(photo and information from provided press release)
PERRY, NY- Chief Michael J. Grover reports the arrest of a Perry resident following a vehicle pursuit that began in the village of Perry and ended in the village of Warsaw.
On September 23, 2024, at approximately 7:57 pm, Officer Anderson observed a grey Ford pickup truck
traveling west on Lake Street at a high rate of speed. Officer Anderson activated Patrol car 25’s emergency lights and pursued the vehicle. The truck then failed to stop for Officer Anderson on Silver Lake Road, near West View Drive, and Route 20A.
While pursuing the vehicle, Officer Anderson observed the pickup truck being operated recklessly and erratically. Officer Anderson continued to pursue the pickup truck into the village of Warsaw where the vehicle then drove on the sidewalk near the intersection of Route 20A and Route 19 nearly causing an accident with another vehicle.
Officer Anderson with officers from the Warsaw Police department successfully stopped the vehicle from
traveling further down Route 19 by positioning Patrol Car 25 in front of the pickup truck. The truck then
collied with Patrol car 25 near East Court Street in the Village of Warsaw, causing damage to both the patrol car and the pickup truck. Officers then directed the driver out of the vehicle. The driver then refused to exit the vehicle. Officers then attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle. In doing so, an officer was struck in the face by the driver, causing bleeding from the nose and a small laceration to the face.
The driver was identified as Nicholas Stefaniak of Perry, NY. (no age provided)
Officers placed Stefaniak under arrest on scene where he refused to submit to field sobriety tests.
He was then arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Assault in the second
degree, Refusal to Take a Breath Test, Consumption of Alcohol in a motor vehicle and Speeding in a Zone.
Stefaniak was transported to the Perry Police Department where he refused to submit to a chemical breath test to determine his blood alcohol content (BAC). He was processed and arraigned in Village of Warsaw Court then remanded to Wyoming County Jail.
Officer Anderson was assisted by officers from the Village of Warsaw Police Department, deputies and
investigators of the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police, successfully stop[ing the
vehicle from causing any further damage to life and property.