State Police investigating new prison death as corrections workers remain on strike...
New York state police are investigating the death of an inmate as the state corrections system continues to be roiled by a wildcat strike by prison staff. The agency said late Monday that it had launched a probe into the death of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility. Police and corrections officials have declined to provide details, other than to say the 22-year-old died at a hospital in Utica on Saturday. The New York Times, citing accounts from other inmates, reported that he was beaten by correctional officers. Executive Director Stan German with the New York County Defender Services, described Nantwi as a “bright” young man dealing with “significant mental health challenges” following a “dysfunctional violent upbringing.” The public defender's office had been representing Nantwi as he awaited trial in the shooting deaths of two men in 2023. In a statement... German said... while he was incarcerated... Nantwi was "still entitled like all of us, to basic human dignity and safety. Instead, he suffered a violent senseless death at the hands of state corrections officers operating within a toxic culture that our society mainly ignores.” Corrections Department Spokesman Thomas Mailey declined to provide more details about Nantwi's death, citing the ongoing investigation. But he confirmed earlier Monday that 11 staffers have been placed on administrative leave, pending the results of the probe.
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The probe into Nantwi's death comes as a wildcat strike by state prison guards stretched into a third week, prompting officials to start firing workers for failing to abide by a deal to end the illegal labor action. The state’s homeland security commissioner, Jackie Bray, said terminations began Sunday and that on Monday the state would begin canceling health insurance for correctional officers who have remained on strike. Their dependents will also lose coverage.
City man arrested for breaking into garage attached to southside home...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly trying to break into a house on the city's southside late Monday morning. City police say they were called to the residence shortly before 10 a.m. on a reported "burglary-in-progress." Officers were told that a man... dressed in all black, was attempting to break-in while the homeowners were inside. On arrival... officers found a man inside the attached garage. The JPD K-9 unit encountered the suspect as he was leaving the garage. Other officers arrived and attempted to detain the man -- identified as 46 year-old Michael Wolfe -- but he began to resist. After a brief struggle, Wolfe was taken into custody, and later gave police a false name. Officers say Wolfe had outstanding warrants for his arrest... and, they discovered burglars tools in his possession. They determined that Wolfe was trying to steal property from the residence... and, he was arrested for second-degree burglary... criminal possession of burglar tools... petty larceny... second-degree criminal impersonation... and, resisting arrest. Wolfe was arraigned... and, released with appearance tickets for city court -- due to the state's Bail Reform law.
NWS issues Flood Watch for Chautauqua County, and much of WNY due to warm-up, and rain forecast...
With our mid-week warm-up underway and rain in the forecast... the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Chautauqua County this afternoon through early Thursday afternoon. Meteorologist Heather Kenyon in Buffalo says the watch begins at 1 p.m. today... as temperatures reach the low to mid-50s... and, rain moves in later in to day with half to three-quarters of an inch of rainfall later in the day. Kenyon says most of the rain will fall between late tonight through late Wednesday. She says low-lying areas will see the most potential for flooding or high water. Kenyon says areas prone to ice-jam flooding -- including Cattaraugus Creek -- could be impacted. Kenyon says there maybe a few hours of dry weather during the day Wednesday... but, she says the rain will pick-up later in the day... with a possible thunderstorms from late Wednesday afternoon through late Wednesday night. Again... the Flood Watch runs from 1 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Thursday.
DiGiacomo named by Bondi as new U.S. Attorney for Western District of N.Y....
A new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York state has been named by the U.S. Attorney General... and, it's a man who's been an assistant U.S. Attorney the past 23 years. AG Pam Bondi says she appointed Michael DiGiacomo last Friday... and, he was sworn-in Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo. DiGiacomo will serve as the U.S. Attorney for 120 days or until a Presidential nominee has been confirmed by the United States Senate. Bondi says he's been an assistant U.S. Attorney since 2002 where he worked in the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Division, where he prosecuted multi-defendant narcotics traffickers. DiGiacomo then moved to the White Collar and General Crimes Division, where he served as Chief for 10 years... supervising 12 attorneys and a deputy chief. His White Collar prosecutions included child exploitation, defense procurement fraud, intellectual property violations, health care fraud, and international parental kidnapping.
