Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Frustrated with prolonged delays into the investigation connected to the April 2024 hit-and-run incident involving Erie County Sheriff's Narcotics Chief D.J. Granville, the Erie County Legislature Majority Caucus is calling on top state leaders to begin a detailed probe into the incident and its aftermath.
During a press conference Thursday, county lawmakers, along with Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick, called on either Gov. Kathy Hochul and/or New York State Attorney General Letitia James to open an investigation into the accident and related probes.
"We still don't have answers, so this is the next step," said Erie County Legislator John Bargnesi, whose district includes the Town of Tonawanda.
The letter is the latest in a series of requests made by area lawmakers, either individually or in concert with others, into the April 11, 2024 accident where Granville allegedly struck seven parked cars on Buffalo's West Side, while driving his Sheriff's-issued vehicle.
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, in a prepared statement, dismissed the news conference as "political theater."
"It would be surprising to me that the governor would direct the Attorney General to usurp this case from the court-appointed special prosecutor, who is in the midst of an ongoing investigation into this matter," said Garcia.
It wasn't until various media reports, this past March, uncovered the accident that it came to light.
"Then all hell broke loose," Hardwick said.
The accident resulted in an estimated $60,000 in damages to the parked cars and Granville, late this summer, was suspended 30 days and is expected to return to work on Sept. 29.
There are allegations of attempts to cover up the accident and its aftermath including members of the Buffalo Police Department, who investigated the crash, refusing to answer questions posed by a Niagara County special investigator.
"No one is running away from this," said Tim Meyers, Erie County Legislature chairman.
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