WRFA NEWS BULLETIN: City Police Name Suspect in Aug. 12 Kidnapping

Eric Chant

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – The Jamestown Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the New York State Police in Conjunction with the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s office say they have a suspect in custody they believe may be connected to the abduction that took place earlier this month in Jamestown.

LISTEN TO PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
(approx. 14 minutes)

County DA David Foley says 21 year old Eric Chant of Jamestown is being held in the county jail on unrelated burglary and assault charges. Following an investigation, authorities believe they have evidence that could connect Chant to the stolen 2009 Dodge Caravan that was used in the abduction and later recovered abandoned in the Chadakoin River.

Neither Foley nor other authorities would provide specific details related to the case, only that Chant was picked up a few days after the abduction took place on an unrelated charge in connection to a burglary that took place in the Town of Stockton. Foley also says Chant was wanted in Dunkirk on an assault charge. He is currently being held in the County Jail on $50,000 bail for the burglary and $25,000 for the assault.

Foley says further evidence that may connect Chant to the abduction is currently being analyzed by the New York State Police crime lab, with results of the analysis expected within two weeks.

Both Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace and Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings also attended and spoke during the press conference. They also say the case is ongoing and anyone with additional information on the whereabouts of Chant from Aug. 8 up to the time of the Abduction, along with any information on the minivan, is asked to call police at 483-7537.

During the early morning of Aug. 12, police say a man abducted a 12-year-old Jamestown girl from her home early and drove her to a deserted road in the town of Poland. She eventually escaped and found help at a nearby residence.

– j. sample