Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 32-year-old Michael T. Sawyer of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Buffalo City Court Judge JaHarr Pridgen on the following offenses:

• One count of Strangulation in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony)
• One count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony)
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony)
• One count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanors)
• One count of Petit Larceny (Class “A” misdemeanor)

It is alleged that on Friday, April 1, 2022, at approximately 10:36 p.m., the defendant punched and slapped the victim multiple times during an argument inside of a home in the City of Buffalo. The defendant is also accused of strangling the victim with his hands to the point of unconsciousness and throwing her to the floor during the assault. The victim suffered a concussion, an injury to her back and bruising to various parts of her body. The assault allegedly occurred in the presence of two young children.

After the attack, the defendant allegedly took the victim’s cell phone, which prevented her from calling for help. The defendant is also accused of taking the victim’s keys and her vehicle without permission.

Sawyer is scheduled to return to Buffalo City Court on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. Prosecutors requested that the defendant be remanded. Judge Pridgen set bail at $100,000.

If convicted of all charges in this case, Sawyer faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

At this time, Sawyer has a total of four pending criminal cases in Erie County. The defendant, who is accused of causing serious injuries to the victim in an attempted purse snatching incident, was arraigned yesterday morning before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice James Speyer, Jr. on one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Class “C” violent felony).

It is alleged that on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at approximately 5:15 p.m., the defendant attempted to forcibly steal a purse from the elderly victim outside of a grocery store on Harlem Road near Kensington Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga. The defendant, while driving a vehicle, allegedly grabbed the handles of the bag as the victim held onto her purse. The victim was subsequently dragged by the moving vehicle and fell, which resulted in serious physical injuries.

An unoccupied vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle was found parked on Miller Avenue near Broadway in the City of Buffalo. When the defendant was confronted by police as he approached the vehicle, he attempted to run to evade arrest. He was taken into custody after a brief chase.

The victim, an 80-year-old woman from Snyder, remains hospitalized at ECMC.

Sawyer was also arraigned yesterday before Justice Speyer on the following charges in a separate criminal matter in Cheektowaga Town Court:

• One count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in the Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Reckless Driving (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)
• One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)
• One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)

It is alleged that on March 22, 2022, a Cheektowaga Police officer on routine patrol recognized the defendant as he was driving a vehicle with an expired registration and lapsed insurance in the area of Richard Drive and Shanley Street. When the officer initiated a traffic stop and approached the vehicle on South Ogden Street, the defendant allegedly drove off at a high-rate of speed and continued recklessly drive into the City of Buffalo. The vehicle was found unoccupied outside of the defendant’s address on Sage Street. An arrest warrant was issued after police were unable to make contact with the defendant to give him an appearance ticket to be arraigned on the charges, which are non-qualifying offenses for bail.

Sawyer was arraigned before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice Speyer on December 22, 2021 on the following offenses in a fourth criminal case:

• One count of Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in the Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Reckless Driving (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)
• One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)
• One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Vehicle & Traffic Law violation)

It is alleged that on November 28, 2021, at approximately 5:01 p.m., a Cheektowaga Police officer on routine patrol recognized the defendant driving and changing lanes without signaling on Broadway. A traffic stop was made on Broadway near Dick Road, but the defendant allegedly sped off as the officer approached the vehicle. The officer allegedly terminated the pursuit as the defendant continued to recklessly drive at a high-rate of speed onto Borden Road.

An arrest warrant was filed after police were unable to locate the defendant to issue him an appearance ticket to be arraigned on the charges, which are non-qualifying offenses for bail. He was later arrested and arraigned. The case remains pending in Cheektowaga Town Court.

Sawyer is scheduled to return to Cheektowaga Town Court on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Speyer set bail at $200,000.

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department and Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The misdemeanor cases in Cheektowaga Town Court are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael W. Held of the Justice Courts Bureau. The felony assault case in Cheektowaga is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the Felony Trials Bureau. The domestic violence case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.