Volunteer Firefighter Arraigned for Stealing Merchandise from Home Improvement Stores

Modified: May 3, 2022 3:54pm

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5/3/2022

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Dylan Biddeman of West Seneca was arraigned on Friday morning before West Seneca Town Court Justice Jeffrey M. Harrington on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony).

It is alleged that between October 1, 2021 and April 8, 2022, the defendant, while acting in concert with a co-defendant, stole merchandise from a home improvement retailer in West Seneca and other store locations throughout Western New York. The defendant is a volunteer firefighter with Vigilant Fire Company in the Town of West Seneca.

Biddeman is scheduled to return on Friday, May 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance as the charge is a non-qualifying offense for bail.

If convicted of the charge, Biddeman faces a maximum sentence of 7 in prison.

DA Flynn previously announced that his co-defendant, 33-year-old Ryan J. Miller of Town of West Seneca, was arraigned before West Seneca Town Court Justice Jeffrey M. Harrington on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree (Class “D” felonies). The defendant, a patrol officer who is currently suspended from the West Seneca Police Department, was arraigned on April 26, 2022.

It is alleged that between October 1, 2021 and April 8, 2022, the defendant stole merchandise from a home improvement retailer in West Seneca and other store locations throughout Western New York. Once the merchandise was in his possession, the defendant would allegedly steal the items by cancelling an order or by leaving the store without paying for the items. The defendant, a patrol officer with the West Seneca Police Department who was off-duty at the time of the alleged incidents, is accused of stealing more than $10,000.00 in merchandise.

Miller is also scheduled to return on May 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.

If convicted of all the charges, Miller faces a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Erie County District Attorney’s Office confidential criminal investigators for their work in this investigation.

Both cases are prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the Public Integrity Unit.  

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