Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 19-year-old Dareious T. Akbar of Buffalo was arraigned yesterday evening before Tonawanda Town Court Justice J. Mark Gruber on one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer or Peace Officer, one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony).
It is alleged that on Monday, May 29, 2023, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Town of Tonawanda police officers initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle that allegedly drove through a red light at the intersection of Sheridan Drive and Sheridan-Parkside Drive. The vehicle, a 2019 Kia Sportage, had been reported stolen earlier that day from the Village of East Aurora. During the traffic stop, the defendant, who is accused of being the driver of the stolen vehicle, allegedly drove off and dragged one of the police officers. Officer David Piatek was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he remains hospitalized with serious physical injuries.
Akbar is scheduled to return on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.
If convicted of the highest charge, Akbar faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in this investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
Akbar is currently pending sentence for another crime involving a vehicle theft. Akbar pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) on April 11, 2023. He faces up to 4 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. Akbar was released on his own recognizance.
On Saturday, October 22, 2022, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Buffalo Police saw the defendant driving a stolen vehicle, a 2021 Kia Soul, westbound on Seneca Street. The defendant abandoned the vehicle on Tamarack Street and attempted to flee on foot. He was arrested a short time later in the area of Abbott Road and Athol Street.
Our office will file a bail motion to request that the Court revoke his release and remand the defendant, who is accused of committing another felony offense while pending sentence for a felony conviction.
The defendant also has additional pending cases in the Town of Amherst and City of Lackawanna.
It is alleged that on September 15, 2022, a 2019 Dodge Ram was reported stolen from the Town of Hamburg. Other nearby residents also reported that items were stolen from their parked vehicles. The defendant is accused of being in possession of the stolen vehicle and using the victims’ debit card and credit cards to make various unauthorized purchases in the Town of Amherst. Following an investigation by the Amherst Police Department, an arrest warrant was issued for Akbar on or about April 28, 2023.
Akbar was arrested on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The following morning, he was arraigned before Amherst Town Court Justice Kara Buscaglia on one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony) and four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felonies). Akbar was released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.
Akbar is scheduled to return to Amherst Town Court for a felony hearing on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
It is further alleged that on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at approximately 4:35 p.m., the defendant, with the intent to place or attempt to place another person in reasonable fear, pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at the victim. Officers allegedly recovered a black BB gun during the investigation.
Akbar was charged with one count of Menacing in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor). As the charge is a non-qualifying offense, he was given an appearance ticket to be arraigned at a later date. The defendant failed to appear for the arraignment on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Akbar is now scheduled to be arraigned in Lackawanna City Court on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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