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Area police

Area Police

Bemus Point couple safe after boat fire Two Bemus Point residents are safe after a boat fire. Michael Giarrizzo, 86, was operating a vessel around 7:10 p.m. Friday in the Bemus Bay area and through the Bemus Narrows by the Stow Ferry with Barbara Giarrizzo, 83, onboard. He noticed a clicking noise in the engine compartment and saw smoke. When he opened the engine cover the boat burst into flames. Both grabbed floatation devices and jumped off the boat into the lake. A swimmer from shore and other boaters nearby assisted and got both out of the water and brought them to ...

Area Police

Dunkirk Police investigate shooting The Dunkirk Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the city on at about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. Officers were alerted to the incident on the 300 block of Washington Avenue and learned that one person was struck by gunfire. The injury at this time does not appear life-threatening. The victim was transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital by a private vehicle and later transferred to ECMC in Buffalo. Police say the incident was targeted at people who know each other. New York State Police, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s ...

Area police

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – HANOVER – Thomas J. Abt, 59, of Amherst was charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to stop at a stop sign following a traffic stop Aug. 4 on Allegany Road around 8 p.m. He will answer to the charge in Hanover Town Court at a later date. – ELLERY – David J. Mangion, 39, of Hamburg was charged Saturday with driving while intoxicated and failure to keep right. Deputies said they responded to a motor vehicle accident shortly after midnight on Bayview Road, where Mangion was accused of driving in an intoxicated state. He will ...

Arrest made in Sinclairville July 23 arson

SINCLAIRVILLE – An arrest has been made following an arson investigation. On July 23 local fire departments, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Investigation Team responded to a fully involved residential fire located at 38 East Ave. Sinclairville. Preliminary findings suggested the fire was suspicious in nature. An investigation was conducted and allegedly found that Vicki L Rumsey, 53, of Sinclairville, intentionally set fire to the residence causing the house to sustain heavy damage. A warrant was issued for third-degree arson. Rumsey did turn herself into ...

Area Police

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY COURT – Eric Vangiesen, age 38, of Jamestown, was sentenced Monday by County Court Judge David Foley to a determinate sentence in state prison for 5.5 years with 2 years of post-release supervision after being convicted of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and a violation of probation, this sentenced is to run concurrently to each other. Vangiesen was sentenced to a five-year term of probation after being convicted of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in April 2023. In September 2023, the Chautauqua County Office of ...

Area police

ELLICOTT POLICE - John K. Larsen, 66, of Jamestown was charged with second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child on July 29. Ellicott police responded to a domestic disturbance where it is alleged Larsen harassed the victim resulting in a violation of an active order of protection. Larsen was charged and taken to the Chautauqua County Jail for a centralized arraignment. Larsen will be in Ellicott Town Court later. - Carl J Silsby Sr, 35, of Jamestown was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of ...