Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Local residents will be working together to help clean up Bradford this Saturday, thanks to some initiative from a local church and Bradford Mayor Tom Riel. Complaining about the trash along the sides of the road was not an acceptable solution for Open Arms Media Coordinator Josh Hatcher, "I decided rather than complain about the trash strewn along the roads, that it would be better to just pick it up. But to be honest, it's a much bigger job than I can do." "No one of us can do it all, not as a person or an organization," said Open Arms Pastor Mike McAvoy. "but together we all can accomplish a much bigger work in our community to make it a great place to live." Hatcher contacted Mayor Tom Riel about a clean up of some problem areas. "Tom had already been in touch with area residents about their concerns, and he took my on a drive to show me what areas need to be cleaned up," said Hatcher. Hatcher invited members from Open Arms Community Chur...

Bradford City Police have arrested three people after finding a large amount of prescription medication, heroin and marijuana at a Pike Street home. Police executed a search warrant early this morning and found the drugs, paraphernalia and a large amount of tobacco cigarettes that had been stolen from a warehouse in Salamanca. Toni Taylor has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance Phillip Haight has been charged with possession of marijuana. Vincent Santiago has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. All three have also been charged with possession of paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. The Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, Bradford City Emergency Response Team, Bradford Township Police and University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Police executed the search warrant. The Salamanca Police Department is assisting in the investigation into the stolen cigarettes.

Three more people have been arrested on drug charges in Bradford. Amanda Szelangowski and, Arnold Pond were each charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver and related offenses. Jeffrey Mackey was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The Bradford City Street Crimes Unit seized Oxycontin, Valium, a vehicle and an unspecified amount of cash during the arrests.

Two people were sent to McKean County Jail after allegedly selling crack cocaine in the Country Fair parking lot. At about 10 p.m. Monday, the Bradford City Street Crimes Unit and McKean County Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase from Amanda Myers of Bradford. She was charged with possession of crack, possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess crack with intent to deliver, along with three misdemeanors. As a result of the investigation, police also arrested Samuel McKenney of Buffalo for conspiracy to possess crack with intent to deliver. Myers' bail was sent at $20,000. McKenney's was set at $25,000.

Three Buffalo residents are in McKean County Jail after a drug bust at the Best Western Bradford Inn. Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team, Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, McKean County Drug Task Force and Foster and Bradford township police executed the search warrant on room 108 at the motel after confidential informants bought crack cocaine in the room twice. Officers with the emergency response team had to force their way into the room through a window because the suspects dead-bolted the steel exterior door. Once inside officers located money, crack cocaine packaged for sale, marijuana and digital scales. Thomas Charles Patton III, Kesha Burney and Sophia Patton were all charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver and sent to jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail each.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director McKean County District attorney John Pavlock says he hopes the arrests of 14 people this week on drug charges sends a message. "I hope it puts a dent in the drug trade," Pavlock told WESB/WBRR on Thursday afternoon. "Of course I know it's not going to stop the drug trade. I wish it would, but I'm not that naïve." "But it should make people out there who are selling drugs and peddling the stuff nervous that we are doing what we can, that there's cooperation here to address the problem and that resulted in the activity that occurred (Thursday)," Pavlock said. Pavlock said the arrests of three people Tuesday and 11 people Thursday were the result of a months-long investigation by a number of officers in the McKean County Drug Task Force. Pavlock said the county administers the program "but individual officers work overtime on it – officers from departments all throughout the county and they really work...

Six people have been arraigned so far today following a drug sweep in Bradford by the Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team and McKean County Drug Task Force. Among the people arraigned are 42-year-old Thomas Barnes of East Main Street who is accused of selling dihydrocodeinone pills to a confidential informant on May 16 and June 13; 32-year-old Mitchell Gross of Rockland Avenue who is accused of selling Ridalin pills to a confidential informant on May 9; 19-year-old Shandon Langianese of Constitution Avenue who is accused of selling marijuana to a confidential informant on June 9; 24-year-old Richard Griesbuam and 21-year-old David McGarry of Jackson Avenue who are accused of selling marijuana to a confidential informant on March 25; and 30-year-old Harley Sellers of Chautauqua Place who is accused of selling dihydrocodeinone pills to a confidential informant on March 19 and crack cocaine on January 18. Also arrested Thursday were 19-year-old Jacquelyn Horton of Kiwanis Court, ...

It is great to hear that the drug problems (DEALERS) in this area are being dealt with. Hats off to all the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to get these dirt bags off the streets. When they go to trial lets hear "NO DEAL" from the DA.Give them the max. and let it be a lesson to others who will try to take their places. Bart G.

Three women have been arrested on drug charges after a search of a Chautauqua Place home by the Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team and McKean County Drug Task Force. On Tuesday, members of the task force and street crimes unit conducted a controlled substance purchase of marijuana and cocaine from Tyanna Hamilton at 17 Chautauqua Place. After the purchase, they got a search warrant for the home and found large amounts of marijuana and cocaine as well as about $1,700 in cash. Hamilton was charged with delivery and possession of cocaine and marijuana and sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. Natasha Skaggs was also charged with delivery and possession and sent to jail on $20,000 bail. Annice Gilbert was charged with conspiracy to posses with intent to deliver and sent to jail on $45, 000 bail. Children and Youth Services was also contacted and helped officers remove and place a young girl who was inside the home.