BUFFALO (WBEN) - Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced that 49-year-old Joel Anzalone of Buffalo has been virtually arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Diane Wray on the following charges: two counts of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, and One count of Resisting Arrest.
It's alleged that on Wednesday, September 16, around 2:30 p.m., detectives from the Town of Hamburg Police Department went to a department store on Delaware Avenue to obtain surveillance video as part of an investigation involving a stolen vehicle that was taken from McKinley Plaza on Tuesday. The suspect allegedly used a credit card belonging to the victim in the stolen vehicle case.
While the detectives were at the store, the defendant allegedly returned, and the detectives confronted the defendant in the parking lot to arrest him. The defendant allegedly refused the officer's orders to turn off the vehicle, and the defendant is accused of driving away while the detectives held onto the vehicle, which resulted in physical injuries to both.
It is further alleged that one of the detectives was partially inside the vehicle as the defendant drove away. The detective was able to free himself from the vehicle, but his weapon and holster were reported missing after the incident. The gun has since been recovered.
This case remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed.
Anzalone is scheduled to return on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. Judge Wray set bail at $100,000.
