Dunkirk crews douse electrical fire at Refresco

An accidental fire at the Refresco plant at 1 Cliffstar Drive had city firefighters on the scene for two hours.

The Dunkirk Fire received an alarm activation call at 4:40 a.m. Friday. Upon investigation, plant maintenance reported smoke visible on the second floor of the plant office area.

Firefighters made entry and noticed the smoke condition. Hose lines were advanced and the fire was found in the ceiling above the second floor advancing into a third floor storage area.

The plant sprinkler system had activated and contained the fire to the general area of origin. Fire crews extinguished the remainder of visible fire and performed ventilation of smoke in the building.

East Dunkirk Fire and ALSTAR ambulance assisted at the fire with West Dunkirk Fire on standby.

Investigators from the City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County determined the cause of the fire to be started by electrical wiring.

One firefighter was evaluated for a minor injury but remained on duty.

Numerous companies respond to Hanover blaze

HANOVER — A number of area fire crews were on the scene of a fully involved house fire at 1214 Routes 5 and 20 in the town early Friday morning.

According to reports, departments from Forestville, Hanover Center, Silver Creek, Sunset Bay, Seneca Nation and Chautauqua County Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the location around 12:30 a.m. Sunset Bay Volunteer Fire Co. 1 arrived on scene within three minutes of the alarm and laid a supply line from a hydrant, securing a water source.

“Silver Creek, Forestville and Sunset Bay units worked great alongside each other,” the Sunset Bay Volunteer Fire Co. 1 reported on its Facebook page.

All crews left the scene around 6:30 a.m. The blaze is currently under investigation.

Three charged with arson in Gowanda fire

GOWANDA — Three subjects, whose names or ages were not released, were charged with arson.

Gowanda Police responded to the report of a structure fire on Park Street June 15 and discovered the vacant house fully involved in fire. The Gowanda Fire Department responded to attend this fire.

As the fire appeared to be intentionally started, the Erie County Sheriff Department’s Arson Investigation Unit was requested to investigate this fire. Officers in conjunction with the Erie County Sheriff’s Department began investigating this incident when they allegedly discovered three subjects hiding in the basement.

This investigation was turned over to the Arson Investigation Unit, who arrested the three subjects located in the basement, for arson.

Woman accused of falsely reporting incident

HANOVER — A Silver Creek woman is accused of falsely reporting an incident.

On Tuesday at around 12:55 p.m. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a complaint from Lisa M. Light 42, of Silver Creek. The case was turned over to the Chautauqua County Criminal Investigation Division. Through an investigation, deputies allege Light knowingly made a fictitious complaint to the sheriff’s office. She was charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident and will appear in the Town of Hanover Court at a later date and time.

Dunkirk Police Department

¯ On July 2, Tyrone Hall, of Dunkirk was charged with third-degree assault.

¯ On July 12, Edwin Lopez-Morales, 38, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree burglary, petit larceny and second-degree harassment.

¯ On July 12, Andrew T. Seelbinder, 33 was charged with camping in park, in park after hours and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument.

¯ On July 12, Brett M. Skubis, 26, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree criminal trespass.

¯ On July 12, Angel Pagan Vasquez, 38, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree harassment.

¯ On July 12, Dylan J. Pieszak, 26, of Dunkirk was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

¯ On July 14, Leanna K. Honaker, 25, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree harassment.

¯ On July 15, Matthew R. Edminster, 35, of Dunkirk was charged with petit larceny.

¯ On July 15, Hector O. DeJesus, 38, of Dunkirk was charged with second-degree burglary and petit larceny.

Gowanda Police Department

¯ On July 5, Michael D. Clark Jr., 20, of Cheektowaga was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation.

Clark was stopped by police for operating a vehicle with no lights on. During the stop, a DMV computer check revealed that Clark’s license was suspended in May of 2017 for his failure to pay a traffic fine in the town of Tonawanda and was again suspended in June of 2017 for his failure to answer a traffic summons in the town of Tonawanda. Clark was arrested then released on an appearance ticket to appear in the town of Collins Court.

¯ On July 6, Justice T. Lee, 18 was charged with third-degree attempted robbery and third-degree assault.

According to police, Lee was at the creek with other subjects when one of the subjects attempted to leave. Lee demanded that the subject give him an inflatable tube that he had in his backpack. When the subject repeatedly refused Lee’s demands, Lee allegedly grabbed the subject’s backpack throwing him on the ground. Lee then stood over this subject, punching him numerous times in the facial area causing injuries. As the victim attempted to get up, Lee slammed the victim’s head against a tree trunk then repeatedly pushed the subject down attempting to steal his backpack. The victim was eventually able to escape.

The victim was treated by the Gowanda Ambulance Service for his injuries and Lee was arrested. He was arraigned via Skype by Superior court and was released on his own recognizance to appear in Superior Court on a later date.

¯ On July 9, William A. Mohawk, 55, of Perrysburg was arrested on a warrant.

Officers encountered Mohawk in a non-criminal matter. During this encounter, a computer check revealed an active warrant for Mohawk’s arrest from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department. He was arrested on the warrant and was turned over to process the warrant.

¯ On July 12, Lyndy Pembleton, 60 was charged with second-degree harassment and second-degree criminal contempt.

Officers responded to the report of a disturbance at a Buffalo Street residence. They were notified that Pembleton had allegedly pushed a female acquaintance against the wall of the house, causing the female to fall and strike her head on a concrete sidewalk. This push and fall caused injury to the female, who was treated by the Gowanda Ambulance Service and transported to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital for her injuries.

Last December, Pembleton was arrested by Gowanda Police for an incident against the same female. At that time, an order of protection was issued by the town of Collins Court restricting actions by Pembleton against this female. Pembleton’s actions were in violation of this court order.

Pembleton was arrested and arraigned in Superior Court via Skype and he was released on his own recognizance to appear in court at a later date.