Arrests

(WNY News Now) – A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a local man for multiple drug charges.Jamestown, N.Y. – On November 1, 2024, at approximately 9:30 PM, officers from the Jamestown Police Department conducted a traffic stop on West 7th Street near Washington Street. The driver, 30-year-old Mark F. Shanks, a resident of Orchard Park, was the sole occupant of the vehicle.During the stop, officers observed a quantity of loose cocaine inside the vehicle. Following this discovery, they proceeded with a more thorough search of the car, which revealed an additional amount of suspected cocaine alongside 500 grams of concentrated cannabis.Shanks was taken into custody and transported to the Jamestown City Jail for processing. A comprehensive search upon his arrival uncovered more cocaine...

(WNY News Now) – Buffalo Police announced the arrest of a local man suspected of orchestrating the theft of three vehicles from a private garage, later selling them to a dismantling company under false pretenses.Buffalo, N.Y. – On October 28, 2024, the Buffalo Police Department reported the arrest of Phillip Jackson, 61, of Buffalo, following an investigation into a series of vehicle thefts from a garage on East Delevan Avenue. The investigation began on October 26, when E District officers responded to a burglary report involving three stolen vehicles.The thefts, which allegedly took place on separate dates, involved high-value vehicles: a Mercedes CLS 500 on October 14, a Buick Regal on October 16, and a Chevrolet SSR on October 17. According to police, Jackson towed each vehicle from th...

(WNY News Now) – Buffalo Police, with the assistance of the New York State Police Aviation Unit, tracked and arrested three individuals after a stolen vehicle was driven against traffic on the Kensington Expressway Wednesday night.BUFFALO, NY – In a collaborative effort involving Buffalo Police and the New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation Unit, three arrests were made on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle through city streets and highways. Around 9:30 p.m., officers were alerted by a citizen on Fillmore Avenue who reported their vehicle had been stolen.Within moments, officers located the vehicle near Starin and Depew avenues. NYSP’s Aviation Unit provided aerial surveillance, observing the vehicle as it drove against traffic on the Kensington Expressway,...

(WNY News Now) – A nine-month drug investigation by the Olean Police Department’s Emergency Response Team has culminated in multiple arrests following a search warrant on South 3rd Street.Olean, N.Y. – The Olean Police Department executed a search warrant early yesterday morning at a residence on 309 S. 3rd St. as part of an extended investigation into suspected drug sales in the area. Officers arrived at approximately 6:20 a.m., leading to the arrests of two men within the residence: Micah Hicks, 40, and Elliott Smalls, 45. Both were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony, and were held pending arraignment. Investigators reported finding cocaine on the premises.Later in the day, Olean police apprehended two additional individuals o...

(WNY News Now) – A routine traffic stop in Mayville revealed multiple criminal charges, including drug possession and aggravated unlicensed operation, for four Westfield residents on Halloween morning.Mayville, N.Y. – On October 31, 2024, around 9:40 a.m., a vehicle operated by 26-year-old Andrew Harris was stopped by Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Deputies on Academy Street in the Village of Mayville. Harris, a Westfield resident, was found to have a New York State driver’s license with 25 suspensions and revocations. The discovery led deputies to conduct a vehicle search, which reportedly uncovered a felony amount of methamphetamine.As a result, Harris was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, ...

(WNY News Now) – A suspicious person report led Jamestown Police to arrest a 20-year-old Warren, PA resident on a fugitive warrant, authorities confirm.On the evening of October 31, 2024, Jamestown Police Department officers responded to a report of a suspicious individual outside a closed North Side business. Upon arrival at approximately 6:28 PM, officers observed Zedakiah J.R. Pratz, 20, of Warren, Pennsylvania, standing near the business’s entrance.Further investigation revealed Pratz had an outstanding warrant in Warren County, PA, which led officers to take him into custody without incident. Following his arrest, Pratz was transported to the City Jail, where he remains held pending arraignment in Jamestown City Court on the charge of being a fugitive from justice. As are all persons ...

(WNY News Now) – A coordinated investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force led to the arrest of a Lockport man facing felony drug charges.Lockport, N.Y. – On October 25, 2024, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti announced the arrest of 25-year-old Rodney C. Hill of Lockport, New York, following a focused investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force. Hill was taken into custody at approximately 3 p.m. at a residence on Niagara Street Extension in the Town of Lockport.Hill faces a felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the specific substances involved in the charge. Hill is currently being held in the Niagara County Jail, awaiting arraignment. As are all persons accused of a crime, ...

(WNY News Now) – A 65-year-old French Creek resident faces multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated, following a late-night crash into a field.French Creek, N.Y. – On November 3, 2024, at approximately 2:33 AM, Chautauqua County deputies responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in the Town of French Creek. Upon arrival, they discovered Dennis P. Griffin, a 65-year-old man from French Creek, a short distance from the scene of the crash, which involved his vehicle going into a field.Deputies quickly determined that Griffin was the driver of the vehicle. During the investigation, it became evident that he was operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Witnesses reported seeing Griffin attempt to evade law enforcement, but deputies were able to apprehend him af...