According to the Jamestown Police Department statistics report released earlier this year, from 2019 through 2022 methamphetamine was the most-seized drug by Jamestown police officers, totaling 1,948 grams in 2019, 1,790 grams in 2020, 4,003 grams in 2021 and 4,191 grams in 2022. Meth seizures dropped in 2023 to 1,871 grams as fentanyl and cocaine seizures soared. Cocaine seizures dropped from 4,207 grams in 2018 to 1,176 grams in 2019, 594 grams in 2020, 1,566 grams in 2021, 1,024 grams in 2022 and then rose again to 2,144 grams in 2023. Fentanyl, meanwhile, has risen steadily from 2018 through 2023 from 6 grams in 2018 to 9.384 grams in 2023.

Ruben L. Medina, 19, of Jamestown was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance at 6:56 p.m. Wednesday after his vehicle was pulled over by city police officers near Falconer and Liberty streets. According to a police report, officers had prior knowledge that Medina had an outstanding violation of probation warrant. Medina was charged without incident and taken to the city jail until he could be arraigned. During a search at the jail officers reportedly found 115.2 grams of methamphetamine.

Medina had also been charged in August duringa traffic stop in which he was allegedly found with cocaine, and in October 2023 for allegedly punching police officers during an incident on Forest Avenue and Superior Street when officers were investigating a report of a vehicle illegally parked and blocking traffic.

Lisa M. Tibbetts, 48, of Jamestown was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-2 felony, and resisting arrest after the vehicle she was riding in was pulled over at 8:57 p.m. Wednesday by city police officers on Newland Avenue near Foote Avenue. According to a police report, officers knew Tibbetts had an outstanding warrant from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department for second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a bench warrant out of the City of Jamestown. Prior to officers initiating their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, Tibbetts exited the vehicle and began to run away. She was caught after a short foot chase and a brief struggle.

Lisa Tibbetts

A search found 211.7 grams of methamphetamine in Tibbetts’ purse, nearly a half pound. Police say due to the quantity of methamphetamine and the defendants attempt to flee, she was again charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

In June, Tibbets was charged after investigators from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, Jamestown Police Department and Dunkirk Police Department were at 814 E. Second St., upper apartment, Jamestown, and found 12.1 grams of methamphetamine, scales and packaging used for the sale and distribution of methamphetamine and a quantity of currency. Tibbetts was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Tibbetts also had an arrest warrant out of Chautauqua County Court for felony drug possession and one from Jamestown City Court for felony possession of stolen property at the time.

In September 2023, Tibbetts was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed at 35 Arden Parkway as part of an investigation that included the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, local K-9 units and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

Inside the residence, investigators recovered 220 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging materials and cash.

Tibbetts is currently facing charges of second- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Jamestown police were further assisted by the district attorney’s office in Warren County, Pa., and the Warren County Drug Task Force.

“It involved the sales and distribution of methamphetamine, not only in the Jamestown area, but also stemming from sales and distribution in Pennsylvania,” JPD said in a news release.