Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Alexander J. Wright of Buffalo was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Peter J. Savage, III on one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree (Class “C” felonies), one count of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors) and four Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.
It is alleged that on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at approximately 1:36 a.m., the defendant was driving a vehicle eastbound on William Street when he was stopped by Buffalo Police officers near Sherman Street for a traffic violation. The officers allegedly saw the vehicle unable to maintain its line while being operated without activated headlights.
During the traffic stop, the officer allegedly witnessed the defendant take what appeared to be a handgun from the front passenger floorboard and place the gun inside the center console, which prompted a search of the vehicle. A loaded, illegal handgun and a bag containing a quantity of suspected cocaine was recovered from the center console and submitted into evidence. Police also allegedly found a cell phone with suspected cocaine residue on the surface and an open bottle of whiskey inside of the vehicle.
The defendant is accused of operating the vehicle while under the influence of a drug. He was also issued traffic summons for failure to keep right, driving with no license plate affixed to the front end, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and inadequate headlights. Wright was held and arraigned later the same morning.
Wright is scheduled to return on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.
If convicted of the highest charge, Wright faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
