Gowanda man charged in domestic dispute

A Gowanda man is facing numerous charges after an incident Saturday night on the 700 block of Main Street in Dunkirk.

City police report around 7:03 p.m., they responded to a domestic dispute. Upon arrival officers made contact with the female victim who was able to escape from the residence and have a neighbor call 911. The victim stated the suspect, identified as Edwin Chmielewski III, 36, had unlawfully entered her residence and attempted to choke her.

Chmielewski would not allow the victim to leave and prevented her from calling 911. Officers were also aware that Chmielewski had an active order of protection in place advising him to stay away from the residence and victim, and that he had several outstanding arrest warrants.

Officers attempted contact, but Chmielewski had barricaded himself inside of the apartment and refused to exit. After several attempts to make contact with him, officers forced entry into the residence and located Chmielewski hiding underneath a mattress in a bedroom.

Chmielewski was taken into custody and faces charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal contempt, both felonies, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, fourth-degree criminal mischief, criminal obstruction of breathing, and obstructing governmental administration. Chmielewski was also arrested on his outstanding warrants of first-degree criminal contempt, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and second-degree harassment.