Dunkirk pair arrested after traffic stop
OBSERVER Staff Report
Two Dunkirk residents were arrested following a traffic stop which included the seizure of a significant amount of marijuana and a weapon over the weekend.
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Nathaniel Hollins
Nathaniel D. Hollins, 20, of Lake Shore Drive and Patience N. Seabolt, 19, of Genet Street were charged following the traffic stop. Dunkirk Police observed a vehicle parked on Deer Street just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The vehicle was parked on the wrong side of the street and facing the wrong way into oncoming traffic and was obstructing the proper flow of traffic. The officer waited for the car to move out of the way but the vehicle did not move. The officer had to go around the vehicle and after he did, the vehicle then pulled away.
A traffic stop was made on East Seventh Street, at which time a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside the vehicle. The driver, Seabolt was asked to step out of the vehicle. As she exited the vehicle, she attempted to discard a marijuana cigarette that was in her pocket by tossing it onto the floor of the vehicle. Another officer was called for assistance after this occurrence.
The passenger in the vehicle, Hollins was removed from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of numerous bags of marijuana packaged for street sale, a loaded handgun, ammunition and an opened bottle of liquor and a small amount of U.S. currency. The street value of the seized marijuana is estimated at $400.
It was determined through the investigation that Hollins was the owner of the marijuana and the unregistered handgun. He was taken to Dunkirk Police Department and held without bail on charges of fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony.
Seabolt was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and underage possession of alcohol and received a traffic ticket for parking on the highway. She was released on an appearance ticket.
Mail scam reported in Cattaraugus County
LITTLE VALLEY - The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department is alerting the public to a mail scam that is generating in the Cattaraugus County area.
Residents are receiving checks in the mail from Donghwa USA Inc. from KeyBank National Association for about $5,000. Residents are being asked to cash the check and contact a claim agent to send a money order, personal check, cash or debit and credit card information in order to receive additional winnings.
The department reminds residents to never give out personal information over the phone. Individuals receiving these calls should contact their local law enforcement agency.
Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office
Around 8:45 p.m., members of the STRDTF executed a search warrant at 1980 E. Main St. in the Town of Ellicott. The warrant has had been issued earlier by Chautauqua County Court Judge John Ward based on an investigation by the STRDTF and the Town of Ellicott Police Department.
After executing the search warrant, officers found Ulus Battle, 25, and Terin Butler, 21, both of Jamestown, at the location. Officers immediately found a quantity of marijuana and crack cocaine. This led to charges against both for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
A subsequent search led to seizure of a larger quantity of crack cocaine, and Battle was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and first-degree criminal nuisance.
Butler was issued appearance tickets for the Town of Ellicott Court at a later date.
Battle was arraigned before Justice Gerace in the Town of Ellicott Court and remanded to Chautauqua County Jail pending further action of the court.
The investigation stemmed from citizen complaints of trafficking from this location. The task force is asking that anyone who witnesses what they believe to be drug-related activity to call the task force hotline or local police.
Around 3:05 a.m., sheriff's patrol received a complaint of a westbound vehicle all over the road going across the Chautauqua Lake bridge on interstate 86 in the Town of Sherman.
Deputies observed the vehicle swerving back and forth between the travel lanes and stopped the vehicle. The operator was identified as James S. Akins, 46, of Erie, Pa.
Following an investigation, Akins was charged with DWI, blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater and unsafe lane change.
He was issued traffic tickets and released to appear in the Town of Sherman Court at a later date.
