Police Reports

Town of Wirt, NY–On March 24, 2024, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation out of SP Amity arrested Johnathan T. Russell, 40 with no known address for Attempted Murder of a Police Officer- 3 counts, Attempted Murder – 2 counts, Robbery 1st, Burglary 3^rd, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd, Reckless Endangerment 1^st, Assault 2^nd, Resisting Arrest and Obstruction of Governmental Administration.

On March 24, 2024, at approximately 2:00 P.M., Troopers out of SP Amity were conducting area interviews on State Route 275 in the town of Wirt regarding a burglary in the area. Troopers identified footprints in the snow and contacted the homeowner in Florida. No person was supposed to be at the house, and no one had permission to be on the property.

Troopers approached the detached garage where the footprints led and were later identified as Russell’s. Russell refused to exit but was communicating audibly. Troopers got permission to use forced entry and upon gaining entry to the garage, Russell fired a single gunshot from inside the garage.

Troopers backed off and Russell fled into the wooded area behind the property carrying a weapon.

Troopers set up a perimeter and positively identified Russell. Russell was observed on County Route 8 in a vehicle that he had just stolen at gunpoint. Troopers were able to force Russell to park the vehicle. Russell fled into the wooded area where he was taken into custody.

Russell was arraigned in the town of Wirt Court and remanded to the Allegany County Jail without bail. The felony hearing has been scheduled for March 27^th.

The original NYSP Police Report listed the charges as Murder. That was not accurate. Russell is charged with Attempted Murder.

Wellsville N.Y. Police Department

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Wellsville Police arrested William T. Wojehowski, age 37, of Wellsville, charging him with four counts of Menacing a Police Officer (Class D Felony), four counts of Reckless Endangerment 1st (Class D Felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (Class A Misdemeanor).

The charges stem from an incident that took place on West State Street on March 18th.

Wojehowski was processed and arraigned before Wellsville Village Justice Thompson. Wojehowski was committed to the Allegany County Jail on $25,000.00 cash bail or $50,000.00 property bond or $250,000.00 partially secured bond. Wojehowski is due back in Wellsville Village Court on April 2nd at 4:30 pm.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Wellsville Police arrested Judd E. Clark, age 32 of Eldred, PA, charging him with Petit Larceny (Class A Misdemeanor) and Resisting Arrest (Class A Misdemeanor). The charges stem from an incident that took place at 7 Eleven. Clark was processed, issued an appearance ticket and released. Clark is due to appear in Wellsville Village Court on April 2nd at 4:30 pm.

(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.