Latest news with #JamestownPoliceDepartment
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."
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
Driver escapes injury after vehicle goes into river on Friday evening in Jamestown
Feb. 8—JAMESTOWN — A 52-year-old Jamestown man escaped injury after the vehicle he was driving went into the James River near the North Dakota State Hospital, according to Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police of the Jamestown Police Department. Blinsky said at about 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, a passerby saw a vehicle in the water near 1800 block 12th Avenue Southeast and contacted authorities. The vehicle was a 2004 GMC Yukon. "It's very difficult to see unless you're actually looking there and so I'm guessing that that's why it didn't get called in right away," he said. Police arrived at the location and the Jamestown Fire Department was contacted, Blinsky said. "Initially we were unable to determine if there was anybody inside the vehicle and so we requested their assistance, as they would have the equipment to go out on the water safely ...," he said. The driver was not at the scene. Police were able to locate the registered owner of the vehicle, and speak to him, Blinsky said, and the firefighters did not have to enter the water. "He (the vehicle owner) stated that at approximately 9:15 last night (Friday), he was northbound in the 1800 block of 12th Avenue Southeast, lost control of the vehicle and hit the bridge abutment ...," Blinsky said. "He wasn't sure if it rolled into the ravine or not but based on the damage I think it's pretty clear that it did roll one time, ended upright in the water." The driver left and tried to get the vehicle out without notifying law enforcement, Blinsky said. The vehicle sustained significant damage and a wrecker was used to remove it from the water. The driver, who was not identified, was cited for care required and failing to give immediate notice of an accident and arrested on suspicion of failing to stop and remain at the scene of an accident, Blinsky said. The investigation into the accident is continuing, Blinsky said.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Jamestown Fire Department assists law enforcement after vehicle runs into garage
Feb. 7—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Fire Department assisted law enforcement on Friday, Feb. 7, after a vehicle ran into a garage in northeast Jamestown, according to Lt. Sheldon Mohr. A 57-year-old Jamestown man was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on the 1600 block of 10th Avenue Northeast at about 8:20 a.m. Friday with an 85-year-old Jamestown man as a passenger, said Maj. Justin Blinsky, assistant chief of police with the Jamestown Police Department. Blinsky said the driver had a medical episode and lost control of the vehicle. He said the vehicle jumped the curb, went through the private driveway and struck a garage on the 1600 block of 10th Avenue Northeast. The Jamestown Area Ambulance rendered medical aid to the 57-year-old Jamestown man before he was transported to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Upon arrival, the Jamestown Police Department requested assistance from the Jamestown Fire Department to check the structural stability of the garage, Blinsky said. Four units and 19 firefighters responded to 1610 10th Ave. NE at about 8:35 a.m. Mohr said the Jamestown Fire Department checked the structural stability of the garage before the vehicle was moved. He said no firefighters were injured. Firefighters were on scene for about 20 minutes.
