Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Buffalo man could be facing a maximum of 25 years in prison following a seven-count grand jury indictment connected to a pair of Memorial Day Weekend incidents, including the stabbing of a Buffalo police officer.
35-year-old Derrick Harris was arraigned Monday afternoon, as he continues to recover from a series of surgeries after he was shot twice by police during the confrontation on May 23 in Buffalo's East Side neighborhood.
Charges include:
- One count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class B violent felony)
- One count of attempted assault in the first degree (Class C violent felony)
- One count assault in the second degree (Class D violent felony)
- Two counts criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Class D felony)
- One count criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (Class E felong)
- One count criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree (Class A misdemeanor)
The incidents began at around 1:30 a.m. that Saturday when Harris was accused of robbing a Lyft driver of his cellphone, wallet and bracelet.
Some 15 hours later, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Harris was spotted on Broadway and Liddell Street. The caller told police she thought Harris had an earlier fight with her boyfriend.
When Officers John Simonian and Joshua Slupinski approached Harris, they noticed he was carrying a box cutter and scissors, and was in an agitated state.
It was during the confrontation that Harris allegedly stabbed Simonian once in the back, and the police shot Harris twice in the stomach area.
The entire incident was captured on the officer's body camera.
Simonian was treated and released from Erie County Medical Center, while Harris - who underwent several operations - remains in custody at ECMC.
"The officers' use of force was justified," said Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane. "The man had a razor and scissors in his hand, and was trying to hurt not only a police officer, but himself."
According to reports in The Buffalo News, Harris spent nine years in jail for allegedly attacking an 11-year-old girl.
Citing confidentiality clauses, Keane was precluded from addressing any past criminal history of the defendant.
No new court date has been set for Harris.
