Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 40-year-old Cornelius Caddale of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class “D” felony, one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting, a Class “A” misdemeanor, and one count of Resisting Arrest, a Class “A” misdemeanor.

It is alleged that on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Buffalo Police officers on bicycle patrol observed the defendant recklessly driving a Kawasaki ATV on Best Street in front of MLK Park. When the defendant came to a stop at a red light, the officers rode up to him to write a ticket. When the defendant saw the officers, he attempted to flee on the ATV. The defendant ran over one of the officers who was still on his bicycle, dragging him underneath the ATV for about 15 feet. When the officer came out from under the ATV, the defendant did not stop, but instead led the police on a high-speed chase for several blocks before the police were finally able to apprehend him.  

The officer suffered road rash and injured his back. He has been unable to return to work since the incident.

Caddale is scheduled to return Tuesday, September 20, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He was held on $15,000 bail.  

If convicted on all charges, Caddale faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Justin T. Wallens, Chief of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.

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