GOWANDA POLICE

— GOWANDA — A Gowanda woman has been charged with second-degree harassment following an incident on Buffalo Street.

Deanna M. Caparatta, 26, allegedly went to the residence of a male acquaintance and forcibly kicked open the entry door, striking the victim. Gowanda Police stated that Caparatta then placed her arms around the victim’s neck and forced him to the floor, where she then repeatedly punched the victim in his genital area.

Gowanda Police responded to the call on Aug. 16 at approximately 8:08 p.m. Caparatta was arrested and later released on a ticket to appear in the Town of Collins Court.

— COLLINS — A Collins man was arrested on an active warrant, but in doing so, Gowanda Police found a reason to add to the suspect’s charges.

On Aug. 4, at approximately 4:02 p.m., James R. Nelms, 41, was arrested by Gowanda Police on an active warrant from the Erie County Sheriff’s Department. He was apprehended on Commercial Street.

Upon his arrest, Gowanda Police discovered that Nelms was in possession of a “small amount” of crack cocaine. Nelms was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, in addition to his warrant arrest.

Nelms was issued an appearance ticket with the Town of Persia Court for the substance charge, then was turned over to the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.

— GOWANDA — Three months after a shoplifting incident at Shop ‘N Save in the Village of Gowanda, the suspect turned herself in on an arrest warrant issued by the Gowanda Police Department. Nicole D. Scinta, 31, surrendered to Gowanda Police on Aug. 16. Scinta, a Cattaraugus resident, was charged with petit larceny.

The warrant for Scinta’s arrest was issued following a report of items being taken and placed under a suspect’s shirt on May 14, as the suspect fled the Gowanda Shop ‘N Save without paying for the items. Gowanda Police could not locate the suspect at the time of the incident. Following Scinta’s arrest three months later, she was issued an appearance ticket with the Town of Collins Court.