An assault in the small town of Cherry Creek has left its residents talking.
According to a police report, the New York State Police responded to Cherry Creek home for a report of an assault Monday.
"This has taken place here in little, quiet Cherry Creek. We know that we have problem areas just like any village does, but we do consider it a quiet town," said Bruce Fish, mayor of Cherry Creek.
According to a police report, Kevin Pattyson, 21, of Cherry Creek, entered a home on Southside Avenue while a woman was painting inside. Pattyson pushed the woman to the ground several times and tackled her when she tried to get out through a side door. Pattyson grabbed the woman by the hair, hit her head on the concrete several times, ripped a chunk of hair from her head and then ran away.
"Kids get into the things here that kids get into in the city, too. It seems that that's where the influence has come from on the charge that was placed. If this person is guilty, these kinds of influence are what has gotten into him. When the community knows that anybody is associated with those particular problem areas, they do expect it," Fish continued. "Certain locations, certain blocks, they have that kind of reputation."
These sentiments came to light after Pattyson was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault Tuesday.
Pattyson eluded authorities for several hours before he was found and charged by state troopers Tuesday night. He was processed at the State Police barracks in Jamestown, arraigned in Cherry Creek Town Court and taken to the Chautauqua County Jail.
"We still have problem areas here," said Fish. "It's not necessarily on the same scale as a larger town, but people are people. They speed through town, they drink, just on a much smaller scale. What the community is looking for now is, 'What can we do to help, what can we do to change this?'"
The victim in the assault was treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries and released.