Deputies say 27-year-old Jerome Rogerson of the town of Chautauqua was jailed Wednesday following the pursuit. The pursuit started after the Jamestown Police Department reported an SUV had recently been stolen from a Washington Street car dealership. The vehicle in question was spotted in Dunkirk by State police.

Instead of pulling over, Rogerson allegedly “attempted to evade police” by traveling west in the eastbound lane of the interstate.

After leaving the interstate, the vehicle went down an embankment and got stuck. Rogerson was then taken into custody. He faces multiple charges.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says several fire departments and other first responders were sent scene just after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

An Investigation found that 67-year-old Terry Telschow of Jamestown was traveling west on Route 394 when he apparently crossed the center of the road and collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle, operated by 35 -year-old Landon Armstrong on Conewango Valley.

Armstrong was transported by ambulance to UPMC Chautauqua for evaluation but did not appear to have any significant injuries.

Telschow suffered serious injuries and was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC where he later died.

The investigation into the crash continues.

Maio is also charged with using and maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where an individual under 18 was present and resided.

“Today we unveil a new weapon which we deploy as part of our effort to protect our community from the scourge that methamphetamine trafficking brings to it,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “This indictment marks the first time that any person in the Western District of New York has been charged with violating Title 21, United States Code, Section 860a, which requires that the sentencing court impose a mandatory, additional, consecutive term of up to 20 years in prison, whenever a methamphetamine-related drug offenses occurs on a premises at which a child is present. While we have directed much of our recent law enforcement effort to combatting deadly opioids, methamphetamine—though it may be a slower death—also kills. When it comes to protecting our community, new threats warrant new responses.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, beginning in March 2018, the Jamestown Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating Maio and Smith for the distribution of methamphetamine in and around the City of Jamestown. The investigation included controlled purchases of narcotics from defendant Maio.

On January 23, 2019, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a state search warrant at Maio’s residence on Main Street in East Randolph, NY. Maio and Smith were present at the time, along with two other adults and three minor children. Smith attempted to leave the residence but was detained and searched. Investigators recovered suspected crystal methamphetamine and on Smith. They also searched Maio and recovered suspected crack cocaine and a large amount of cash.

During a search of the residence, investigators recovered suspected marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, a digital scale, and other drug packaging and paraphernalia.

The defendants were arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and detained.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Ronald Lott.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Richard Kimbrough Jr.

MAYVILLE – A Jamestown area man was taken into custody this week after allegedly threatening another man at gunpoint and leaving him “completely nude and in the dark” in a rural area of Warren County, PA.

The Post-Journal says 23-year-old Thomas Kimbrough, Jr. of West Ellicott was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police for the incident, which occurred on April 22 on Mud Run Rd., near Lander in Warren County.

Kimbrough is accused of inviting a friend to take ride with him and smoke marijuana on Tuesday night. But when they got to a rural area of Warren County, Kimbrough allegedly told the victim to get out of the vehicle and made him strip naked at gun point. He’s also accused of firing a single round near the victim, and then allegedly struck the victim in the face with the gun before driving off with all of his belongings.

The victim was able to find help from a family that was fishing in the area and called 911. An investigation led to Kimbrough’s arrest on several related charges. He was taken into custody and booked into the Chautauqua County Jail.

Joseph Gerace

CHAUTAUQUA – It didn’t take long for former Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace to find a new job after being defeated in the 2018 general election.

Gerace has been named director of campus security and safety at Chautauqua Institution and will be responsible for enacting recommendations from Chautauqua’s Security Master Plan. In addition to his new post, Gerace will also become Chautauqua’s police chief once current chief Alan Akin retires after the 2019 summer season.

“We are elated to welcome Joe to our year-round staff. His leadership as sheriff ensured the safety and security of multiple generations of Institution residents and visitors, and this community is fortunate to benefit now even more directly from his experience and service,” said John Shedd, the Institution’s vice president of campus planning and operations. “Through Joe’s leadership, our security personnel will continue to provide the delicate balance of enforcement, preventive security tactics, and exceptional community relations acumen cultivated for decades under Al’s command. We are grateful for Al’s dedicated service to Chautauqua, and we look forward to celebrating his many contributions throughout the coming months.” 

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve such a prestigious organization,” Gerace said. “I have always loved Chautauqua Institution since beginning my law enforcement career here. I look forward to working with the wonderful employees, residents and guests on this historic campus.”

Gerace earned a Master of Professional Studies in community service administration from Alfred University; a Bachelor of Arts in police science from Mercyhurst College; and an associate’s degree in applied science in criminal justice from Jamestown Community College. A lifelong resident of Chautauqua County, he has coached youth hockey and soccer programs, serves on the board of Chautauqua Opportunities and is president of the Chautauqua Children’s Safety Education Village. He and his wife Gina live in West Ellicott, where they also raised seven children. 

Gerace served Chautauqua County as sheriff from 1995 through the end of 2018. He was defeated in the November election by current county sheriff James Quattrone.

Left to Right: Brandon Smith, Mark Maio, and Brittany Dellahoy

RANDOLPH – The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force has made one of the largest discoveries of crystal methamphetamine in its three-decade history in Randolph Wednesday night.

According to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant at an apartment at 128 Main St. in the Cattaraugus County village – just miles from the Chautauqua county border – reportedly yielding more than a pound and a half of crystal meth packaged for sale with a street value of $75,000.

Two residents of the apartment, 34-year-old Mark Maio and 28 year-old Brittany Dellahoy were charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-1 felony, the highest level felony in the state.

A third suspect, 32-year-old Brandon Smith of Jamestown, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class B felony.

All three were arraigned in Conewango Town Court and held without bail.

The Sheriff’s office has recently received several complaints regarding a phone scam that seems to target elderly people. The scammers have been calling the victims and representing themselves as Public Defenders. The scammers then tell the victims that one of their relatives, usually a grand-child, has been arrested or involved in an accident.

The scammers then demand money for bail and legal fees and tell the victims to purchase gift cards and/or prepaid credit cards as payment. The scammers often know the names of the victims’ family members and may even represent themselves as a family member.

Some of the victims were also contacted on social media. If someone receives a call like this please be aware that it is a scam and discontinue the call immediately.

To report an incident please contact the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office at 716-753-4232.

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office deputies say the crash occurred just before 6:45 p.m. Sunday on Farrington Hollow Road in Cherry Creek.

A media release says a car was backing out of a driveway on the road and was struck by a northbound motorcycle. The operator of the motorcycle was transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released at this time.

The driver of the car was identified as 47-year-old Jassen Sherman. He was cited for failure to yield the right of way when entering the roadway and is due back in the Town of Cherry Creek Court at a later date.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says divers found the body of 47-year-old Timothy Yocum around 2:50 p.m. He was first reported missing late Saturday afternoon after going for a swim.

Dozens of area first responders — including members of the county Water Emergency Team, the Sheriff’s Office Marine Division, and New York State police dive team – assisted in the search.

Yocum was identified about two and a half hours after his body was recovered Monday near Greenhurst. The incident is being treated as an accidental drowning.

According to a media release from the sheriff’s office, deputies received a report of a 2-year-old male child missing from the back yard of his home on Route 5 in Silver Creek.

The child’s mother last saw him on the back deck of their home, but when she stepped away to put clothes in the dryer, the child was gone when she returned.

The child’s mother searched her yard and home without success, and then called 911. Sheriff’s Deputies responded and established a command post.  New York State Police Troopers responded and assisted deputies with searching the home, yard, and vehicles to ensure the child wasn’t hiding. Sheriff K-9 Bentley began an area search. The railroad was contacted to slow train traffic behind the home and deputies started interviewing neighbors. Starflight helicopter responded and started an aerial search at the home and worked out from there.

Chautauqua County Emergency Services was also contacted and coordinated the Fire Service response which included Sheridan FD, Silver Creek FD, Sunset Bay FD , Forestville FD, Cassadaga FD, East Dunkirk FD, Evans Center FD, Chautauqua Area Search Team, and Chautauqua County Fire Police. Sheriff’s K-9 Drake joined the search.

Fire Department members began searching the railroad tracks while the K-9 and helicopter searches were underway.

Just prior to starting a massive ground search of the woods, Silver Creek Fire Department personnel searching the tracks, located the 2 year old child south of the tracks in a ravine. He was about 1 1/2 miles from his home. He was uninjured, but frightened. He was reunited with his family within minutes of being located.

Sheriff’s office officials say resources from multiple levels of government and many communities worked together along with neighborhood volunteers, to have a happy outcome.

Additional resources that were responding but cancelled prior to arrival were the County Command 7 vehicle, State Forest Rangers, and a State Police blood hound. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.