16-Year-Old Will Spend 9 Years in Prison for Hurting BPD Officer

A teen has been sentenced to significant prison time for seriously injuring a Buffalo Police officer. According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn the 16-year-old was sentenced today, October 28, 2021, by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. The male, who is from Rochester, will spend 9 years behind bars and 3 years under supervision after his release.

The incident took place on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at Crossman Avenue and Heminway Street in Buffalo. An officer with the Buffalo Police Department responded to an emergency call about four people in a vehicle with a weapon. As the officer approached the vehicle the teen driver fled in the vehicle towards Cheektowaga. During the high-speed chase, the teen drove the vehicle through Mount Calvary Cemetery, then crossed Harlem Road, hitting two vehicles and finally crashing into a utility pole. The pole then fell through the windshield of the officer's cruisers.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn condemned the teen's decision to flee the scene,

“Instead of stopping the vehicle to allow police to investigate, this adolescent offender sped off through the streets of Buffalo and Cheektowaga, putting the lives of everyone in his path in danger. His reckless actions caused serious injuries to a Buffalo Police officer who could have been killed by the impact of that crash. I wish Officer Jonathan Negron well in his continued recovery. I hope that he feels that justice has been served by this teenager pleading guilty to all of the charges against him and being sentenced to a term of imprisonment.”

BPD officer Jonathan Negron was rendered unconscious. He sustained serious injuries to his head and spine due to the impact of the pole. He was taken to Erie County Medical Center by another police officer at the scene. He underwent numerous surgeries and is still recovering. The teen and three other people fled the vehicle, but we were caught and taken into custody.

The teen pleaded guilty to the following charges on September 22, 2021,

one count of Assault on a Peace Officer, Police Officer, Firefighter or Emergency Medical Services Professional (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony).