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Area police

WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT — A Syracuse man is facing charges after an incident Monday. At approximately 8:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Route 5 and McKinley Road in the town of Westfield for a report of a male subject walking along the road yelling. Officers made contact with the individual, identified as Evan W. Bartlett, 55, who stated he had run out of gas and parked his vehicle on the north shoulder of Route 5 while seeking assistance. During the investigation, officers observed signs of intoxication. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were administered, ...

Dunkirk man charged after pair of chases

A Dunkirk man driving on a revoked non-driver's identification card led police on two chases Tuesday in the town of Hanover and the city of Dunkirk. At 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, David P. Topliffe, 45, of Dunkirk was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer and several traffic violations after leading deputies on a short pursuit from Hanover into the city of Dunkirk after deputies tried to pull his vehicle over for an alleged inspection violation. ...

Area police

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT - Scott Humble, 64, of the town of North Harmony was charged March 9 with two counts of second-degree criminal contempt. According to officials, at about 3 p.m., deputies received notification that Humble was in possession of dogs on his property. A search warrant was executed for the property, resulting in the discovery of two five-month-old Keeshond dogs located within a rear kennel. A court order, previously issued by the town of North Harmony on October 16, 2025, explicitly prohibited Humble from owning, harboring, or having custody or ...

Area police

FREDONIA POLICE DEPARTMENT — A man who threatened others in a parking lot is facing charges. At approximately 1:40 a.m. March 1, a male subject identified as Christian Mota-Cruz threatened individuals in the east municipal parking lot with a gun. Officers located a loaded 9mm hand gun along with high capacity magazines. Mota-Cruz was taken into custody and transported to the Fredonia Police Department for processing. Mota-Cruz was charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of certain ammunition feeding devices. — On Feb. 28, at ...

Jamestown man, woman charged in narcotics conspiracy

Two Jamestown residents are facing federal narcotics conspiracy charges. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced last week that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging James Jackson, 39, and Alicia Osar, 37. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. In addition, Jackson is charged with maintaining a drug involved premises. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, between 2018, and February 2025, Jackson and Osar ...

Area police

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT - Kenneth Blendowski, 41, of Hamburg, was charged March 5 with driving while intoxicated, failure to keep right, and improper signaling. Officials said at around 10:17 p.m., deputies were on routine patrol in the town of Pomfret, when they stopped a vehicle for an alleged traffic violation. Through investigation the operator, Blendowski was found to be operating the vehicle while allegedly intoxicated. He was transported to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Pomfret substation for processing. Blendowski was later released, and will be in ...