Latest news with #ErieCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Erie law enforcement warning of new deadly chemical found in street drugs
A new industrial-grade chemical, BTMPS, also known as Tinuvin 770, has been found in street drugs in Western Pennsylvania, prompting the Erie County District Attorney's Office to raise awareness about its dangers. The chemical, typically used as a protective coating on plastics, is reportedly being used as a cutting agent in fentanyl. Erie realtor hosting remodeling sweepstakes benefitting local nonprofits 'Fentanyl is an already dangerous drug. These additives, these cutting agents that they're putting into it, are making an extremely deadly drug even more deadly,' said Rick Lorah, Deputy Chief of the Erie Police Department. Tinuvin 770 is categorized as both corrosive and a health hazard. According to the American College of Medical Toxicology, ingestion of the chemical can lead to infertility, damage to unborn children, serious skin irritation, and vision damage. Drug task forces and experts believe that Tinuvin is being used as a filler in fentanyl because it is a cheap, white powder. This has raised concerns about its impact on overdose reversal efforts, as the substance has been shown to prevent the effectiveness of Narcan. Rick Lorah noted that Erie's role in the drug chain has evolved, with drugs now coming from the southern border instead of through traditional routes like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo. He also mentioned that much of the fentanyl has been traced back to China. Local, state, and federal agencies, including the EAGLE task force, are actively working to remove these dangerous drugs from the streets. Lorah highlighted that fentanyl was a major factor in recent drug busts and arrests, underscoring the nationwide scope of the problem. The presence of Tinuvin 770 in street drugs was first noted in August of last year and has since been found in 14 different states across the country. Erie students launch weather balloon after months of work The discovery of Tinuvin 770 in street drugs highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating the opioid crisis. Efforts to address this issue continue at multiple levels, with authorities striving to mitigate the impact of these dangerous substances on communities. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Inmate gets additional time for sending threatening letter to judge
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An inmate at the Erie County Correctional Facility was given additional time behind bars for sending a threatening letter to a judge while serving a 90-day sentence earlier this year, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday. Yasir Creach, 44, was given 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. Creach sent a threatening letter to a Cheektowaga Town Court justice after he was sentenced to 90 days in jail on an attempted petit larceny charge earlier this year. In April, he pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment of a judge. He became the first person to be charged and convicted with that offense in Erie County after it was added to New York State Penal Code in July 2024. A final order of protection was issued on behalf of the Cheektowaga judge, which lasts until May 2033. Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Comfortable making hard decisions': Q&A with prosecutor Jeremy Lightner in judge's race
As one of two chief deputy district attorneys for Erie County, Jeremy Lightner helps District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz run the office. Lightner has spent much of his career prosecuting cases that involve guns and gangs. He said he wants to use that experience "to help make this county a better place" as a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Lightner is running in the May 20 municipal primary against Emily Mosco Merski, a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County; and Leigh Ann Orton, the first assistant solicitor for Erie County. Party registration: Democrat. Lightner is cross-filed as a Democrat and a Republican. Age: 39 Residence: City of Erie Experience: Prosecutor in the Erie County District Attorney's Office since 2014. Trial chief deputy district attorney since 2023. Started career as law clerk to Erie County Judge Shad Connelly, now retired. Education: Bloomsburg University; law degree from University of Illinois. Admitted to Pennsylvania bar in 2012. Personal: Married to Sarah Lipiec Lightner, an intensive care unit nurse; one child Social media: Erie County Bar Association poll: No rating Question: Why do you want to be a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas? Answer: I'm excited to use my skills to help make this county a better place. A good judge comes down to sound decision-making, and we need to elect people that are comfortable making hard decisions. I've been making hard decisions about whom to prosecute harshly and leniently for years, and I've been getting those decisions right — the drop in gun violence in Erie coincides with my assignment to reduce gun and gang violence in 2021. But the criminal justice system is just a small part of our legal system, and crime is a downstream result of the biggest problem plaguing our county: poverty. I'm excited to work to get decisions right for vulnerable people so that their lives can be bettered, rather than harmed, by the court system. Describe the case that has had the most impact on you as a lawyer. When I was a prosecutor on Veterans Court, one of the veterans struggled with addiction. He had significant issues from his service in the Iraq war, and he had fallen into addiction and crime. In Veterans Court, you have weekly meetings with the veteran to keep on top of him and ensure he's in a good place. This veteran kept relapsing, no matter how hard he tried. The fifth time this happened, the veteran came into court crying and I ended up alone with him and one of the probation officers. He talked about his nightmares and what caused him to relapse with deep insight, and thanked us for all we had done to make his life better, because it was better than it had been before Veterans Court. It was one of the most emotional conversations of my life, and I will never forget it. That veteran eventually lost his battle with addiction. That "case" taught me that we can never stop fighting for those in our community, and even if we don't reach our loftiest goals, putting in the time and energy to improve their lives is worth it. It also reminded me that being a lawyer isn't about rules and statutes. Those may be the tools of the trade, but we joined this profession to help make people's lives better, and fighting the noble fight is the most important thing you can do. Describe any changes or innovations that you would like to bring to Common Pleas Court. Watching youth gun violence in the city, I want to create programming that attacks these problems, rather than manages them. First, I think that court programming can be more aggressive with at-risk kids at an earlier age, and can try to incorporate mentorship, consequences and development into a cohesive program before they have committed crimes of violence, rather than punishing them appropriately after. Second, I believe that a program needs to exist for those charged with crimes. Right now, pretrial bond is the same whether an individual has a DUI, a retail theft or is charged with attempted homicide for shooting someone. That doesn't seem right, and I have noticed that other cities in our state have developed a "gun court" to make sure these cases, which involve significantly more public danger than the average case, are handled in thoughtful ways to make sure the community is safe and those charged are given the best chance to come out of the case as safer, better members of society. Finally, I think that housing issues are a blight upon Erie, and I do think that a housing court would allow the city, landlords and tenants to fully handle issues that seem to fall to the wayside currently in the system. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County judge race: Jeremy Lightner touts work as prosecutor
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Local officials remind residents of their rights, responsibilities as gun owners
People in Greene Township had the opportunity to learn about gun safety Wednesday night. A 'know your rights and responsibilities on legal firearm ownership' forum took place at the Greene Township Municipal Building Wednesday evening. Conneaut Lake students debut original books at red carpet event The event discussed the Second Amendment in detail with various topics such as 'the right to open and conceal carry', illegal guns, and how to properly store guns to keep everyone safe. 'We have a proud tradition in western Pennsylvania of a lot of hunters, and a lot of gun owners, and we wanted to make sure they knew their rights and responsibilities, so it's always good to have a refresher,' said State Rep. Bob Merski. Pennsylvania State Police, the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the Erie County District Attorney's Office were also at Wednesday night's event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Buffalo police officer found guilty of obstructing governmental administration
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former Buffalo police officer was found guilty on Wednesday of obstructing governmental administration, the Erie County District Attorney's Office confirmed to WIVB News 4. The charge is related to Cariol Horne trying to obstruct police from conducting interviews with two people suspected of looting on Bailey Avenue during the December blizzard in 2022. According to the Erie Country District Attorney's Office, Horne was accused of pushing a police officer during the incident. Horne originally faced a harassment charge, which she was found not guilty of, and a disorderly conduct charge, which a judge dismissed. She was fired from the Buffalo Police Department in 2006 after she tried to stop another officer from choking a suspect. She sparked the creation of Cariol's Law, which protects Buffalo police officers who intervene if they believe excessive force is being used. Horne won her pension back in 2021 after a State Supreme Court judge vacated a ruling that upheld her firing. Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
