Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 34-year-old Nicholas Krencik of Ashford has been arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on two counts of Menacing a Police Officer and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. 

It is alleged that on August 5, 2018, at approximately 10:20 p.m., the defendant, armed with a loaded, shortened shotgun, entered the Country Fair store on Route 39 and South Cascade Drive in Springville. As he exited the store, the defendant was allegedly ordered by two Erie County Sheriff’s Office deputies to drop his weapon. It is alleged that the defendant continued to approach the deputies despite several orders to stop and drop his weapon, and was subsequently shot by one of the deputies.

The defendant was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Krencik is scheduled to return on November 9 at 9:30 a.m. He was remanded without bail.

If convicted on all charges, Krencik faces up to 15 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the quick actions of the Erie County Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the incident.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan D. Haggerty of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit is prosecuting the case.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.