Morning News Briefing

Amherst man arrested in Thruway stand-off identified as court officer.
The Amherst resident responsible for shutting down the thruway during an hours’ long stand-off has been reported to be a court officer in Erie County.
WKBW in Buffalo has identified 50 year old John Pezzino of Amherst as the man who was taken into custody after leading police on a short pursuit and negotiating for several hours on the Thruway near Stafford Monday.
The news source confirmed with the New York Courts that Pezzino is a Court Officer Sergeant in the Erie County Court.
State Police have charged him with fleeing and resisting arrest.

Consultant tells County a new jail is needed in Genesee.
Genesee County Officials are looking at the new requirements and necessity of building a new jail while being faced with increasing pressure from New York’s corrections commission.
Consultant Rod Miller who is president of CRS Incorporate spoke Saturday morning with members of the Legislature, senior county officials, and Sheriff’s Office staff about his analysis of the county’s incarceration facility.
Miller said the county needs a new jail.
The Jail could cost more than $52 million dollars to house the projected jail population of 184 by 2042.
The design of the jail must also deal with the reality of state regulations and the needs of a jail population that is ever in flux.
When it comes to the question of a regional jail, Miller said there are states with examples of successful regional jails, but in those states, the state government picked up half the cost. For more on the story check the article be our news partner The Batavian.

Byron man busted for allegedly stolen steel.
37 year old Joseph Kuzma of Byron Holley Road in Byron was arrested and charged with Petit Larceny following investigation into an alleged theft that occurred in January.
Kuzma is accused of stealing $780 worth of steel from a Byron Elba Road address and selling it in Monroe County.
He was issued an appearance ticket for Byron Town Court in March.

Sheriff’s Office warns of the latest phone scam.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about reports of scammers calling residents attempting to elicit medical records.
The scammers use medical histories to refill prescriptions which are sent to medical offices and once signed by a doctor, are used to bill insurance companies.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents NOT to provide personal or medical information over the telephone.

New figures paint a bleaker picture of the opioid crisis throughout New York State.
New Health Department statistics show that there were close to two-thousand opioid-related deaths in the state, not counting New York City, in 2016, up 100 from previously reported.
The discrepancies suggest that medical examiners can’t keep up with the number of people dying of opioid overdoses.

Winter Storm Watch Going into effect tomorrow.
The National Weather Service has issued the watch for counties including Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming to be in effect from Thursday evening through Friday evening.
Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches are possible.
The morning commute on Friday is expected to suffer from difficult travel conditions.