Rasul Bonds

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man has been indicted on three counts of attempted murder and one count of first degree assault following an investigation into the drive-by shooting that took place on the north side of town at the end of January.

City police say a Chautauqua County grand jury indicted 30-year-old Rasul Bonds on Monday.

The indictment comes following a lengthy investigation into the early morning shooting on Jan. 30 at the corner of North Main and West Ninth Streets in which one person was shot in the face. The victim was taken to UPMC Hamot for serious injuries but an update on their condition hasn’t been provided.

City police believe the parties involved knew each other and the shooting was the result of an“an ongoing dispute.”

Bonds is currently in the Chautauqua County jail with bail set at $150,000.

Luis Mojica-Castro

MAYVILLE – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that the attempted murder trial against a city man accused of dousing a woman with flammable material and setting her on fire has been postponed.

Jury selection was set to begin Tuesday in Chautauqua County Court for 38-year-old Luis Castro-Mojica, who police say set the female victim on fire during a domestic incident last December at a Thayer Street home.

Castro-Mojica was indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault.

The trial was adjourned due to illness by the defense attorney, who has since recused himself from the case. Castro-Mojica is now being represented by Lakewood attorney Lyle Hajdu.

A new trial date has not been announced.

David Waggoner

UPDATED 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Jamestown Police are reporting that the victim in Tuesday morning’s west side shooting as died as a result of his injuries. A media release sent out Wednesday afternoon says the victim, whose name has not been released, was removed from life support at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday. Charges of 2nd degree Murder are now pending for the suspect, 54-year-old David Waggoner.

An autopsy will be completed on Thursday at the Erie County Medical Examiners Office to determine the exact cause of death.

[Original Story  – published 8:39 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018]

City Man Arrested Following Shooting on City’s West Side

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Police have charged a city man with attempted murder and 1st degree assault following a shooting incident that took place just before 9 a.m. Tuesday on the city’s west side.

Police say 54-year-old David Waggoner was taken into custody not long after officers were called to 114 Livingston Ave. for a reported fight. When officers arrived they found a man lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head.

The victim was rushed to UPMC hospital in Erie, where he is listed in critical condition. Police have not released the victim’s name, nor details on a possible motive.

Waggoner was being held at the Jamestown City Jail until he could be arraigned in city court.

Jamestown police were assisted at the scene by members of the Ellicott Police Department and Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

Luis Mojica-Castro

JAMESTOWN – The Post-Journal is reporting that a Chautauqua County Grand Jury has indicted a city man on an attempted murder charge related to him allegedly setting a female victim on fire during a domestic incident in December 2017. The grand jury also indicted 37 year-old Luis Castro-Mojica on a charge of first-degree assault.

Castro-Mojica initially pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault during his arraignment in Jamestown City Court following the incident. He was then sent to Chautauqua County Jail with bail set at $1 million cash.

Castro-Mojica is scheduled to appear for a conference in Chautauqua County Court on March 26 after the case was moved from Jamestown City Court.

According to a media release sent out by JPD Capt. Robert Samuelson, Jamestown Police arrived at the scene at at 210 Thayer St at about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 and found a 27-year-old female with severe burns to her face, head, and torso. An investigation revealed that the victim was doused in a flammable substance and then set on fire. She was taken to UPMC WCA Chautauqua and then immediately air lifted to ECMC in Buffalo.

Justin Haffa

MAYVILLE – The Cheektowaga man who allegedly attempted to kill a Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputy earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to related charges in Chautauqua County Court.

On Monday, 21-year-old Justin Haffa was arraigned on charges of first-degree attempted murder (A1 felony), first-degree robbery (B violent felony) and attempted aggravated assault on a police officer (C violent felony).

Haffa was arrested last September 11. He was pulled over by a sheriff deputy on Route 60 in the town of Pomfret at about 3:30 a.m.  During the stop he’s accused of attacking the deputy and pinning her to the ground, threatening her with a knife. At that time the deputy reportedly pulled out her service weapon and fire. Haffa then wrestled the gun away from the deputy and then ran away. He was eventually located four hours later with the deputy’s gun in the Town of Stockton.

Haffa was allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The deputy was treated for minor injuries.

Following Monday’s hearing, Haffa was sent back to the county jail without bail.  The next court date will be Oct. 3, when attorneys and the judge will establish dates and times for future proceedings in the case.

Justin Haffa

MAYVILLE – The Cheektowaga man who allegedly attempted to kill a Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputy last weekend will appear in county court next Monday.

That’s according to the WIVB TV, which is reporting that a preliminary hearing for 21-year-old Justin Haffa is Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse.

Haffa was arrested last Sunday morning. He was pulled over by a sheriff deputy on Route 60 in the town of Pomfret at about 3:30 a.m.  During the stop he’s accused of attacking the deputy and pinning her to the ground, threatening her with a knife. At that time the deputy reportedly pulled out her service weapon and fire. Haffa then wrestled the gun away from the deputy and then ran away. He was eventually located four hours later with the deputy’s gun in the Town of Stockton.

Haffa was allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He is facing charges of first-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault.

The deputy was treated for minor injuries.

Justin Haffa

MAYVILLE – A Cheektowaga man is in the county jail after he allegedly attempted to murder a Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says an unidentified sheriff deputy was responding to a property damage traffic accident on Rt. 60 in the Town of Pomfret around 3:35 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. During the investigation the deputy attempted to arrest the driver, identified as 21 year-old Justin Haffa, for being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

At some point during the arrest Haffa allegedly attacked the deputy, wrestled the officer to the ground, and then allegedly attempted to kill the deputy with a knife. The sheriff’s office says the deputy was able to fire their duty weapon, although Haffa was still able to wrestle the pistol from the deputy before running from the scene.

A manhunt then took place and Haffa was eventually captured around 7:30 a.m. Sunday after being found in an area of Putnam Rd. in the Town of Stockton. The deputy’s pistol was reportedly in his possession when he was located and arrested.

The Sheriff’s office says the deputy suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released from an area hospital.

Haffa has been charged with first degree attempted murder and also assault in the 2^nd degree. He’s currently being held in the county jail.