BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Franklinville man accused of an August hate crime pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in a Buffalo City Courtroom on Tuesday.
Michael Cremen, 48, appeared in a courtroom for the first time since he was charged by police officers with harassment, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon. He previously skipped out on two scheduled court appearances in October over the mask mandates and emailed a warning to law enforcement not to approach him.
Prosecutors wanted the judge to order an examination to see if Cremen is competent to stand trial. However, the defense attorney said that there was no proof that Cremen authored the emails and said the prosecutors call for an examination had "absolutely no good faith basis".
Cremen at one point tried to clarify why he did not appear in court in October, but his attorney interjected to tell him she would speak on his behalf.
Bail has been set at $2,500 for Cremen. He is due to appear again in Buffalo City Court on Friday for a failure to appear hearing.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn has concerns that Cremen could skip out on his next court appearance. Law enforcement has been unable to reach Cremen by phone and there were claims made that Cremen visited Arkansas where his grandmother is believed to live, though Flynn said there was never any proof that Cremen went there.
"The Cattaraugus County folks have been trying to find him for the past two to three weeks and they've been unsucccessful," Flynn said.
That was until Monday night when a neighbor claims to have heard shots fired from Cremen's home in Franklinville. Authorities were called to East Hill Road after a "verbal argument" involving Cremen though it was later discovered there were no gunshots fired.
Flynn said Cremen peacefully turned himself in after initially refusing to do so.
Cremen was handed over to the Buffalo Police department due to the outstanding warrants against him after he failed to show up to his two court dates.
Cremen on August 28 was seen hurling racial slurs at protesters on Hertel Avenue during a Black Lives Matter protest. He also pulled out a knife as he was confronted by the crowd. No one was injured in the confrontation.
Prosecutors have to provide evidence to the courts on Friday that Cremen intentionally missed his court appearances. Flynn said this hearing comes as part of the state bail reform laws.
"I'm going to ask for him to be remanded," Flynn said. "I want him held without the possibility of making bail. I firmly believe he wrote the letter. I firmly believe that he has some issues. I firmly believe, thank God is ended peacefully last night...I will give him credit for that. I'll factor that in. He has shown a history of being unstable. A history of blowing the court off. And an alleged history of making these statements on Hertel Avenue of a hateful nature which, at the end of the day
