Buffalo man pleads guilty to injuring police officer while fleeing traffic stop

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of injuring a Tonawanda police officer while fleeing a traffic stop in a stolen vehicle.

The Erie County Prosecutor’s Office announced that Dareious T. Akbar, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Erie County Court to two counts of first-degree assault, one count of assault on a police officer, one count of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and one count of third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

On May 29, 2023, Akbar was driving a 2019 Kia Sportage that had been reported stolen in the Village of East Aurora and was stopped by Town of Tonawanda police officers after running a red light at the intersection of Sheridan Drive and Sheridan-Parkside Drive.

The prosecutor’s office said Akbar fled during the traffic stop and Officer David Piatek was dragged by the vehicle. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC and treated for a head injury and other serious physical injuries.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, on June 6, 2024, Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case issued a written decision dismissing the first three counts, which included: one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault on a police officer, and one count of first-degree assault.

The prosecutor’s office said it is appealing the court’s decision to the Appellate Division of the Fourth Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court.

After Akbar’s plea Tuesday, he faces up to 25 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10. He remains held without bail.