Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - A 17-year-old male from Buffalo was arraigned Thursday afternoon on an indictment with nine felony offenses, including one count of attempted murder in the second degree.
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Allegedly, on Monday, Feb. 6th, 2023, around 4 a.m., the defendant, including other individuals, were looking for vehicles to steal around Penora St. in the Town of Lancaster. The defendant is accused of stealing a white Jeep Cherokee, parked outside a residence with keys inside the vehicle. His accomplices, allegedly, stole a maroon Jeep of the same model outside a neighboring home.
About 30 minutes later, a Depew Police officer saw the two Jeeps traveling at a high rate of speed on Walden Ave where the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop and pursued the vehicles travelling into the Town of Cheektowaga.
Cheektowaga Officer Troy Blackchief then attempted to deploy a "Stop Stick" on Union Rd. near the Kensington Expressway entrance and was hit by the white Jeep. The 17-year-old driver then drove off and abandoned the stolen vehicle near a gas station near Century Rd. in the City of Buffalo.
As a result of the hit, Officer Blackchief suffered a traumatic brain injury. He continues to recover at home and rehabilitation facilities after several months in the hospital and long-term care. The officer has been unable to return to work.
"This is a very complex investigation that was done by the Cheektowaga Police Department," said Erie County DA John Flynn. "Putting this case together, it took a good three months to put the puzzle together. But we have put the puzzle together. And like I said earlier, we presented the puzzle to a grand jury and the grand jury have voted on indictment of all nine of these charges."
As car thefts have been on the rise among adolescent offenders since the origins of the viral social media challenge known as the "Kia Challenge," the district attorney says something must be done to hold these car-thieving kids accountable.
"I am hopeful going forward that the court takes this as seriously as I do. The court yesterday gave him $80,000 bail, and as far as I'm concerned, that is unacceptable. We asked, obviously, for a remand, he should be remanded, but again - for whatever reason - the court decided to put bail on this individual. He's still in custody now, but we'll see if he makes the bail.
Flynn adds, "I obviously need the community know that there are groups of kids who are going around this entire county with the purpose of stealing cars. That is their fun night out. They are going out in the communities, in groups, looking for cars to steal. It is happening in Erie County, all over Erie County, on a nightly basis."
The defendant will be back in court on Tuesday, May 9th at 11:45 a.m. for a six-day review. The rest of his charges are as follows:
- One count of Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer or Peace Officer (Class “B” violent felony)
- Two counts of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
- One count of Assault on a Peace Officer, Police Officer, Fireman or Emergency Medical Services Professional (Class “C” felony)
- One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony)
- One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony)
- One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (Class “D” felony)
- One count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicles in the Second Degree (Class “E” felony)