Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Jaewon D. Shropshire of Buffalo has been arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller, acting as a Buffalo City Court Judge, on one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class “D” felony, one count of Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor, and one count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor. He was also charged with Reckless Driving and Failure to Obey a Traffic Device, which are vehicle and traffic law violations.

It is alleged that on Sunday, May 31, at approximately 7:10 p.m., Buffalo Police officers observed the defendant inside a U-Haul that was stopped on Bailey Avenue near Kensington Avenue. The vehicle was reported stolen on April 6, 2020. As the officers attempted to approach the vehicle, the defendant is accused of placing the truck in reverse, which hit another vehicle. The defendant then allegedly accelerated forward, forcing one of the officers to jump out of the vehicle’s path.

Officers pursued the vehicle and allegedly witnessed the defendant drive through a red light at the intersection of Bailey Avenue and Corpsewood Avenue. When the driver reached a dead end on Orleans Street near Millicent Avenue, he allegedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot. He was apprehended a short time later on Oakmont Avenue.

Shropshire is scheduled to return on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 9:39 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was released on his own recognizance. 

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

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