Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that two defendants and a juvenile offender have been charged for their alleged involvement in a police pursuit that spanned across several neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo earlier this week.

The accused driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Jalon T. Caddele of Buffalo, was arraigned yesterday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon A. Heneghan on one count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, one count of Reckless Driving (Class “A” misdemeanors) and two Vehicle and Traffic Law violations for driving without a license and failure to stop at stop signs.

His co-defendant, 18-year-old Jayda K. Caddele of Buffalo, who was allegedly sitting in the backseat during the incident, was also arraigned yesterday morning before Judge Heneghan on one count of Menacing a Police Officer or Peace Officer (Class “D” felony).

A 15-year-old male co-defendant from Buffalo was charged with one count of Obstruction of Governmental Administration (Class “A” misdemeanor). Due to the age of the accused, the case will be adjudicated in Family Court.

It is alleged that on Monday, May 9, 2022, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Buffalo Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the vehicle in the area of Main and Utica streets. The pursuit began when the driver allegedly refused to stop. It is further alleged that as the suspect vehicle was traveling northbound on Delaware Avenue, the backseat passenger allegedly pointed what appeared to be a handgun in the direction of the police patrol vehicle. The pursuit continued from the area of Main Street onto the Kensington Expressway and the Scajaquada Expressway and into the city’s West Side. The driver is accused of failing to stop at stop signs along Richmond Avenue before the pursuit ended on Oxford Avenue near West Ferry Street. No weapon was recovered.  

Jalon T. Caddele was released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. He is scheduled to return on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference.

Jayda K. Caddele was held without bail. She is scheduled to return on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. If convicted of the charge, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.

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