Latest news with #JamestownPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
Jamestown Police Department sergeant receives NDCPA's Medal of Honor
Jul. 2—JAMESTOWN — A sergeant with the Jamestown Police Department received the North Dakota Chiefs of Police Association's Medal of Honor for his actions in an officer-involved shooting in December in Jamestown. "It's quite the honor," Cory Beckman said. "It's a pretty prestigious award to get." Beckman, a Minot native, received the Medal of Honor on June 24 during the North Dakota Chiefs of Police Association Banquet. "I just thank the community too for all the support they gave me in the Police Department," he said. Beckman is a member of the James Valley Special Operations Team, a K-9 handler of Briggs and a department peer support team member. He began his career with the Jamestown Police Department on Dec. 1, 2019, and was promoted to sergeant in October 2023. "All of those responsibilities have helped prepare him for a situation like that," said Scott Edinger, Jamestown chief of police, referring to Beckman's actions during the officer-involved shooting in December. "That's training above and beyond what a normal officer would have received and I know that affected his decision making that night. Initially he could have fired at this guy while he was shooting at Cory, but he had innocent people as a backstop, so he switched positions and then tried to give the guy an opportunity to surrender again, and he started to point the gun at him again, and that's when Corey felt like he was safe to engage him and did." The Medal of Honor is the North Dakota Chiefs of Police Association's highest honor, according to the association's website. The medal is awarded to a sworn member who willingly and selflessly puts his or her life in the line of duty or distinguishes himself or herself with an act of courage involving risk or imminent danger to his or her life above and beyond the call of duty. "The member must render themselves conspicuous of an act so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes their courage from lesser form of recognizable bravery," the website says. The criteria for the award includes the recipient acting within the law and department policies and procedures, acting in the presence of extreme personal danger without hesitation or regard for his or her own well-being, and taking actions willingly and with full knowledge of the grave risk to his or her own personal safety. Beckman shot Devin Quinn Fontenot, 27, Jamestown, on Dec. 3 after he responded to a report of a man armed with a gun and knife standing in the parking lot behind Fred's Den, 113 1st Ave. S. Fontenot died from injuries he sustained from gunfire. Fontenot refused to comply with an order to drop his weapon, jeopardizing the safety of Beckman and others, Edinger said at the time. According to police, the Stutsman County Communications Center received a 911 call at 1:17 a.m. Dec. 3 of a male armed with a gun and a knife standing in the parking lot behind Fred's Den. The caller reported the male had been involved in a physical altercation inside the bar and had been removed. As officers responded, the 911 caller reported a man was shooting at a building, firing many rounds. When the first officer arrived on the scene, the man later identified as Fontenot was still firing rounds in the parking lot. Edinger, who nominated Beckman for the award, said Beckman turned on the emergency vehicle lights as he was arriving to the scene. He said Beckman intentionally drew Fontenot's attention away from innocent bystanders at the scene. "He was intentionally putting himself into a position where he could draw this person's fire and attention, knowing he had no idea where he was and he might not ever know that might be his last moments in order to save and protect the people that were there," Edinger said. " ... That says a lot about who he is. The unknown, the danger, all of that was going to be there either way, but he really did put himself in a bad position to protect everybody else." Beckman said he turned on his emergency vehicle lights to get the shooter to focus on him rather than potentially hurting or killing an innocent bystander. "My understanding to a shooter response is that you become the target," he said. " ... In the end, somebody did lose their life which is unfortunate. I think any JPD officer that would have been put in that position would have made the same decisions that I did." Edinger said every call a Jamestown police officer responds to involves some level of instinctive decision making. "It just varies as to what the risk level is or what the consequences are of that decision," he said. "This one had some pretty grave consequences no matter what he did. It's a terrible thing that somebody lost their life that night, but it's shocking to me that under the circumstances, he was the only one that died." Edinger said it was "absolutely textbook" the way Beckman handled every decision. He said Beckman had a lot on his mind because he was the only officer involved but was also the supervisor of that shift. "He directed all of the beginning of the investigation and preservation of the scene and that evidence," Edinger said. 'He directed all of the contacts that were made." Beckman graduated from Des Lacs-Burlington High School in 2011. He eventually moved to Jamestown in 2013 where he met his wife. He said his mother was a dispatcher for the Minot Police Department for 30 years and it was always his goal to work in law enforcement. He said his past jobs have helped him with his law enforcement career in building relationships. At the James Valley Youth for Christ, he said he built a rapport with youth and that helps to build relationships with adults. He said those skills translate to public relations with the community and communication with command staff.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Man involved in standoff in Jamestown arrested, child safe
Jun. 18—JAMESTOWN — An hours-long standoff on Wednesday, June 18, at Western Park Village in Jamestown ended after the James Valley Special Operations Team successfully entered the residence, removed a 2-year-old child and arrested a 30-year-old man, according to Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police for the city of Jamestown. Jacob Lee Schmitt, of Jamestown, was arrested on suspicion of terrorizing. Schmitt is in the Stutsman County Correctional Center, where he is awaiting formal charges. The incident is under investigation, and additional charges are possible, Blinsky said. The Jamestown Police Department was dispatched to a residence in Western Park Village at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, on a report that a female resident wasn't feeling safe in her home, Blinsky said. He said the woman indicated a man, identified as Schmitt, was inside the residence using drugs and yelling at her. After further investigation, the woman reported that Schmitt had threatened to "kill her," Blinsky said. The woman also told police that Schmitt refused to leave the residence with multiple firearms that the man had access to, he said. Jamestown police officers tried to make contact with Schmitt but he refused to speak with law enforcement and retreated further inside the residence, barricading himself in a back room, Blinsky said. Blinsky said four occupants were evacuated from the home but Schmitt took a 2-year-old child with him to the back room. The James Valley Special Operations Team was activated at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday to help minimize safety risks, he said. The Jamestown Police Department asked residents of Western Park Village to shelter in place, which was lifted after Schmitt was arrested. Blinksky said police were able to communicate with Schmitt while he was inside the residence, but he refused to comply with police requests to come outside or to assist the child in leaving the residence. At about 12:45 p.m., the James Valley Special Operations Team entered the home, removed the child and took Schmitt into custody. The Stutsman County Sheriff's Office, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Jamestown Area Ambulance, Stutsman County Emergency Management and the Jamestown Street Department also assisted at the scene. "We are relieved to hear that the police have confirmed that the child involved is safe, and the individual of concern is now in police custody," said Kathy Grosz, vice president of property management for New Horizon Property Management, which manages Western Park Village. Schmitt was previously denied residency in Western Park Village, Grosz told The Jamestown Sun in an email. "New Horizon remains firmly committed to enforcing our screening procedures to support the safety and security of all residents within our communities," she said, referring to the properties New Horizon manages. "We are thankful this incident ended without physical harm and extend our deep appreciation to law enforcement and emergency personnel for their swift and professional response. We will continue to work closely with authorities as needed and remain focused on the well-being of our communities."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Police investigating unattended death in downtown Jamestown
May 20—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Police Department is investigating an unattended death in downtown Jamestown, according to Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police. The Jamestown Police Department responded to a report of a man who appeared to be deceased laying at the bottom of a stairwell shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at an entrance of an apartment building in the 200 block of First Avenue South. Upon arrival, Blinsky said the Jamestown Police Department determined that the man had been deceased for several hours. He said the man's death did not appear to be suspicious. Blinsky said the man did not have any form of identification on him. The Jamestown Police Department identified the man later on Tuesday and made contact with family, according to its Facebook page. The Jamestown Police Department won't be releasing the man's name or any additional information, its Facebook post says. The man was described as a Caucasian or Native American, 25 to 40 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 165 to 185 pounds. The man has a scruffy black beard with a full goatee and black hair and has several distinguishable tattoos on his left arm, left abdomen, left chest and left shoulder. He was wearing multi-colored Converse All-Star shoes. If anyone has any other information on the incident, contact the Stutsman County Communications Center at 252-1000 and ask to speak with Sgt. Jason Prochnow with the Jamestown Police Department.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Jamestown woman arrested on suspicion of DUI, fleeing
May 14—JAMESTOWN — A 39-year-old Jamestown woman was arrested on Wednesday, May 14, on suspicion of driving under the influence after she fled from law enforcement one day after she was released from incarceration for an unrelated matter, according to Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police for the Jamestown Police Department. Breona Amber Oretta was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor (second offense in seven years), DUI-refusal, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, open receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle and reckless driving. Oretta is in the Stutsman County Correctional Center where she awaits formal charges. Blinsky said a Jamestown police officer attempted to stop a 2005 Toyota Camry at about 1 p.m. Wednesday for committing multiple traffic violations, including almost striking another vehicle at the intersection 5th Avenue Southeast and 10th Street Southeast. He said Oretta drove the Toyota for several blocks without stopping. After a brief period of time, the Toyota stopped in the 200 block of 8th Street Southeast. The officer made several observations of Oretta indicating possible impairment, Blinsky said. Blinsky said Oretta refused to exit her vehicle and drove off from the traffic stop. Blinsky said Oretta fled from officers for a few blocks before coming to a stop for a second time near the 600 block of 2nd Avenue Southeast. Oretta was arrested and taken to the Stutsman County Correctional Center. The incident remains under investigation.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
James River Humane Society board member urged to resign amid report of unlivable home
Apr. 12—JAMESTOWN — Members of the James River Humane Society are calling for the vice president of the organization's board of directors to resign after a Jamestown Police Department report said her home was deemed unlivable for animals and humans. The Jamestown Police Department responded at 615 3rd Ave. NW on March 12 for a welfare check after receiving a 911 call from an individual stating the front door of the home was wide open and the dogs were out, according to the log of calls from the Stutsman County Communications Center. Jolene Biloff, former president and current vice president of the James River Humane Society Board of Directors, is listed as the 2024 owner at 615 3rd Ave. NW, according to the North Dakota property tax information portal on the Stutsman County website. The investigation report of the welfare check at that address written by Lt. Nick Hardy with the Jamestown Police Department says all the floors upstairs in the home were covered in animal feces. "There wasn't a spot that wasn't covered," the report says. The report says Biloff told Hardy that the animal feces hadn't been cleaned up in a year. "Jolene said she doesn't let the dogs outside because they bark," the report says. "Jolene said she knows the condition is bad, she just hasn't done anything about it." Scott Edinger, chief of police, said Biloff is not facing any charges. The report says three dogs and a cat were taken from the residence and another cat was at large. The report also says the sewer was backed up for about two months. A phone call and message left to Biloff seeking comment was not returned. The home was deemed a dangerous building, said Tom Blackmore, zoning administrator and building inspector. Blackmore said he provided a written notification to the property owner of the dangerous building designation. "Within that notification, the property must be vacated immediately," he said. "It has to be either repaired or demolished within a time not exceeding 30 days of the day of the letter." He said the expiration of the dangerous building designation was Friday, April 11. "I will make contact with the homeowner tomorrow (Friday) to inspect the property," he said in an email on Thursday, April 10, to The Jamestown Sun. "If the home has not been brought into compliance, I will follow the procedures set forth in the City of Jamestown Municipal Code Chapter 9 Article VI and notify the City Council of noncompliance." Blackmore said Biloff is working to clean up the property. "She has had really good communication with me," he said. In the event of noncompliance, Blackmore said he notifies the Jamestown City Council. "Then the City Council holds a hearing to hear the testimony of the building official and also the property owner," he said. "Then the City Council determines whether the home has to be either repaired or demolished." He said an extension of the 30-day notice may be granted if the property owner is working to fix the issues. James River Humane Society member Jodelle Gefroh told The Jamestown Sun that Biloff is not fit to serve on the nonprofit organization's board of directors. "There are so many concerned people," she said. The James River Humane Society is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter set up to care for homeless cats and dogs in the Jamestown area, the organization's website says. The website says it is the Humane Society's policy to provide humane care and treatment for animals needing protection in the area served by the shelter. The James River Humane Society also receives a half mill from the city of Jamestown. Voters approved a measure by more than 60% in 2010 to have the city of Jamestown adopt an ordinance for a half mill levy annually for the support and maintenance of an animal shelter and to authorize the city to enter into a contractual agreement with the James River Humane Society. During the James River Humane Society Board of Directors meeting on Monday, April 7, Gefroh called for Biloff to resign immediately from the James River Humane Society Board of Directors. She said the board should remove Biloff from the board if she doesn't resign. The James River Humane Society Board of Directors took no action on the request. Gefroh said the organization's bylaws state the purpose of the Humane Society is preventing cruelty to all animals and promotion of their welfare and for other lawful purposes. "Cruelty includes 'every act, omission or neglect whereby unnecessary, unjustifiable pain, suffering or death shall be caused or permitted,'" the organization's bylaws say. Gefroh said she intended to read the investigation report of the welfare check at the board meeting on Monday but felt "flustered" after Rachel Hastings, community service officer for the Jamestown Police Department, spoke. Hastings said individuals were at the meeting planning to hand out the investigation report of the welfare check at Biloff's home. "I find this plan to be spiteful," she said. Hastings said the condition of the house wasn't great but it wasn't her right to speak publicly about what she saw that day. "While walking through the house, I couldn't help but wonder what hardships that this person experienced because at this point, I had only known Jo because of her association with the Humane Society," she said. Jamestown City Councilwoman Pam Phillips, president of the James River Humane Society Board of Directors, said the board listened to the information from Gefroh and Hastings. "No action was taken at that time," she said. "I would hope that we deal with this matter with grace and compassion." Phillips said she will talk to board members individually to see how they feel or what they want to do next. "When it comes to the Humane Society I would hope that they would ask her to step down immediately," said Wanda Alber, a member of the James River Humane Society. "She's a liability to the board and the shelter at the moment. She might be a great voice and a great advocate for animals but at the moment, she sure wasn't for her own and her own safety."
