City police are on the look-out for a short, Hispanic man who allegedly held up the Seven-11 Store on Allen Street with a knife early Sunday morning. Jamestow Police Captain Bob Samuelson says the suspect entered the store at 340 Allen shortly before 1 AM... and, pulled a long-knife on the clerk. Samuelson says the suspect... who was wearing a black ski mask over this face... first demanded money from the register. He says the clerk gave a pretty good description of what the bandit was wearing. Samuelson adds the robber was also wearing a gray sweatshirt... and, dark pants. But... most he says the most distinguisable item was he was wearing a pair of shoes that were dark with a white design, and trim on them. Samuelson says the suspect also locked the employee in a back room... and, took a number of cigarettes before fleeing the scene. He says while the clerk was locked in a back room... some witnesses did see which way the bandit fled once he was out of the store. If you have any information on the robbery... call city police at 483-7537... or Samuelson says you can call their confidential tip line at 483-8477.
New York has amended state election law to prohibit candidates from serving as poll watchers in an election district where they appear on the ballot. Sponsors say in some jurisdictions, it's common for candidates for public office to be appointed poll watchers, even though election inspectors say that borders on electioneering and is intimidating to voters. The law says this new provision doesn't prevent candidates from visiting a polling place in their districts on Election Day when polls are open. The measure, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday, is effective immediately.
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly selling Heroin to undercover police officers during an investigation into trafficking in the city. Agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force... early last weekend... took 32 year-old Amanda Huber of Pardee Avenue into custody for selling a quantity of the narcotic drug to task force members. Officers picked Huber up on a warrant charging her with one count of third-degree criminal sale... and, one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Task Force agents say she was arraigned in city court... and, sent to the county jail without bail. Police say more charges are pending. Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is asked to contact the task force at 664-2420... or their confidential hot-line at 1-800-344-8702.
The latest two forums held in Chautauqua County on the opiate drug addiction problem plaguing the area were a success... and, progress is being made. However... County Executive Vince Horrigan says "this is a marathon... not a sprint" in trying to deal with everything from prevention to law enforcement. Last Wednesday's forums were held in Jamestown and Dunkirk. Horrigan says the recent arrests of 41 people in the Jamestown-area for trafficking Heroin in the region was a major development in stemming the flow of the drug. Horrigan adds that even the media has helped... by raising awareness of the problem... and, recent arrests made. It's also upped the awareness regarding the high demand for opiates -- especially Heroin. Horrigan says they're working on several aspects including treatment... and, coordinating that. He says a hot-line is in the works right now. He says one presenter said the average opiate abuser is 40 to 41 years old.
Local Congressman Tom Reed has become a co-sponsor of legislation that attempts to end sexual assault on American campus. The Corning Republican has announced his support of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act that has received bi-partisan support in the U-S Senate. Reed says the legislation fits his "No More" campaign against sexual assault and domestic violence. The legislation is aimed at increasing resources for victims of sexual assault at universities and colleges across the nation. It would also impose stiff penalties against campuses that don't comply with the legislation. Reed says there is "strong Senate support" with New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand leading the way in that chamber. The issue has touched Reed personally... since he has a niece who was sexually assaulted.
A DeWittville man escaped serious injury when his motorcycle was struck by a car that was pulling back onto Thornton Road in the town of Ellington last Saturday night. Sheriff's officers were called to the scene about 8:30 PM... and, found that the motorcyclist... 54 year-old Greg Livermore was riding his Harley Davidson northbound when a passenger van entered the roadway from a parked position... and, collided with the motorcycle. The operator of the car, 16 year-old Britney Clifton of Leon, was charged with failure to yield. Both Livermore and Clifton were taken to WCA Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Clifton had a learner's permit... but, the licensed driver supervising her was not 21 years old. Clifton's 18 year old female passenger was not injured in the crash.
A poll shows most New York voters think corruption is a serious problem in Albany, though most are unfamiliar with the anti-corruption commission the governor shuttered in April. The Siena College poll also shows 81 percent don't know who U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is. An outspoken critic of Albany corruption, Bharara has taken the files of the Moreland commission and subpoenaed papers of commissioners themselves following a newspaper report the administration interfered in the commission's selection of targets. The poll shows 47 percent say corruption in state government is a very serious problem and 39 percent say it's somewhat serious. Meanwhile, 67 percent say they are unfamiliar with the Moreland commission's work. The poll last week of 863 registered likely voters has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
