Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A pair of Buffalo police officers have been cleared of any wrong-doings by the New York State Attorney General's Office for their actions in an officer-involved shooting back in July of last year.
Related
Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report Wednesday on the death of 25-year-old Daevon Roberts, who died back on July 10, 2024 following an encounter with members of the Buffalo Police Department.
After a thorough investigation, which included review of footage from body-worn cameras, interviews with involved officers, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s actions were justified under New York law.
At around midnight on July 10, two Buffalo police officers driving a marked patrol vehicle stopped a car that was speeding while driving Westbound on Kensington Avenue in the City of Buffalo.
During the traffic stop, the officers attempted to obtain valid identification from Roberts, who was driving the car with a 6-year-old also in the front seat. When the officers were unable to immediately confirm Roberts’ license status, they returned to his vehicle, opened the driver’s side door, and asked Roberts to step out and accompany the officers to the patrol car to address the license verification issue.
Roberts did not comply, and instead put the car in drive and accelerated while one officer, Officer Ronald Ammerman, was holding the door, dragging the officer along with the car.
Ammerman held onto the car with his left hand gripping the door frame, his right hand on the roof, his right foot resting on the door, and his left foot suspended while he was dragged along the pavement as the car accelerated, at one point reaching a speed of 70 miles-per-hour. The officer repeatedly shouted at Roberts, pleading with him to stop the vehicle. The officer even attempted to put his foot on the brake pedal, but Roberts kicked his foot.
Ammerman then pulled out his gun, and Roberts removed his hands from the steering wheel and attempted to grab the officer’s gun. The officer fired his service weapon at Roberts, striking him.
Roberts was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Under New York’s justification law, a police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another. Under these circumstances and given the law and the evidence, the Attorney General's Office concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s use of deadly physical force against Roberts was justified.
Therefore OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.