(WNY News Now) – Bryan D. Ells, 41, of Brant, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for stealing a State Police patrol vehicle while being arrested on a warrant.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced yesterday that Bryan D. Ells, 41, of Brant, was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of 1 to 3 years. The sentence was handed down by Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio following a series of criminal actions that unfolded in October 2024.
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, at approximately 4:17 p.m., Ells was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by a New York State Trooper on Aldrich Street in the Village of Gowanda for a traffic violation. During the stop, the officer discovered that Ells was wanted on a warrant from Chautauqua County. He was handcuffed and placed in the rear of the State Police patrol vehicle while the vehicle he was in was being searched.
However, in a bold escape, Ells managed to free himself from the patrol vehicle and stole the police car. He fled the scene, prompting an immediate law enforcement response. The stolen patrol vehicle was later found on Gowanda Zoar Road in the Town of Collins, where Ells attempted to evade police at high speed, nearly striking a Sheriff’s Office vehicle in the process.
Ells’ escape continued as he abandoned the stolen patrol car on Eaton Road in Versailles. Authorities soon discovered Ells inside a nearby residence, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
In December 2024, Ells pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a Class “D” felony) and Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (a Class “A” misdemeanor). These charges were the highest sustainable charges, marking the resolution of his case.
District Attorney Keane praised the efforts of the New York State Police SP Collins, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, and Gowanda Police Department for their swift and thorough investigation into the incident. He also commended Assistant District Attorney Kevin L. Southern for prosecuting the case effectively.
Leave a Reply