Jamestown Police Officer Attacked
Maryland Man, Jamestown Woman Taken To County Jail Without BailBy Robert Rizzuto rrizzuto@post-journal.com
A Maryland resident and two Chautauqua County women are in the county jail after an incident where two Jamestown police officers were attacked while responding to a call early Wednesday morning.
According to Capt. Robert Samuelson, around 2:50 a.m., police were called to North Main Street near West 10th Street for a reported fight.
When Officer Jeff Levandoski, the officer on patrol arrived, he approached Jermaine J. Gordon, 21, of Bowie, Md., who was with two females, 20-year-olds Angel Hodnett and Kayla S. Thomas, both of Jamestown.
Samuelson said that as one officer approached, Gordon allegedly tackled him to the ground and punched him repeatedly in the face, causing significant injuries.
As another officer who arrived at the same time tried to intervene, Hodnett allegedly kicked him, preventing him from backing up his colleague.
Hodnett allegedly interfered further, allowing Gordon to flee from the scene.
When additional officers arrived, a search for Gordon began as Hodnett and Thomas were both taken into custody.
An investigation revealed that Gordon and the two female companions had recently left an unnamed establishment in the area and were being loud, causing a citizen to call the police to report what seemed to be a fight.
A short time after Gordon ran from the scene, he was found walking in downtown Jamestown. Samuelson said that detectives learned that Gordon was in Jamestown visiting family and he attended a funeral recently.
Gordon was taken into custody and is facing several charges, including felony assault against a police officer, resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, felony criminal mischief, second-degree criminal personation and disorderly conduct.
Ms. Hodnett was charged with felony second-degree assault, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. Ms. Thomas was charged with obstruction of governmental administration and disorderly conduct.
The trio was arraigned by John LaMancuso, Jamestown City Court judge, Wednesday afternoon and Gordon and Hodnett were taken to the Chatauqua County Jail, where they were held without bail. They will return to court Nov. 25 for a preliminary hearing.
Thomas was sent to the county jail in lieu of $1,500 bail and will return to court on Jan. 19, 2010, for a pretrial hearing.
"This was a horrible act and we're glad we were able to make an arrest so quickly," Samuelson said. "The officer was injured pretty badly, but he has been released from the hospital, although he will likely be out of work for a while."
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NMS6049
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11-21-09 8:09 AM
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Correction, I met Levandowski was responding to the call not Gordon.
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NMS6049
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11-20-09 11:01 PM
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Irishrebel, can you at least learn how to speak proper English before posting a comment. For example, yous is not a word!!! Also, Gordon (not Gorden as you can see above) was responding to a call, which is part of HIS job. However, I know most of Jamestown's finest citizens (whether black or white) are unaware of what a JOB is. The only work known to MOST of them is selling drugs and having children supported by welfare.
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Reedy1980
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11-20-09 8:13 PM
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There are many points to make hear. One point is we choose to live in Jamestown and not a big city so we don't expect big city problems and when something like this happens in our community it is a big deal. Second of all police officers are human. They have families. They are fathers, mothers, daughters, sisters and brothers to others. 90% of the crime is caused by 3% of the population. I highly doubt the police officer "provoked" the dirt bag into hitting him and then getting on top of him and hitting him some more; keep track of the amount of arrests in the city where the arrestee is from Buffalo, Rochester, or some other bigger city. They come here, set up shop, and make their money. They bring drugs, guns, and associates that have histories of violent behavior. They know our city is a gold mine and the police force is stretched and unable to deal. Other cities similar in size have 70 plus officers. I hope officer Levandowski is ok and Mr Gordon rots in hell.
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ngdogg
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11-20-09 4:15 PM
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****, JT is what it is! If you still here...your fault!
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BluntTruth
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11-20-09 1:36 PM
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Officer Levandowski is s good man and a great police officer. He did not provoke anyone, frankly i believe Mr. Gordon viewed Officer Levandowski as an older and weaker officer. Frankly Officer Levandowski was more than likely taken by surprise that this guy attacked him. No one would expect as an officer of the law simply walking up to someone to talk would mean they lunge at you and attack you. Though that is common place in a larger city not typically in ours. NYC033 Police Officers are human and adults. If you feel the need to go downtown and have some drinks after work they should be able to too. Your statement is irrelevant. You try dealing with the dirtbags and scumbags of this city for 8+ hrs a day. You'd need a drink too.
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twocents
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11-20-09 10:29 AM
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On more point Irishrebel - yes, we are all Americans. Time for all races to understand that and stop with the African American, Hispanic American, etc labels.
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twocents
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11-20-09 9:28 AM
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"What did the officer do to provoke Gordon"? You're joking right? Also, I don't see any comments regarding the two fine citizens and the visitor from Maryland being black. I think that fact was obvious from their pictures.
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Frankie58
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11-20-09 2:51 AM
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powg2u...seeing as you are the expert on procedure and response, just how would you have responded to this call???
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Irishrebel
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11-20-09 12:43 AM
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I'M NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT TO KICK THE CRAPS OUT OF A POLICE OFFICER, BUT THE QUESTION I ASK IS WHAT DID THE OFFICER DO TO PREVOKE GORDEN IN TO JUMPING HIM. YOU PEOPLE WHO MAKE COMMENTS OF GORDEN AND HIS FRIENDS BEING BLACK, YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER BECAUSE YOU'RE WHITE. TO ME YOUs SOUND LIKE THE LOW LIVES. WAKE UP YOU LIVE IN USA, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE AN AMERICAN, AN AMERICAN IS AN AMERICAN NO MATTER WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN MIGHT BE.
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jaycee
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11-19-09 9:21 PM
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"...individual probably was from a broken home...". I came from a broken home, too, and I do NOT condone assault ona police officer regardless of the situation. It really irritates me when someone commits a crime because "they came from a broken home". That is one of the most ignorant remarks made. Situations like this are purely disrespect and disregard for law enforcement. That disrespect comes regardless of the home life...usually because the parents have the same attitude. Simply put...ignorance begets ignorance. Children raised with respect and taught respect for others will not grow to despise others...regardless of race. These three belong in jail just for their disrespect for the police, nevermind the assault on them. The assault on a police officer is TOTALLY uncalled for and should bring major time behind bars...for all three.
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CityMedic
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11-19-09 6:04 PM
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I find it truly disgusting that people get on here and bash an injured police officer. You'd be bashing him if you had read that he tased somebody or if he had shot them. Can't be happy either way I guess. God Bless Jeff, and I hope he makes a full reovery and returns to work swiftly, this is proof we could use all the officers we can have on the street.
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uzi100099
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11-19-09 1:29 PM
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Proper procedure would have been to taze these perp's there is no sense second guessing the cops we don't have a mean spirited town, Maryland has some dangerous places, and this individual probably was from a broken home. It's life as usual for the people who can't break trhough the glass ceiling of racism.
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twocents
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11-19-09 11:52 AM
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Re-read the article - only Thomas was in jail in lieu of $1500 bail. The other two are held without bail.
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my2cents
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11-19-09 11:34 AM
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$1500 bail for attacking the police and he lives out of state. Can anyone see how this is going to play out?
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iheartjersey
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11-19-09 11:34 AM
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these cops are definitely lucky its only jamestown and the worse that happened was that they got beat up by a couple of chicks...look up news in nj or nyc where cops get shot in the face by high school students..this isnt a big issue.. so...why stress it..
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KGreen
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11-19-09 10:24 AM
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"they look like they came from the bottom of the Chadakoin" That has nothing to do with the fact that they are black, its Jamestown....have you seen how much of the town is made up of white trash? Look around, its everywhere.
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NYC033
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11-19-09 9:56 AM
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the article clearly states a neighbor called the cops for what was thought to be a fight it indeed was not hence why the cop showed up alone.. I feel very bad for the cop that was hurt but what does that say about our police station. then men/women who are suppose to protect us. not only did the young man fight the cop he got away and was only caught cuz he was not smart enough to go inside.. what does that show to the youth? if they fight wit a cop they have a chance of getting away? The jamestown police department need to have less drinks downtown and work on staying in control and protecting our city
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twocents
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11-19-09 9:37 AM
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Here we go again - more political correctness. It has gotten to the point where individuals can't say anything without being called a racist. If you disagree with the President, "you're a racist", if you use the word lynching "you're a racist (by the way, white people were lynched too), if you object to illegeal immigration "you're a racist". Enough is enough!
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danyay
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11-19-09 9:09 AM
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""they look like they came from the bottom of the Chadakoin" wouldn't have been used if they were white." Have you ever BEEN to Celoron?
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justsomegirl
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11-19-09 8:58 AM
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It's funny... I find it disgusting that people would attack police officers, and I expect they'll throw the book at them, but then I read the comments and find I'm just as repulsed by some of them. Is the problem what they did, or that they're black? Because I'm pretty sure "Hang them from the highest tree" or "public lynching" or "they look like they came from the bottom of the Chadakoin" wouldn't have been used if they were white. They'd be "lock the loser away for life" or maybe "he should be shot," but nothing racially charged or about lynching. Maybe you are disgusted by the actions and not the skin color. I know people who get angry and will use whatever terms they can to strike out. But when you express your disdain using traditionally racist terms, people can't tell the difference. Just soemthing to think about.
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twocents
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11-19-09 8:52 AM
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powg2 - I agree with JBracey - next time you should read the article twice before sending in a comment. It's nice to see two more of the city's finest citizens and a visitor from Maryland spending time in the Hotel Mayville.
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sickofnys
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11-19-09 8:51 AM
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I went to school with Jeff. (a very long time ago lol) He is a fine person and a professional. He's also white. Imagine if he had done anything different. The screams of racism and police brutality would make us all deaf.
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danyay
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11-19-09 8:12 AM
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Only $1,500 bail? Should have made it $25,000 so they'd be in jail over Christmas, at the very least.
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JBracey
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11-19-09 7:51 AM
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Hey powg2u. I think you need to read the article again before you say something stupid.
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madman
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11-19-09 7:31 AM
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No respect for the law, no fear of repurcussions. Would like to see them sentenced to the max penalty. And they should have to pay the city for that officer being out on disability.
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