By Henry L. Davis
Buffalo News
Copyright 2007 The Buffalo News
All Rights Reserved
BUFFALO, N.Y. - A Buffalo police officer suffered head and neck injuries Wednesday when his patrol car crashed into a building to avoid hitting a suspected bank robber who had fled his car after leading police on a lengthy car chase.
The incident began at 2:44 p.m., when the suspect entered the Bank of America branch at 600 Dick Road, Cheektowaga, vaulted over the counter where the tellers work and began emptying the cash drawers, said Cheektowaga police Capt. John Glascott.
The suspect, Mark Daniels, 43, of Cheektowaga, drove away but was soon spotted by Officer Anthony Nazzarett, who tried to pull him over near Union Road and Genesee Street, Glascott said.
Daniels then led Nazzarett and other officers from Cheektowaga and Buffalo on a chase that had cars speeding onto the Kensington Expressway, exiting at Suffolk Street, racing down several side streets and then emerging at Bailey and Warwick avenues, where Daniel’s vehicle hit a car, Glascott said.
As Daniels fled on foot, Buffalo Officer Alan Jackson swerved to avoid hitting him and, instead, drove into the Edward A. Saunders Kensington-Bailey Community Center next to the E District police station at 2767 Bailey Ave., police said.
Daniels was quickly caught and charged with felony robbery, unlawful fleeing, resisting arrest and reckless driving, said Glascott. It’s expected he will also be charged with traffic violations, he said.
Jackson, 40, was admitted to Erie County Medical Center for observation but his injuries are not considered serious, said Buffalo Police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge.
Daniels is expected to be arraigned todayin Cheektowaga Town Court.