BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Prosecutors admitted Monday they arrested the wrong guy, as another man went before a judge to be arraigned on assault charges connected to a violent road rage incident in Cheektowaga.
28-year-old Rakeem Scott is charged with one count of Assault in the Second Degree. Prosecutors say Scott was driving on Walden Avenue days before Christmas when he stopped his vehicle at an intersection and approached the driver. Police add Scott then dragged the victim out of the vehicle, punched him in the face multiple times and fled the scene.
The victim, Matthew Rudy, was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery for fractures to the left side of his face.
Originally, 31-year-old Maurice Scott was identified as the perpetrator and charged with assault. The charges are expected to be dismissed when he is scheduled to return to Cheektowaga Town Court Tuesday morning.
Maurice Scott's attorney, Dan Dubois, tells 7 Eyewitness News: "Maurice Scott was arrested and tried in the court of public opinion almost from day one based on a inaccurate and faulty identification." Dubois initially told prosecutors shortly after the arrest that Maurice did not commit the crime. Maurice did post bail and has been out shortly after his arrest.
Dubois also applauded the work of the District Attorney's Office for exonerating his client.
The Rudy family released this statement:
During the ongoing investigation of the horrible attack on my husband, it was discovered that the man they had initially arrested for it was incorrect and through the case investigation they discovered the identity of the person that was in the car at the time of the crime. We were unaware that they had taken care of all of this today and had arrested Rakeem Scott for the 2nd degree assault on my husband.
