Area police
Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office
¯ HANOVER — On Monday at 10:45 p.m., deputies responded to a disorderly male in the town of Hanover. After an investigation, it was determined that a 17-year-old male damaged a vehicle belonging to another person. The male was arrested for fourth-degree criminal mischief and released on his own recognizance by the town of Hanover judge to appear in the town of Hanover court at a later date.
¯ NORTH HARMONY — On Tuesday at approximately 1:45 a.m., deputies said they observed a vehicle commit a traffic infraction while turning off of Route 394 onto I-86 in the town of North Harmony. Deputies made contact with the operator, who identified himself as James E. Carutis, 38, of Erie, Pa. After a short investigation, it was determined that Carutis’s driving privileges in New York were suspended, and Carutis was allegedly in possession of a controlled substance.
Carutis was issued traffic tickets for third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, move from lane unsafely and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He will appear in the town of North Harmony court at a later date to answer his charges.
Cattaraugus County Court
Lori Pettit Rieman, Cattaraugus County District Attorney, reported the following activity in Cattaraugus County Court:
¯ Michael F. Stafford, 34, of Perrysburg but presently incarcerated in the Cattaraugus County Jail, entered a plea of not guilty to an indictment that charges him with driving while intoxicated, a class D felony; first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a class E felony; moved from lane unsafely, a violation; and failure to keep right, a violation. The alleged incident occurred on or about April 30 in the City of Salamanca, when the defendant operated a motor vehicle on a public highway in an intoxicated condition, knowing his license was suspended or revoked and failed to keep right. The matter has been adjourned for motions.
¯ Donald Pfaffenbach, 37, of South Dayton, but presently incarcerated in the Cattaraugus County Jail, entered a plea of not guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, class A misdemeanors and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. The alleged incident occurred on or about May 10 in the Village of South Dayton, when the defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed a controlled substance, possessed packaging material suitable for narcotic drugs and knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of a child less than 17 years old. The matter has been adjourned for motions.