On Thursday, April 12, 2018 at about 5:15 p.m., the Attica Fire Department and the Wyoming County Sheriff Office were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries on Dunbar Road near the Wyoming Correctional Facility in the Town of Attica.
Officer Karl Zufall responded to assist at the scene and determine the number and extent of injuries.
Upon arrival, he was met by David F. Woods Jr., 46, of Olean, NY, who was standing in the roadway. Initially Officer Zufall had Woods sit in his patrol car to await the ambulance arrival. Officer Zufall was asked to retrieve some personal items from the vehicle by Woods. Officer Zufall attempted to gain entry to the vehicle, however was unsuccessful due to the position of the vehicle.
When Officer Zufall returned,Woods became irate and attacked Officer Zufall. Woods struck Officer Zufall in the chest and face multiple times. Officer Zufall ordered Woods to get back several times and was then forced to deployed a taser. The taser had no effect on Woods, and Woods continually attacked Officer Zufal.
As Officer Zufall attempted to take Woods into custody, members of Wyoming County Emergency Management and the Attica Fire Department arrived and immediately went to Officer Zufalls assistance. Woods was taken into custody and handcuffed.
When Deputies arrived from the Wyoming County Sheriff Office Woods was being transferred into their custody when Woods attacked Officer Zufall again, striking Officer Zufall in the knee. Woods was restrained and placed into the awaiting deputies’ vehicle. Officer Zufall remained at the scene until Woods was transported by the deputies. Upon returning to the office, Officer Zufall began having trouble breathing and pain in the jaw and knee. An ambulance was requested and Officer Zufall was transported to the Emergency Department at Wyoming County Community Hospital for treatment of injuries to his knee, ribs, back, chest and jaw. Office Zufall was treated and released however, will be out of work for a period of time.
Woods was then charged by the Wyoming County Sheriff Office for Assault 2nd, Attempted Assault 3rd, Obstruct Governmental Administration 2nd, Resisting Arrest, in addition to the vehicle and traffic charges and DWI charges which was the result of the motor vehicle accident.
Woods was released from Jail, just two days prior, (Tuesday, April 10th) and was out on bail after being charged during a violent domestic. Woods has an extensive criminal history involving violent behavior and attacks on others.
“Law Enforcement and First Responders, every day, put their lives in jeopardy to serve and protect the communities in which they work,” says Attica Police Chief Dean Hendershott .
“A Police Officer responding to give assistance at a motor vehicle accident and then is violently attacked without provocation is unconceivable in most people minds, however, this is exactly what happened. If it was not for the direct and immediate assistance by members of the Wyoming County Emergency Management Office and the Attica Fire Department, Officer Zufall’s injuries would have been more extensive.”
“My sincere appreciation and thanks to the Deputies and Investigators of the Wyoming County Sheriff Office, Director Anthony Santoro of the Wyoming County Emergency Management Office and the members of the Attica Fire Department who assisted at the scene and who treated Office Zufall.”