Niagara County man crashes into patrol car, sets in on fire and flees causing another accident
Photos from Niagara County Sheriff’s Office
WHEATFIELD – A Niagara County man is accused of purposely driving into a Niagara County Sheriff’s patrol car in a head-on collision on Saturday at Mapleton Road in the Town of Wheatfield at about 5 a.m.
Schuyler P. Johnson
Schuyler P. Johnson, 52, of Cambria also allegedly then grabbed a gas can from the back of his pickup truck and poured gas on the patrol vehicle, and then ignited it.
Deputy Sikora, who was driving the patrol vehicle, used an extinguisher to put out the fire. Sikora wasn’t injured, Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti said.
Johnson fled from the scene in his truck, going north on Shawnee Road.
Other patrol units started towards the area of Shawnee Road to assist and look for the fleeing vehicle. Johnson was located by a Sheriff’s patrol supervisor on Shawnee Road overturned after it was involved in another accident.
Captain Grainge located Johnson and engaged with verbal commands to surrender. Johnson not only refused the commands but advanced towards Captain Grainge with a knife. Grainge deployed his Taser on Johnson which was unsuccessful in stopping him.
At one point during this encounter with Grainge, Johnson dropped the knife he was holding, rearming himself instead with screw driver and continued to advance towards Grainge, who then deployed OC spray on Johnson, causing him to surrender, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release.
Johnson was transported by Tri-Community Ambulance to ECMC for injuries sustained in the two vehicle accidents. He has been released from medical care at ECMC and remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility awaiting arraignment.
He is charged with arson 3rd, menacing a police officer, criminal mischief 2nd, menacing 2nd – weapon, reckless driving, and multiple vehicle and traffic violations.
