LANTERN BLAMED IN WEEKEND FIRE

SINCLAIRVILLE — At about 6:28 a.m. Saturday, multiple fire departments and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 30 Sinclair Drive for a reported structure fire. The firefighters were able to knock down and extinguish the fire quickly. Through investigation, it was found that the cause of the fire was accidental in nature caused by a decorative wooden lantern with a lit candle on the exterior of the house. The candle ignited nearby combustible materials allowing the fire to spread up the exterior of the structure. No injuries reported.

JAMESTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT

— A pair are facing charges after a weekend incident.

At approximately 9:04 a.m. Saturday, officers were on patrol in the area of East 8th Street when they observed 50-year-old Xiomara Mercado, who was wanted on a nationwide extraditable warrant out of Warren, Pa. Officers observed Mercado go onto the porch of a nearby residence and attempted to apprehend her.

As officers attempted to take Mercado into custody, Zuleyka Fuentes Cruz, 45, stood in front of the officers, blocking their path to Mercado and obstructing their efforts to effect the arrest. After a brief struggle, Mercado was taken into custody. Officers also took Fuentes Cruz into custody.

Mercado was charged as a fugitive from justice and resisting arrest.

Fuentes Cruz was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Both were transported to the Jamestown City Jail and held pending arraignment

– Brantley D. Churchill, 36, of Jamestown was charged June 23 with third-degree grand larceny, resisting arrest, and second-degree harassment. According to police, at about 12:06 p.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute on the west side. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the female victim who stated her ex-boyfriend, Churchill, allegedly stole her property, and also allegedly threatened to punch her in the face. Brantley was on scene, and also spoke with officers, During the conversation with Brantley, police said, he stated to officers he was no longer staying on scene. Officers attempted to detain Churchill, and police said, he allegedly began to resist and pull away from officers. After a brief struggle, Churchill was placed into custody. While in custody, police said, Churchill attempted to head-butt, and kick officers. He was taken to Jamestown City Jail, and arraigned in Jamestown City Court. He was later remanded to Chautauqua County Jail.

– Kasey S. Sweeney, 35, of Jamestown, was charged June 26 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. According to police, at about 7:16 a.m., officers stopped a motorcycle for improper plates and no registration. Sweeney was found to have a suspended license with several failures to appear in court. Sweeney was placed into custody, and a search of his person revealed an alleged small amount of methamphetamine in his pocket. He was taken to city jail, and will be in city court later.

— Shawn D. Kline, 35, was charged as a fugitive of justice.

At 8:28 a.m. Sunday, officers from the first platoon were patrolling in the area of Foote Avenue and Arnold Street when they observed Kline walking in the area. Kline had a Parole warrant out of the State of Pennsylvania.

Kline was taken into custody without incident and was being held in the Jamestown City Jail.

— Nevaeh T Graves, 19, of Jamestown was charged with third-degree assault and felony third-degree criminal mischief.

At about 4:26 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to an address in the center of the city for a reported fight. Through investigation, it was determined that the suspect, Nevaeh T. Graves, struck another person in the face several times, causing physical injury. During the incident, the victim’s eyeglasses were also broken. Graves was taken into custody and transported to the Jamestown City Jail without incident. He was being held pending arraignment.

— Chelline M. Occhipinti, 43, of Jamestown, was charged with petit larceny.

At approximately 9 p.m. Friday, officers responded to a southside business for a reported larceny. Through investigation it was determined that Occhipinti concealed multiple beauty products in her purse and passed all points of sale without paying. Occhipinti was located nearby and taken into custody without incident.

She was transported to the Jamestown City Jail and held pending arraignment

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

— Michael A. Plecker, 56, of the town of Hanover was charged June 19 with endangering the welfare of a child. According to officials, at about 9:31 a.m., deputies were dispatched to an address in the town of Hanover for a past tense altercation. Through investigation, it was found Plecker allegedly smashed a windshield of a vehicle that a juvenile female was a passenger in. Plecker, authorities said, was located, a short time later and placed into custody. Plecker was taken to the Hanover substation for processing, and then taken to the county jail for centralized arraignment.

— At approximately 6:49 p.m. Saturday, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Navigation Division conducted a stop on Chautauqua Lake of a vessel found to be operating in excess of its seating capacity.

The operator was identified as Ivan Hostetler, 26, of Clymer. Following a brief investigation, it was determined that Hostetler was operating the vessel while in an intoxicated state. Hostetler was found to have a BAC of .21%. He was then taken into custody and released with tickets charging him with Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) and reckless operation. He is to be in the Town of Chautauqua Court at a future date.

— CHARLOTTE — At around 12:44 p.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to an address in the town of Gerry for a reported shoplifting. A vehicle involved was later located and stopped a short time later on Route 60 in the town. Through an investigation it was discovered that the operator of the vehicle, Kia L. Briggs 42, Fredonia, was operating the vehicle while impaired by drugs and operating on a suspended license. The passenger of the vehicle, Gwyn C. Steger, 46 Fredonia, was alleged to have taken items from a business without permission.

A search of the vehicle discovered stolen merchandise and a powdery substance that later tested positive for fentanyl. Briggs was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, DWAI Drugs, refusal to take breath test and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Steger was charged with petit larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were transported for processing. Steger was later released with tickets to appear in the town of Gerry Court and town of Charlotte Court. Briggs was transported to county jail for arraignment.