DUNKIRK – Three north-county men are behind bars following a warrant investigation at 3647 New Road, Dunkirk, according to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department.
Rodney Hawkins Jr, 29, of 2 Birchwood Drive, Fredonia, Jonathan M. Linger, 30, of 33 E. Courtney St., Dunkirk, and Martin J. Wisniewski, 43, of 428 Nevin St., Dunkirk, face a multitude of charges after Deputies conducted a warrant search shortly before 8 p.m. Monday.
Officers from the New York State Parole, City of Dunkirk Police Department and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve a New York State Parole arrest warrant. Police said Hawkins Jr. tried to flee from officers by jumping through a front window. Hawkins was taken into custody following a short foot chase. He was initially charged with the original parole warrant of arrest, resisting arrest and second degree obstructing governmental administration.
As a result of the incident, members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant for the residence from the Town of Dunkirk Court. As a result of the search warrant execution officers took Linger and Wisniewski into custody. During the course of the search warrant, officers located and seized a large amount of crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana. As a result of the seizure, each of the defendants are charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.
All of the defendants were arraigned in the Town of Sheridan Court and committed to the Chautauqua County Jail without bail. Additionally, Hawkins will be arraigned on a felony arrest warrant from the City of Dunkirk Court charging him with first-degree criminal contempt. This warrant stems from a separate investigation by the City of Dunkirk Police Department.
The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force is composed of investigators from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Dunkirk Police Department. Authorities continue to ask members of the community to call when they observe suspicious or narcotics related activities within their neighborhoods at either 800-344-8702 or 363-0313.