Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Scott Nowak of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class “D” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment against him on Friday, July 19, 2019.

On March 31, 2019, at approximately 6:40 p.m., a patrol officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Genesee Street near Sonwill Drive in Cheektowaga when the defendant continued to drive at a high-rate of speed in an attempt to evade police. When the defendant refused to stop, the patrol officer placed a notice to area law enforcement to be on the lookout for the defendant’s vehicle.

A short time later, Cheektowaga Police officers were responding to a multi-vehicle collision on westbound Kensington Expressway near the Thruway interchange when the defendant sped through the crash site, hit a barrier and nearly injured a police officer.

Nowak faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He remains held on $75,000 cash or bond.

DA Flynn commends Sgt. John Wanat and Officer Brian Wesoloski of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.