Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - An Amherst woman was arraigned on menacing charges in connection with an incident last week that led to an officer-involved shooting at a Durham Drive apartment.
Tonisha Green, 26, of Amherst, was arraigned Thursday morning on an indictment charging her with one count of Menacing in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor) and four counts of Menacing a Police Officer (Class “D” violent felonies). Green was arraigned at Erie County Medical Center, where she remains hospitalized.
Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane said last Tuesday, at approximately 11 a.m., Amherst Police responded to an apartment complex on Durham Drive to follow up on a menacing complaint from the day prior. At the scene, the responding officers encountered Green, who was armed with a knife, outside of her apartment.
According to prosecutors, Green refused multiple commands by the officers to drop the weapon, as they attempted to de-escalate the situation. An officer subsequently discharged his firearm, which resulted in an injury.
The officers immediately rendered first aid to Green and the victim. The knife was recovered and placed into evidence.
“My office conducted a thorough review of the officer-involved critical incident. We have determined that the actions of the police officers were legally justified. The members of the Amherst Police Department involved in this incident reasonably believed they were facing deadly physical force.” said Keane on Thursday.
A return date has not yet been scheduled. Tonisha Green was remanded without bail.
If convicted of the charges, Tonisha Green faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The Amherst Police Department released body cam footage of the incident. You can watch the footage in the player above.