Jamestown man charged with arson
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JAMESTOWN - A city man has been charged with arson after a fire that damaged a Prendergast Avenue home on Aug. 25.
William EL Blakey, 38, of Jamestown, was charged Tuesday with third-degree arson and second-degree criminal mischief in relation to the fire at 629 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown, on Aug. 25. An investigation into the incident was conducted by Jamestown police officers and city fire investigators as the cause of the fire was determined to be suspicious. The investigation found that Blakey allegedly ignited a mattress located on the lower porch of the structure, and the resulting fire spread throughout the building, causing significant damage.
Blakey was arrested after an arrest warrant was obtained from city court. Blakey was taken to the Chautauqua County Jail after being arraigned.
In November, Blakey was charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance when city police officers working as part of a G.I.V.E targeted patrol detail with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in the area of East Eighth Street and American Place reportedly saw Blakey sitting on the steps in the alleyway allegedly actively preparing to inject narcotics. Police report Blakey saw the officers and stopped. Blakey was taken into custody without incident and a subsequent search allegedly yielded narcotics. Blakey was taken to the city jail and held pending arraignment due to his 14 prior failures to appear in court.
In another 2024 incident, Blakey was charged after officers responded to an eastside address for a trespass and allegedly found Blakey inside the vacant residence hiding underneath a bed.
Also in 2025, Blakey was allegedly involved in a vehicle larceny in downtown Jamestown. According to a police report, officers responded to the call and learned a person’s purse and its contents were taken from a vehicle. An individual attempted to use the person’s credit card at the 7-Eleven on North Main Street a short time later, which led officers to find an 18-year-old allegedly in possession of Apple Airpods that were taken from the victim. Officers then learned another man was possibly in possession of more of the stolen property. Officers located Blakey on the north side of the city allegedly in possession of the purse.
Blakey was charged in 2024 with second-degree criminal impersonation after city police officers saw a suspicious man walking behind houses on Barrows and Allen streets in Jamestown. According to a police report, when the K9 officer attempted to make contact with the man to find out why he was trespassing, the man fled on foot toward Allen Street. The K9 officer, assisted by other members of the department’s First Platoon, was able to catch up to the man on Allen Street. The male was identified as Blakey, according to a police report. Blakey allegedly had outstanding warrants from the City of Jamestown and attempted to provide a false name to the officers in order to conceal his true identity.
Blakey was also allegedly involved in a 2023 incident allegedly being in a vacant Prendergast Avenue apartment unlawfully along with four other people.