Tyler Perez

JAMESTOWN – A man who was considered a person of interest in the death of an 18-month-old more than four years ago is back behind bars for violating probation.

Jamestown Police say 34 year-old Tyler Perez was charged Thursday night with second-degree menacing after allegedly threatening a woman during an incident at 408 Willard St.

During processing, police learned Perez was on probation in Pennsylvania for a prior weapons possession arrest and conviction and wasn’t allowed outside of the state.

Before his arrest in Jamestown and extradition to Pennsylvania in 2014, Perez had been named by Jamestown police as a person of interest in the death of 18-month-old Nayla Hodnett. After her death, an autopsy showed signs of internal blunt force trauma.

Perez was never charged in connection to the Hodnett homicide investigation and it remains unsolved.

According to Jamestown Police, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and State Police CNET executed search warrants at 238 Forest Ave. and 22 Bassett St. in Jamestown, along with another arrest on Willard St. Ext. just outside of the city.

Police say crystal methamphetamine was allegedly being sold out of the Forest Ave. residence. The individuals arrested were 44 year-old Christine Dean, 58 year-old Scott Verrett and 61 year-old Dawn Dean.

Meanwhile, the investigation at the Bassett St. residence resulted in police locating methamphetamine, cocaine, suboxone, drug paraphernalia and cash. At that location police arrested 38 year-old Stacie Yancer, 24 year-old Morgan Merrill-Larson, and 26 year-old Dustin Newbree.

The seventh person arrested on Friday was 27 year-old Tyler Anderson, 27, who was taken into custody while walking his dog around 2:25 p.m. near his Town of Ellicott home at 2256 Willard St. Ext.

At that location police recovered 58 grams of cocaine, 4 pounds of marijuana and 15 long guns.

The multi-agency investigation was conducted by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Luis Garcia (left) and Kelly Sherlock

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Police have charged two city residents with Child Endangerment after a child had to call 911 following an apparent drug overdose.

According to a report from the Jamestown Police Department, officers were call to an apartment at 601 Lafayette St. just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 to respond to a report of two individuals being unresponsive.

Police say an 8 year-old child was also in the apartment and called 911 to report the incident.

Police and EMS arrived and located the two individuals as being unresponsive on the floor suffering from an apparent overdose. The two were later identified as 45-year-old Luis Garcia and 30-year-old Kelly Sherlock. Both EMS and police reportedly administered Narcan to Garcia and Sherlock, who subsequently regained consciousness.

The two were transported to UPMC WCA for further treatment and were later released.

Both individuals were then taken into custody by police and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a child. Following arraignment in Jamestown City Court the two were committed to the County Jail.

The child was not injured and was turned over to a family member.

Jillian Matthews

JAMESTOWN – A city woman is awaiting arraignment Friday morning following an investigation into an alleged armed robbery that reportedly took place early Thursday night in Jamestown.

City police say the incident took place at 6:05 p.m. when officers responded to the area of 625 Prendergast Ave. on a report of an armed robbery. Officers were advised that a male victim had been robbed of cash at gun point and that the suspect then fled into the lower apartment at 625 Prendergast.

Officers were advised that the suspect then fled out the rear of the apartment and she was spotted fleeing down E. 8th Street towards N. Main Street.  Officers were able to pursue the suspect and eventually captured her in the area of N. Main St at E. 7th St.

The suspect was taken into custody and identified as 21-year-old Jillian Matthews.

Investigators also obtained a search warrant for the apartment at 625 Prendergast and reportedly found the weapon that was used in the robbery in the apartment. Police say the weapon was actually a replica revolver.

Matthews was taken to the city jail and was charged with Robbery 2nd Degree and Cr. Possession of a weapon 3rd Degree.

According to a media release sent out Monday afternoon, Jamestown Police responded to the area of 150 barrows St. Sunday at about 7:30 p.m. on a report of a subject being shot. Officers arrived and found a male victim inside the residence who had reportedly been shot while he was in the front yard of the location. The victim was transported to UPMC WCA Hospital where he is being treated for his non-life-threatening injury.

The investigation revealed that the shooting was not a random act of violence and the victim was targeted.

Investigators are currently following up on the leads and are looking for any potential witnesses who may have witnessed the incident. Anyone who may have information on the shooting is asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 483-7537 or they can leave an anonymous tip at 483-TIPS (8477) or via the Tips 411 App. All calls and tips are kept strictly confidential.

INCIDENT IS SEVENTH SHOOTING INVESTIGATION OF THE YEAR, SECOND TO RESULT IN INJURY

According to Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings, the shooting incident is the second one to take place in October, and the seventh confirmed incident to take place in 2017.  It’s the second shooting incident to also involve a victim being injured. Of the seven incidents reported by police, one arrest has so far been.

Snellings also said that the six prior shootings were also targeted events.

“The issue we have is a lack of cooperation from victims,” Snellings recently told WRFA in an email asking or an update on the number of shootings being investigated in the city during the current year. “The one arrest was the result of our officers witnessing the incident.”

Snellings also said that so far in 2017, there have been 47 firearms related counts in the city this year, ranging from illegal firearms possession to displaying firearms during the commission of a crime.

A grainy photo of the shooting suspects was provided by Jamestown Police in connection to a shooting incident that took place Thursday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2017 at 95 Liberty St. in the city. (Image from Jamestown Police Department, Jamestown NY)

[UPDATE: JAMESTOWN POLICE UPDATE] (Oct. 12, 2017 – 6:57pm) “It’s important to note that this incident was not a random act of violence. The location and victim appear to have been targeted in this incident.” – Captain Robert Samuelson

[ORIGINAL REPORT] JAMESTOWN, NY – (Oct. 12, 2017 – 5:08pm) Jamestown Police are asking for the public’s help in providing information related to a shooting incident that took place Thursday afternoon, leaving one person injured.

Jamestown Police received information on a report of shooting that had occurred at 95 Liberty St. at about 3 p.m. Thursday [Oct. 12, 2017]. Police say the incident involved a male victim was shot in the forearm inside an apartment at the location by an unknown suspect.

The suspect did flee the location with another male. Investigators are advising that the two males that fled are believed to be black males wearing dark clothing and hats.

One subject was believed to be wearing red or purple colored jeans. Investigators have obtained a still photo from a video at the location that is believed to be the suspects.

Anyone who may know the identity of the two subjects shown in the still photo released is asked to contact the Jamestown Police at 483-7536 or they can leave an anonymous tip at 483 TIPS (8477) or via the Tips 411 App.

All calls and tips are kept strictly confidential. The male victim was transported to UPMC Hospital where he is currently being treated. The injury is not believed to be life threatening.

Thursday night, police sent out an update, with Capt. Robert Samuelson stating, “It’s important to note that this incident was not a random act of violence. The location and victim appear to have been targeted in this incident.”

[Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported the victim was taken to a Jamestown area hospital.]

Gabriel Harrison – Stacey Thayer

JAMESTOWN – Two Jamestown residents have been charged with criminal possession of a weapon after they were found to allegedly be in illegal possession of an assault rifle.

A media release from the Jamestown Police Department says 40-year old Gabriel Harrison and 37-year old Stacey Thayer were charged Tuesday afternoon following an investigation by the JPD along with investigators with the Jamestown Metro Drug task Force and State Police CNET Unit.

According to police, an investigation revealed the occupants were in possession of an assault rifle. Entry was made into the residence at about 4 p.m. Tuesday and officers did locate a loaded SKS 7.62 Assault Rifle and ammuniation. Both Harrison and Tayer were charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree because both had a prior conviction preventing them from legally possessing such a weapon.

They were charged and sent to the city jail to await arraignment.

Police say a blue small pickup truck – possibly a Ranger with a toolbox over the wheel well on the driver side – struck a 16 year old bicyclist at about 11:20 am on Buffalo St Extension, near Swanson road. The teen was transported to WCA hospital for treatment of injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Ellicott Police at 665-7083 or 661-7232.

Jamestown police say a city patrol unit attempted to stop a vehicle at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of King and Hebner Streets after they identified the driver – 38 year-old Ceasar Soto – as someone who was wanted on a felony warrant.

When officers attempted to pull over the vehicle Soto allegedly sped off and led officers on a pursuit in the Swede Hill area. During the pursuit officers also allege that Soto nearly struck one of the responding police cars head on.

Soto’s vehicle finally came to a stop after it jumped a curb on Pleasant Ave. and hit a tree. He then fled on foot but was eventually captured by police and taken into custody.

Soto was charged on his felony warrant, as well as with reckless endangerment, failure to comply, obstruction, and resisting arrest – along with several other traffic citations.

A passenger in the vehicle – 24 year-old Mark McKay – was also charged after being found in possession of drug paraphernalia.

The two men are currently awaiting arraignment in the city jail.

Garson Butcher

JAMESTOWN – City police charged a Jamestown man Wednesday for allegedly possessing crystal methamphetamine and marijuana.

Members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and New York State Police CNET executed a search warrant at 230 Forest Ave. on Wednesday afternoon following a drug investigation. Once inside they located 7 grams of crystal meth and 13 amphetamine pills that were intended for sale. Police also found 17 grams of marijuana and a digital scale.

Police say the resident of the home, 24-year-old Garson Butcher, was arrested on related charges, arraigned in city court and sent to the county jail.

Anyone with information on the illegal sales and trafficking of narcotics can contact the Jamestown Police Department anonymous tip line at 483-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.