Trio from Jamestown arrested on drug charges following northside traffic stop...
Three city residents have been arrested for alleged drug possession following a traffic stop on Jamestown's northside Sunday night.  City police say a patrol stopped the car for allegedly equipment violations in the area of East Eighth Street and American Place about 9:30 p.m.  Their investigation show that 45 year-old Jesus Antonio Lao... 31 year-old Tatiana Lopez... and, 27 year-old Kemuel Velazquez-Torres were in possession of a quantity of Fentanyl... and, a large number of glassine envelopes used to distribute narcotics.  All three were arrested... and, put in the back of a marked patrol car.  While officers finished searching the vehicle... they found that Lao had opened a bag of crack-cocaine in the back of the patrol car that was concealed in his underwear.  Police say he tried to snort -- and or -- eat the crack-cocaine in effort to conceal the drugs.  All three were taken to the city jail at that point... where they also found that Lao was concealing 9.4-grams of crack-cocaine inside of his buttocks.  They also found that Velazquez-Torres had a quantity of hydrocodone pills without having a prescription.  Lopez has been charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.  Velazquez-Torres is charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, one count of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.  Lao is charged with fourth-and, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia... and, tampering with physical evidence.  Velasquez-Torres and Lopez were issued appearance tickets for city court... while Lao was held pending arraignment.

Fire blamed on propane heater near combustables destroys Arkwright home...
Flames that originated with a propane heater too close to combustable materials is being blamed for a fire that destroyed a house early Sunday morning in the town of Arkwright.  Chautauqua County fire dispatchers say Forestville firefighters were called to the scene at 8996 Park Rd. about 5:45 a.m., and, several other mutual aid companies were also called in.  Once the blaze was out... county fire investigators were called in to look for the cause and origin of the fire.  Investigators were able to determine that the fire originated in the living room of the home... and, was triggered by that a propane heater.  The fire was ruled as accidental in nature... and, no injuries were reported.

Geise says, due to Visa issues, "Paint CHQ" wall mural project in Dunkirk will likely have to wait until next Spring...
Work on the last of four wall-sized murals across Chautauqua County will likely resume in the Spring of 2026.  That from Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, Mark Geise, who says the artist from Luxemborg who was to do that mural on the Coburn Block in Dunkirk was delayed due to a travel issue.  A depiction of that mural was projected on the building in hopes it could be done late this Summer.  However... Geise says that wasn't the case and with the colder weather coming, it will likely be pushed off until Spring.  The other three murals... which were part of the department's "Paint CHQ" initiative... were unveiled late this Summer.  They're in Westfield, Falconer... and, Sherman.  Geise and his department took some flak for the project... but, he says they help tell the story of that community -- also called "placemaking" -- which makes them more attractive.  Geise says they and the communities were able to raise the funds with no county tax dollars used.  The mural projects were each headed up by national and world-reknowned mural artists.  He made his comments for last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.

City man arrested for strangling woman during domestic in front of 6 year-old...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly holding down a woman and strangling her during a weekend domestic incident on the city's southside.  Jamestown police say they were initially called to the scene about 8:30 p.m. Saturday... but, the victim showed up at police headquarters shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday with significant bruising around her neck.  Officers investigated... and, found that 40 year-old Jason Swartz was involved in a second incident in which he is accused of holding the woman down... and, choking her in front of a 6-year-old juvenile.  Police say Swartz was arrested for second-degree strangulation... second-degree unlawful imprisonment... and, endangering the welfare of a child.  He was jailed pending arraignment.

Man arrested for DWI after car spotted going the wrong way on one-way street in Jamestown...
An investigation into a car going the wrong way on East Fourth Street in Jamestown early Saturday morning led to a man being arrested for drunk driving.  City police say they conducted the traffic stop shortly before 2 a.m., after seeing the vehicle going the wrong way on the one-way street.  They arrested the driver... 45 year-old Christopher Sisson... for DWI after he refused a blood test.  

City woman arrested for trespassing on railroad tracks...
A woman from Jamestown has been arrested for trespassing after allegedly being found walking on the railroad tracks near the riverwalk on the city's westside.  Jamestown police say a patrol spotted 40 year-old Nicole Lavoice walking west in the area of West First Street just before 4 a.m. last Thursday.  Officers found she was sought on a city court warrant... and, she was arrested for third-degree criminal trespass... and, on the warrant.  She was held pending arraignment.