Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The mother of a 1-year-old will be charged with manslaughter after the little girl’s death last month. Mila Whipple died in Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo two days after being taken there by Mercy Flight. Hospital staff told police the baby was probably abused. Salamanca Police arrested Mila's mother 24-year-old Leslie Finch this afternoon. Finch is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. She's in Cattaraugus County Jail on $100,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman was sent to McKean County Jail following a domestic incident on Sunday. Court papers say Brenda Bottorf told them 21-year-old Brooke Bottorf hit her in the head and kicked her in the chest, causing injuries. When police tried to speak with Brooke, she walked out of the house. When other officers got there they found her inside a closet in an upstairs bedroom. Bottorf is charged with simple assault and harassment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman is in jail after being accused of breaking her infant’s leg and then waiting nearly a week to take him to the hospital. Police say 20-year-old Tiffany Gardner of Warren told them she knew she broke the four-month-old boy’s leg – when she pulled him across a bed and lifted him by the leg – because he was screaming, the leg was swollen, and it buckled when she tried to stand him on it. She told police she didn’t take him to the hospital because she didn’t have a ride or gas money, and didn’t want to get in trouble. When she finally did take him, she told hospital personnel the baby’s two-year-old sibling broke the boy’s leg. She is charged with felony aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The baby is in the custody of Children and Youth Services. A family member is caring for the two-year-old. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man charged with shooting and killing his son-in-law literally had a bullet with the man's name on it. According to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, while investigating the crime scene where 62-year-old Stephen Stidd allegedly shot 42-year-old Mel Bizzarro, state police found “the letters ‘MEL’ carved into the lead portion of the remaining live round” in the handgun. City police got a call at about 9:30 a.m. from Barbara Stidd saying that her son-in-law had been shot behind Togi’s Restaurant at 412 East Main Street. When they arrived and Lt. Steve Caskey asked what happened, Stidd said, “I told him I had a gun.” Stidd then pulled a handgun out of his right front pocket and handed it to Caskey. A witness, Kevin Rhebergen, was unloading his truck and told police he heard a verbal fight and then heard a gunshot. Rhebergen subsequently saw Bizzarro lying on the ground and Stidd standing near him. State Police Trooper Nicholas Jordan, who is investigating...

4:55 UPDATE: After being arraigned, he was released on $100,000 bail. 3:45 UPDATE: A charge of criminal homicide has been filed against 62-year-old Stephen Stidd of Bradford. He has not been arraigned yet, but is expected to be later today in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. 1:15 PM UPDATE: Local and state police are still on the scene of a fatal shooting in the parking lot behind Togi’s Restaurant on East Main Street. We will not be broadcasting or printing the names of the victim and shooter until we get the official statement from police. A person was shot in the parking lot behind Togi’s Restaurant on East Main Street this morning. The victim was reportedly shot in the chest at around 9:30. There’s no word on the person’s condition. The shooter was taken into custody shortly afterward. We’ll have more information as it becomes available. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is in McKean County Jail for punching the mother of his child in the face. According to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, 41-year-old Roger Kline of Bradford was walking with the woman on South Avenue on Tuesday when he became aggressive and punched her, injuring her eye. Kline is charged with simple assault and harassment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men charged with simple assault and harassment in separate cases have waived their preliminary hearings. Court papers say on September 26 on Bushnell Street a woman who was distributing medication to her patients came upon Steven Smith fighting with one of the patients. She asked him to leave and, outside the apartment, he hit her in the back of the head. He later told police he “put her in her place” for trying to intervene. Robert Erickson is accused of pushing is wife down steps at the back of their house, hitting her several times, pushing her against a wall and choking her. The alleged incident happened on October 1. Both men are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man accused of carrying a domestic incident from his estranged wife’s home to her workplace – and threatening to kill heer and three other people – has waived his preliminary hearing. Court papers say Anthony Hornung II of Lewis Run dragged the woman through the house by her arm, and said if he can’t have her no one can. He left the house when her roommates came home, but showed up later outside her workplace on Main Street in Bradford, threatening her boss and others. When police arrived, he ran to Players Bar, but police caught up with him. Hornung is in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic dispute found a marijuana growing operation. They say they went to the Ellicottville home of 42-year-old Sammuel Beu Jr., where they found several marijuana plants, processed marijuana and drying marijuana, all in plain view. An investigation uncovered the pot-growing operation in Salamanca. Beu is charged with growing cannabis without a license and unlawful possession of marijuana. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Great Valley Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Domestic violence-related charges are pending against a boy who got into a fight with a 41-year-old Ulysses man on Monday. Police did not release the boy’s name or age. The incident happened at 12:38 p.m. on Main Street in Genesee Township. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s student literary magazine, Baily’s Beads, and the Bradford YWCA are sponsoring a poetry contest to spotlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The contest is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. Those wishing to participate may sign up Oct. 28 in the Harriett B. Wick Chapel on campus at 6 p.m., at which time a reading of the poems will take place. Contestants may also pre-register by calling the YWCA at 368-4235, ext. 116. Former members of the writing faculty at Pitt-Bradford will serve as judges, and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third. Poems should deal with domestic violence themes. For disability needs related to the event, contact the Pitt-Bradford Office of Disability Services at 814-362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu. To hear more about the poetry contest you can listen to today's LiveLine or last Tuesday's (10/14) by going to WESB.com/listen and clicking on th...

A man accused of injuring a police officer back in March in Salamanca has pleaded not guilty in Cattaraugus County Court. Judson Beattie of Salamanca, who turned 28 on Sunday, is charged with assault, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and criminal obstruction of breathing in connection to the incident when he allegedly prevent a police officer from performing his duties. When this alleged incident happened Beattie was awaiting trial for violating an order of protection. A jury found him guilty. This case has been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A domestic incident spilled into a woman’s workplace when her estranged husband threatened to kill her and three other people. Court papers say Anthony Hornung II went to the woman’s home Thursday night, argued with her, dragged her through the house by her arm and said if he can’t have her no one can. He left the house when her roommates came home, but then texted and called her, leaving threatening messages. Later that night he showed up outside the back of the Bradford Era building, where he was threatening people. He raised a fist to the woman’s boss as if he was going to punch him, and bumped the man’s chest with his repeatedly, while threatening to kill people. When police arrived Hornung ran to Players Bar, but police caught up with him. Hornung is charged with criminal trespass, flight to avoid apprehension, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, simple assault and several summary offenses. He is in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ....

A domestic incident has landed an Allegany man in jail. State Police charged George Burlingame with criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use it, menacing with a weapon and harassment with physical contact. Troopers did not release any further information. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is accused of assaulting a woman this morning and choking her until she lost consciousness. 50-year-old James Dunshie is charged with simple assault and harassment in connection to the incident at around 7:30 this morning on Orchard Place. Police say when they arrived on the scene they saw multiple contusions on the victim’s face and arms, including a large one around her left eye. She was taken by ambulance to BRMC. Dunshie was sent to McKean County Jail on $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Domestic violence has led to charges against two Cattaraugus County men. State police say on September 2 25-year-old Terry Brown of Olean hit a woman in the face in the Town of Yorkshire. He was charged with assault and sent to jail on $1,500 cash bail. On August 31 22-year-old Kenneth Shafer of Yorkshire was involved in a domestic dispute in the Town of Yorkshire, and was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal mischief and harassment. A temporary order of protection was ordered. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is accused of forcing a toddler’s face into a bed because he was crying. State police arrested Nicholas Sikes of Allegany for being abusive to the two-year-old, and charged him with criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child. Sikes was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $1,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 5-year-old boy was hurt when a man threw a bottle of Gatorade through the front window of his house. Sheriff’s deputies say at 11 o’clock last night 22-year-old Cody Hollamby of Olean threw the bottle, breaking the window and causing the shattered glass to fall onto the 5-year-old, his 4-year-old sister and their mother. The little boy suffered a cut to his hand. Hollamby left the house, but was found a short time later and charged with felony criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of children, assault and driving while intoxicated. He was released on his own recognizance, and scheduled to appear in both Town of Olean and City of Olean courts. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man has admitted to assaulting his estranged wife and trying to assault Bradford’s assistant police chief. 43-year-old Richard Buterbaugh pleaded guilty to assault, terroristic threats, criminal trespass and false imprisonment for breaking into the woman’s home, threatening her and pulling out clumps of her hair. When police arrived he tried to tackle assistant chief Mike Ward. Buterbaugh is scheduled for sentencing September 4 in McKean County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A domestic dispute with his girlfriend has landed a Machias man in jail. 46-year-old Lawrence Pope got into the fight with the woman on August 3. When police got to the scene and told him he was going to be arrested for criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment, he told them that he was not going to be arrested, and then resisted while troopers attempted to take him into custody. In addition to the domestic-related charges, he was also charged with resisting arrest, and was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $1,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947