Area Police
Mayville teen accused of arson
MAYVILLE - A 16-year-old unidentified Mayville male has been charged with fourth-degree felony arson.
Deputies said an investigation into a house fire that took place in the Town of Chautauqua on June 9 led to his arrest.
Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department
n Two people charged with welfare fraud will appear in Dunkirk City Court to answer the charges.
Monica Carriell, 41, of Dunkirk was charged with misuse of food stamps for allegedly failing to report to social services that her children moved out of state.
This led to her receiving $1,056 in food stamp benefits she was not entitled to.
n Stephanie Dunlap, 33, of Sinclairville was charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud and misuse of food stamps for allegedly failing to report her spouse's income to social services.
This led to her receiving $1,420 in medicaid benefits and $990 in food stamps she was not entitled to.
n Veronica Johnston, 34, of Old Chautauqua Road, Gerry, was charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and misuse of food stamps.
She allegedly failed to report to social services that a family member had gained employment.
Because of this, she received $1,550 in food stamps she was not entitled to.
The charges placed against these individuals are to be answered in Jamestown City Court.
n ELLICOTT - Matthew J. Lisciandro, 27, of Lakewood was charged Friday with driving while intoxicated.
Deputies said an investigation into a suspicious vehicle that had pulled onto the shoulder of High Street in Ellicott led to his arrest.
Officers learned Lisciandro was having an argument with a passenger in the vehicle he was driving.
In addition to the DWI charge, he also was cited for having .08 percent or more blood alcohol content.
These charges are to be answered in Ellicott Town Court.
n SHERMAN - Joseph Czerniak, 20, of Lakewood was injured Friday in an accident caused when he swerved to avoid hitting a deer.
Deputies said the vehicle went off the Sherman-Stedman Road and came to rest in a field.
The driver was taken to WCA Hospital for treatment of pain.
n Kimberly Tolbert, 31, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree criminal impersonation and misuse of food stamps.
Tolbert allegedly failed to report unemployment benefits and allegedly called National Fuel Gas pretending to be a social services employee in an attempt to authorize HEAP benefits for herself.
She also received $523 in food stamp benefits she was not entitled to.
The charges are to be answered in Dunkirk City Court.
n BROCTON - Christ-opher J. Oliva, 20, of Westfield was charged Friday with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and not wearing a seat belt.
Deputies said Oliva was seen on Haywood Drive operating a motor vehicle without a seat belt.
He was stopped on Route 20 and the investigation revealed his license had been suspended for failure to pay a fine.
He was issued appearance tickets for Brocton Village Court.
n SUNSET BAY - An unidentified 20-year-old female was ticketed Friday for underage possession of alcohol.
Deputies said the defendant was stopped on Iola Drive and when asked what was in the cup she was carrying, responded vodka and cranberry juice.
She also admitted to being 20 years old.
The charge is to be answered in Hanover Town Court.
n HANOVER - Gerry J. Nick, 45, of West Seneca, was charged Sunday with driving while intoxicated.
Deputies said Nick was stopped on Alleghany Road for driving through a red light and the investigation led to the DWI charge.
He also was cited for having .08 percent or more blood alcohol content, the red light violation and failure to notify DMV of an address change.
These charges are to be answered in Hanover Town Court.
n SUNSET BAY - Brian C. Clyde, 22, of Maple Avenue, Dunkirk and Lamont E. Brown, 22, of Eagle Street, Dunkirk were jailed Friday following their arraignments on fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property charges.
Deputies said a purse was stolen from a bar in Sunset Bay and a credit card from the purse was used by Clyde at Burger King.
A cell phone in the purse was found to be in Brown's possession.
Both men were located in Fredonia by Fredonia Police and were held until deputies could take then into custody.
They were arraigned by Pomfret Town Justice David Prince.
n MAYVILLE - Sharon Williams, 46, of Sinclairville and Michelle Tonkin, 41, of Jamestown were charged with third-degree welfare fraud and misuse of food stamps.
An investigation determined Williams allegedly failed to report to Social Services that she lived in North Carolina and Pennsylvania while still receiving benefits from New York.
This led to her receiving $6,809 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to.
Tonkin allegedly failed to report to Social Services that her spouse was employed.
Because of this, she was also charged with first-degree filing a false instrument.
This led to her receiving $7,584 in public assistance benefits she was not entitled to.
The charges against both women are to be answered in Jamestown City Court.
Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force
n JAMESTOWN - An alleged cocaine dealer was arrested Thursday by Jamestown Police following a five month investigation into drug trafficking by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force.
David E. Swanson, 30, of Hopkins Street was picked up on a warrant charging him with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and multiple counts of third-degree criminal possession of cocaine.
STRDTF agents allege Swanson sold cocaine to undercover police on numerous occasions over the course of the investigation.
Additional drug related charges are expected to be placed against the defendant at a later date.
Silver Creek Police
n Mariah D. Gage, 20, of Forestville, was charged with disorderly conduct when she allegedly yelled profanities to a subject standing in the village park. She will be arraigned in Silver Creek Village Court on July 16.
n Ronald J. Hess, 51, of Dunkirk, was charged with driving with no license, improper turn, expired inspection and littering. He will appear in court July 16.
n Christine M. Folts, 24, of Gowanda, was charged with driving while intoxicated on June 28. Police said she refused a chemical test and a refusal hearing was scheduled. She was arraigned in court and released to a friend. She will return to court on Aug. 6.
