fugitive from justice. Tilyou is being held pending arraignment.
Gillibrand to Chair Democratic Senate Campaign Committee...
New York's Junior U.S. Senator will chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2026 election cycle after Democrats lost their slim majority this year. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York has announced that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will head up the panel... "working to build strong campaign infrastructure, recruit candidates, hold Republicans accountable and mobilize voters in order to win the majority for Senate Democrats. Over the last four years Democrats have proven the value of our majority in the Senate by delivering historic legislation and confirming a record number of judges to the federal bench." Gillibrand says she's "incredibly honored to serve as DSCC chair for the 2026 cycle and I'm grateful to Leader Schumer for entrusting me with this important role." She had confirmed she was seeking the role the past few months.
