Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 22-year-old Devere Thomas of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case on an indictment charging him with Attempted Assault of a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 

It is alleged that on February 2, 2017 near Main Street and West Utica in Buffalo, the defendant refused to comply with an NFTA officer’s commands when his vehicle was being pulled over for a valid traffic infraction. Thomas is accused of driving away, nearly striking the officer with his car. The incident forced the officer to fire one round into the defendant’s vehicle to get him to stop. Thomas is then accused of taking off at a high rate of speed, crashing his vehicle into a dumpster, exiting the car and fleeing on foot before being taken into custody. 

Thomas pleaded not guilty. If convicted of all the charges, Thomas faces 2-7 years in prison. 

DA Flynn commends Chief George Gast and the detectives at the NFTA Police Department for their thorough investigation. 

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Nash 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.