Akron, Ohio woman indicted in federal court on meth. trafficking charge...
An Akron, Ohio woman has been indicted by a federal Grand Jury for allegedly trafficking drugs in the Jamestown-area early last year. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Tuesday that the indictment charges 26 year-old Celina "Ce Ce" Serva with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Prosecutors say that in March of 2025... the Drug Enforcement Agency... Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force... and, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force began investigating the sale and distribution of narcotics in the town of Ellicott. They say the investigation included surveillance and undercover drug buys. In April of last year... investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Ellicott, and, seized multiple controlled substances, a shotgun, and a large quantity of cash. Subsequent investigation identified Serva as the source of supply. Police later arrested Serva as she tried to deliver methamphetamine to the residence. She was found in possession of 975 grams of suspected crystal meth. DiGiacomo says -- if convicted -- Serva faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, a maximum of life, and a $10-million fine.
City woman arrested for waving knife near juvenile during northside domestic...
A woman from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly waving a knife at a juvenile during a domestic incident on the city's northside early Tuesday morning. Jamestown police were called to the location about 3 a.m. for an "in-progress" domestic dispute involving a knife. Officers say they investigated... and, arrested 34 year-old Samantha Omeruo for waving the knife in "close proximity" to the child. Omeruo was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child... and, held pending arraignment.
Issue with heating pad blamed for Fredonia bedroom fire...
A malfunctioning heating pad in an upstairs bedroom is the listed cause of a house fire in the village of Fredonia about mid-morning Monday. Sheriff's officers say Fredonia fire crews were called to the scene at 127 Paluski St. just after 8:30 a.m., and, once the blaze was out, they called in the county's Fire Investigation Team. Fire was confined to the bedroom. Dunkirk firefighters provided mutual aid. One resident was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The fire was ruled accidential.
Dunkirk Common Council hold's reorganizational meeting...
The new year got underway in the city of Dunkirk with the inauguration of the new and returning members of the Common Council late last week. New council members Frank Torain and Gary Frederickson were sworn in, along with returning lawmakers Nick Weiser and Natalie Luczkowiak. Mike Civiletto is also back on the council after previously serving from 2018-2019. Weiser, who is starting his second term as Councilman at Large... says the day marks "a new beginning" for the council and the city amid a difficult time highlighted by a significant financial deficit. He adds that reality has "not lost on us." However... he says the north county city has had challenges in the past, and has endured. Weiser adds that the city is at an inflection point, saying that the council's decisions will shape the confidence of families and businesses, and whether residents feel the city's government is worthy of their trust... and, he believes they can take bold, thoughtful action to make positive change. Weiser says he's "genuinely enthusiastic" about working with the new council. He stated that the different perspectives and skill sets each member brings "is its strength, if we choose to treat it as one."
Barone reappointed to be County Public Defender for another year...
Long-time Chautauqua County Public Defender Ned Barone has been unanimously approved for another one-year term to head up that office. However... an effort to give the Jamestown native an additional year on the term was defeated by the county legislature. Still lawmakers gave overwhelming support to Barone... and, that included long-time friend -- and, Jamestown Democrat Vince DeJoy. DeJoy... who is newly elected... recalled seeing Barone doing research for a case at Chautauqua Institution for a defendent "who was despicable." Barone has personally represented several well-known defendants in Chautauqua County Court and elsewhere. Most recently... he defended New Jersey's Hadi Matar... who was convicted to trying to kill famed Author Salman Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater in August of 2022. Barone's base salary will be just over $103,000 for 2026.
Man from Dunkirk arrested for alleged nunchuck attack...
A Dunkirk man faces several charges after he allegedly attacked someone by swinging nunchucks at them. Dunkirk Police received a complaint last week that an unknown man came onto the victim's property in the city and tried to hit them with a homemade weapon. After reviewing surveillance footage they were provided... officers identified the suspect as 55-year-old Jerry Small, who allegedly came onto the victim's property as they were shoveling snow and refused to leave. Small then allegedly struck the property owner with the nunchucks and walked away. Small was found a short time later and arrested for third-and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree menacing, trespassing, and second-degree harassment. He was arraigned and later released.
