Quattrone says Sheriff's Dive Team finds Emerson's truck in Chautauqua Lake between Bemus and Greenhurst...
The pick-up truck associated with a missing Lakewood man has been found submerged in Chautauqua Lake near the town of Ellery. However... weather conditions have prevented Sheriff's Department Dive Team members from locating 64 year-old Daniel "Scott" Emerson. Emerson was last seen on Mar. 3... but, Sheriff Jim Quattrone says his department received some tips and video from a location between Greenhurst and Bemus Point. Quattrone says they received the video Monday morning... and, quickly got the Sheriff's marine boat and sonar out to that area and found the vehicle. However... that was the day the temperature plummeted during the afternoon... and, divers has issues with air tanks freezing once they got out of the water. With the weather still below freezing... Quattrone says the dive team will head back out Thursday. He says they were able to find the top of the truck... which was at least partially submerged in mud and other debris. Late last week... Lakewood-Busti Police urged residents and businesses located along the Chautauqua Lake shoreline for any help regarding Emerson's whereabouts. Police say he was believed to be driving his maroon-colored F-150 that was last seen on Fairmount and Lakeview Avenues in the village around 12:30 a.m. the day he went missing. If you have any information... call Lakewood-Busti Police at 763-9563.
City man arrested on warrant and drug-possession charges...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested on multiple drug possession charges following a raid on a southside home early Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff's officers say their narcotics investigators... along with those from Jamestown police... executed a search warrant on the upper apartment at 313 Prather Ave. shortly after Noon. The suspect... 26 year-old Devonte Green -- who had a State Parole warrant for his arrest -- was seen leaving the residence in a vehicle just prior to the raid. Jamestown police tried to conduct a vehicle stop... but, Green continued for a short distance in the car before he was arrested following a brief foot chase. Deputies say their search of the home, Green and his vehicle led to the seizure of 2.3 grams of fentanyl... and, 4.7 grams of psilocybin mushrooms... along with $131 cash. Green was held pending arraignment on charges including: third-and-seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, resisting arrest.
Schmidt announces indictment against Westfield man who allegedly shot village woman, in front of children...
A Westfield man who allegedly shot a woman... then led police on a vehicle pursuit earlier this month, faces several charges related to both incidents. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says a grand jury has indicted 52-year-old Jahmaul Johnson on eight counts, including second-degree attempted murder. Schmidt says that top charge stems from a shooting that occurred on Route 20 in the village during the evening of Mar. 7... he says Judge Stephen Cass presided over the matter, and a "not guilty" plea was entered for the defendant. After the shooting... Johnson fled the scene, leading to a pursuit that ended when he crashed his getaway vehicle into a ditch. He was taken into custody in the Town of Pomfret a short time later that evening. Schmidt says Johnson also faces three violent felonies related to a handgun and magazine he allegedly possessed... along with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Schmidt says Johnson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday morning before being remanded to the Chautauqua County Jail on $1-million cash bail... $2-million property bond. He says a disovery conference will be held on Apr. 13. If convicted, Johnson faces up to 25 years in prison on the attempted murder charge and up to 15 years on the weapon counts, adding that there's a possibility of those sentences running consecutively. The victim was taken to an Erie, Pa. hospital, and is recovering from her injuries.
Site work beginning for new Brook's Hospital in Fredonia...
Initial site work for the new Northern Chautauqua Hospital project in Fredonia gets underway this week. The announcement late Monday by Kaleida Health comes in the wake of its January filing in conjunction with Brooks-TLC of a building permit with the village of Fredonia for the hospital's construction. Turner Construction Company subcontracted with Fredonia-based S. St. George General Contracting to perform the preliminary site work, including setting up temporary staging areas, fencing the property, and grading the site. Initial work will depend on the weather... and the need for the land to drain and dry out. The $223.8 million project is planned as a one-story, 133,000 facility at 412 East Main St. It will replace the existing Brooks Hospital in the city of Dunkirk.
Molitor part of Assembly-Senate Budget Conference Committee to deal with Human Services...
The deadline for a new state budget is fast approaching... and, work is continuing in the New York State Assembly and Senate on a final spending plan. With that... more legislative hearings involving conference committees are underway. Local State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor is an alternate for the committee on Human Services... which means he'll be able to ask questions and offer input about Medicaid and other "safety net" programs. The Assembly's $272-billion, "one-house" budget includes a 1% income tax cut for low and middle income earners... but, Molitor says it's not enough. Ideally, he says he would like to see all income taxes eliminated. Molitor says he remains hopeful there will be a budget acted on by the Apr. 1 deadline.
