Several arrests have already been made in connection to the case.

City police say a 17-year-old Jamestown youth is being held for extradition to Pennsylvania for stealing an estimated 40 pistols from the gun shop on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Two others were arrested last week after police found them to be in possession of some of the guns that had been stolen. Officers responded to 152 Bowen St. around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday after several shots were believed to have been fired inside. Officers secured the home and found that 19-year-old Jahdiel Rivera and 21-year-old Omar Vera-Velazquez had both discharged several rounds from a pistol.

No one was injured in the shooting incident.

Anyone with information can call the Jamestown Police Department’s anonymous tips line at 483-8477 or use the Tips 411 App. All tips are kept confidential.

James Blue

JAMESTOWN – City police raided a home Monday afternoon after receiving a report of a person with a weapon.

At about 5 p.m. Monday members of the Jamestown Police Department were called to the area of 1063 E. Second St. On arrival, officers reportedly saw two individuals evade police and enter the rear of the Second Street residence. During the investigation, a loaded FNH 40-cal pistol was found inside the building. The weapon was reportedly stolen from Cattaraugus County.

Police eventually arrested a suspect identified as 27-year-old James Blue of Jamestown. He was charged and sent to the city jail to await arraignment.

Sharef Corley (left) and Karee – Rizzo-Walker

JAMESTOWN – Two Jamestown residents are in police custody after a weekend traffic stop revealed they were in possession of a stolen gun.

The Jamestown Police Department says they stopped a vehicle Sunday just after 4:45 a.m. near the intersection of Prospect and Barker streets for multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. During the traffic stop police found a loaded firearm that was reported stolen from within the city on March 19.

Both 19 year-old Sharef Corley and 20 year-old Karee J. Rizzo-Walker – both of Jamestown – were brought into custody on charges of criminal weapons possession and criminal possession of stolen property, along with obstructing government administration.

A media release says officers were sent to an area of Newland Ave. near Delaware ave. shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, for a report of a male subject carrying a long gun while walking down the road. While officers were enroute they were told the male had possibly hid the weapon near a dumpster behind a local church. On arrival officers located two long guns buried in the snow near a dumpster and detained a 16 year-old male who was walking away from the scene. After an investigation officers determined the male had allegedly burglarized a Chautauqua Ave. address and stole the guns.

The teen, whose name is not being released because of his age, was arrested and charged with burglary (2nd degree), criminal possession of stolen property (4th degree), and grand larceny (4th degree). He was sent to the city jail without incident.

Eddie Ortiz and Jose Santiago

JAMESTOWN – Two Jamestown men are in police custody after they were found to be in alleged possession of two loaded handguns, one of which was identified as being stolen.

On Monday afternoon at about 2:30 p.m., Jamestown police officers were investigating a suspicious situation in a parking lot at 811 N. Main St.  Police say two individuals were observed exiting a vehicle prior to being stopped by officers.  Officers impounded the vehicle and received a warrant to search the vehicle, where the found two loaded handguns.

Police identified the two individuals as 23 year-old Jose Santiago and 22 year-old Eddie Ortiz.

One of the guns was found to be stolen from Florida. Both Santiago and Ortiz were charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and are being held in the city jail pending arraignment.

Shanis Garcia-Guzman

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown police arrested a city man on Friday for allegedly possessing drugs and a loaded handgun that was within reach of children.

Police say 34-year-old Shanis Garcia-Guzman was stopped for illegal parking at about 3:30 p.m. Friday near the 800 block of Prendergast Avenue.

During the stop police determined that Garcia-Guzman was allegedly in possession of a hypodermic instrument and a small amount of heroin and marijuana. A subsequent search of the vehicle also turned up a 9mm handgun, which was within reach of four children who were passengers in the vehicle.  An investigation determined the gun was stolen from a robbery in Sherman about five years ago.

Garcia-Guzman was charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Ben McCormack (left) and Jason Thorn

JAMESTOWN, NY – Jamestown police are announcing the arrest of two city men following an investigation into dozens of guns that were stolen from central pennsylvania.

According to Jamestown Police Captain Robert Samuelson, on Friday, June 17 at about 9:30 p.m. officers were conducting a street check of an individual walking on South Main St. at Axtel St. in Jamestown.

The subject was identified as 36 year-old Jason Thorn and was found to have an active bench warrant.

Thorn was taken into custody and was found to be in possession of a pistol that was found to be stolen during a burglary of a gun shop in Mansfield, PA.

Police contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and a subsequent investigation determined that the gun was one of dozens that were taken in three separate burglaries in the central Pennsylvania area.

As a result of the investigation, both Jamestown police and federal ATF officials recovered 55 stolen handguns and rifles on Tuesday, June 21, which they say were destined to be sold on the streets of the Jamestown area.

The investigation resulted in both Thorn and 31 year-old Ben McCormack being arrested and both face a multiple count federal indictment for their part in the three burglaries.

Weapons Seized Federal Indictments ATF and the JPD

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, McCormack and Thorne are charged with conspiracy to steal and unlawfully possess firearms from the inventories of licensed gun stores.

In a media release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Pennsylvania, officials say on or about May 29, 2016, McCormack and an unindicted co-conspirator allegedly broke into Arrowhead Outdoors, a gun store in Tionesta, Pennsylvania and stole approximately 28 firearms. On or about June 17, 2016, McCormack and Thorne allegedly stole approximately 36 firearms from GNR Sporting Goods in Mansfield.  On or about June 20, 2016, McCormack and an unindicted co-conspirator allegedly broke into and stole approximately 29 firearms from Fulmer’s Sporting Goods in Wysox Township.

“Gun thieves are a principal source of weapons that make their way into the hands of criminals.  Stolen guns are quickly dispensed through underground transactions and the cycle of violence is initiated,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Sam Rabadi. “I commend the diligent work of the investigators from ATF, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Jamestown Police Department in New York, in this ongoing, wide-ranging and multi-jurisdictional investigation.  Their outstanding investigative efforts led to the recovery of at least 55 of the stolen firearms that were destined for our communities and led to the swift identifications and arrests of those involved in these gun store burglaries.”

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Jamestown, New York Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Rocktashel and John Gurganus.

Anyone having information regarding the gun store burglaries should call the ATF 24/7 hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or email: ATFTips@atf.gov

Arrested on June 25 in two separate drug investigations were (clockwise, from upper left): Mark Goldsmith, Peggy Sue Reese, Antonio Wiggins and Jensen Vasquez, all of Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN – Four people face drug-related charges after two separate investigations and drug raids early Thursday morning in Jamestown.

According to a release from Jamestown Police Captain Robert Samuelson, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and the New York State Police executed search warrants at 844 E. Second St. and 47 McKinley Ave.

At the home on E. Second St., police allegedly found cocaine, hydrocodone pills and two loaded handguns in the apartment, with one of the guns allegedly reported stolen from an Ellicott residence. Police arrested 29 year-old Jensen Vasquez and charged him with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of stolen property and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

In the other drug raid at McKinley Ave., police allegedly found a large amount of marijuana and more than $7,000. Arrested was 30 year-old Mark Goldsmith, 29 year-old Peggy Sue Reese, and 38 year-old Antonio Wiggins. Each was charged with criminal possession of Marijuana. Goldsmith was also charged with tampering with evidence, while Reese was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

All four city residents are in the city jail awaiting arraignment.