Police Reports

(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: March 22, 2024): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that Stockton Sisson, of Shinglehouse, was convicted by a Judge at the McKean County Courthouse on March 21st for threatening to shoot a neighboring property owner in July.

Sisson had been scheduled for jury trial on March 21st but requested to proceed in front of the Judge (called a “bench trial”) rather than a jury.   Assistant District Attorney Casey Graffius, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth, agreed to a “bench” trial.  The bench trial was held at the same time as the jury trial was scheduled.

On July 21, 2023, Trooper Ryan Good of the Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run barracks was dispatched to the property for reports of SISSON stating he was going to shoot the victim who owned the property nearby.  Trooper Good filed charges and bail was set at $10,000 by Magisterial District Judge Richard Luther.

At yesterday’s trial, SISSON was convicted of all charges including Terroristic Threats; Simple Assault by Physical Menace; and Harassment.  No sentencing date has been set.

McKean County has implemented “trial weeks” this year where an entire week each month is set aside for jury trials rather than individual days scattered throughout the month.  Cases are scheduled on a backup system meaning that, for each day a jury is called in, up to 7 cases are scheduled in order – each day having a “primary trial” listed and a first backup trial, second backup trial, etc.  If the primary trial does not go for some reason, such as a defendant pleading guilty and a trial no longer being required or the case being continued for some reason, there is a backup case that is ready to go.  This allows time for each case to be resolved – either by plea, jury trial, or some other resolution. 

This week, 15 cases were scheduled for jury trial on this backup system.  Ten cases were resolved by proceeding to trial or the defendant pleading guilty, 3 cases were continued and two cases were removed due to the defendant being the subject of a bench warrant and his whereabouts unknown. 

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://mckean.crimewatchpa.com/da/136029/post/shinglehouse-man-convicted-threats-mckean-county

City of Olean, NY Police Department 

The Street Crimes unit arrested 41 year old Arthur C. Link for selling Fentanyl in our city. Link was located yesterday at the Moonlight Hotel and brought back to the Olean Police Department for processing.

Olean City Court Judge Dicerbo arraigned Link on charges of Criminal sale of a controlled substance 3rd. degree and Criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd. degree ( B Felonies ) and he was remanded to the Cattaraugus County Jail with no bail.

(BRADFORD, McKean County, Pennsylvania: March 21, 2024) District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, at the request of school administration, McKean County Drug Task Force Officers and K9s Rigby, Duke and LG searched Fretz Middle School and Bradford High School.  

School personnel and School Resource Officer assisted Officers to facilitate the search.  No controlled substances were found. The searches were part of the ongoing efforts by the school district and area law enforcement to keep area schools drug-free.  

Pictured are K9s LG with handler Bob Rinfrette, Duke with handler Sgt. Seth Shephard, and Rigby with handler Officer Dakota Eaton. Created Mar 21st, 2024 @ 1:35 PM

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://mckean.crimewatchpa.com/da/136029/post/k9s-search-bradford-schools-ongoing-effort-keep-schools-drug-free

March 19, 2024):  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, following a 2-day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Timothy Bottorf, formerly of Eldred and Bradford, was convicted of Flight to Avoid Apprehension (Felony) and two counts of Persons Not to Possess a Firearm (Felony and Misdemeanor) (ammunition available enhancement). 

The charges stem from April 10, 2023 when Bottorf was scheduled to appear for a jury trial on a Robbery.  He failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.  Over the next few weeks, Officers acted on tips they received about his whereabouts but did not locate BOTTORF. 

Just after midnight on May 7, 2023, Troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run initiated a traffic stop and the driver indicated they had just left a residence in Eldred and BOTTORF was hiding inside the house.   

Wellsville N.Y. Police Department

March 18, 2024 – At approximately 4:52 a.m., police responded to the residence of William Wojehowski, age 37, located at 295 West State Street in the Village of Wellsville for a report of gunshots being fired inside the residence.

Upon arrival, the initial responding officers from the Wellsville Police Department and the New York State Police witnessed a shot fired from inside the house to the outside. A perimeter was established around the residence which is a duplex. Soon after, the occupants in the adjoining apartment were evacuated.

Unsure of whether the suspect was still inside the residence or outside, a drone equipped with thermal imaging was called in from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office. Once officers had determined that the suspect was still inside the residence, the officers used a PA system from the patrol cars to establish communication with him.

At 7:40 a.m. the suspect surrendered to police without incident. He was transported to Olean General Hospital for evaluation. Charges are pending.

The Wellsville Police Department would like to thank the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Alfred Police Department, the New York State Police; Troopers, Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Special Operations Response Team, SUNY Police at Alfred and the Allegany County 911 Center for their assistance.