Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that Otis Williams of 245 Rodney Ave., in the City of Buffalo, was convicted of Assault in the Third Degree, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, and Resisting Arrest, as charged, after a three day jury trial before Buffalo City Court Judge Diane Wray. 

On November 10, 2012, in violation of a curfew imposed upon him by his parole officer, Williams was seen driving erratically and striking other parked cars on Rodney Ave. in the City of Buffalo. Detective Dawn Lopez and Officer Joseph Mullen promptly responded and observed Williams walking from the driver side door of the suspect vehicle. Williams grappled with Detective Lopez, threw her to the ground, and fled. Officer Mullen gave chase and, despite Williams’ desperate and violent efforts to resist, eventually subdued him. The defendant’s claims--that he was the victim of mistaken identity and/or the victim of police brutality and/or the victim of deceitful police testimony--were undermined by the credible evidence and rejected by the jury.

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Adler, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Buffalo City Court Bureau. Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2014 before Judge Wray. Williams, having recently completed a prison term for violating parole in connection with a 2008 conviction for a violent felony, faces a maximum of two years at the Erie County Correctional Facility.