BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman has been appointed special prosecutor to review the alleged cover-up involving Erie County Sheriff's Office Chief of Narcotics Daniel "DJ" Granville.
Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane released the following statement on the matter on Wednesday:
“I asked the Court to appoint a special prosecutor to review the April 2024 incident involving Chief D.J. Granville of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. Recently, the Buffalo Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division contacted my office for consultation regarding its ongoing investigation. As a close family relative of Chief Granville is an employee of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, there is the potential appearance of impropriety with this office advising the Buffalo Police Department on this matter. Therefore, my office filed an application for a special prosecutor to handle the duties of a District Attorney pertaining to this incident. Today, the application was granted by Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio who appointed Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman to serve as the special prosecutor.”
Granville is accused of being involved in a hit-and-run crash while in an impaired condition in April 2024, according to a lawsuit filed last year. He allegedly struck seven parked cars in the area of Jersey Street and Prospect Avenue on Buffalo’s West Side.
WATCH: Photos show damaged Erie County Sheriff's Office pick-up truck involved in alleged hit-and-run cover-up
The Erie County Sheriff's Office released the following statement on Wednesday:
“We understand from District Attorney Michael Keane’s statement that the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Division sought consultation regarding the response of the Buffalo police officers who conducted the on-scene investigation after one of our employees damaged seven vehicles on April 11th, 2024. District Attorney Keane petitioned the court to have the matter transferred. We will fully cooperate with Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman if called upon. We continue to await the results of the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Division investigation so that we can conclude our internal investigation."
Video, obtained by The Buffalo News, appears to show Granville driving the wrong way down Prospect Avenue before crashing into two parked cars. He then slowly backs up and drives away. In the footage, a woman can be heard screaming after the crash, questioning what happened.
7 News spoke with Attorney John Elmore following the release of the DA's statement.
He said Keane made the right decision.
"That way there's full transparency. That way that there is no potential conflict of interest, and that way the integrity of the cases that the district attorney is handling, where Chief Granville is involved, is that integrity is not going to be compromised even more," Elmore said.
Settlements related to the alleged incident have already cost Erie County taxpayers nearly $60,000.
City and county lawmakers continue to push for more information.
- Buffalo’s Common Council has invited the Buffalo Police Commissioner to discuss the incident at its Police Oversight Committee meeting on April 17
- One week later, on April 24, Erie County legislators will hold their own meeting to further investigate what happened
When asked about the crash during a news conference on March 11, Erie County Sheriff John Garcia dismissed concerns, saying: “It’s a car accident…it’s allegedly unless I hear otherwise, which I haven’t.”
WATCH: Erie County Lawmakers call for investigation into alleged hit-and-run cover-up
There have been questions about whether the alleged crash was due to a medical episode. However, 7 News has confirmed that neither the Buffalo Fire Department nor AMR ambulance crews responded to the scene that night, indicating no medical emergency was reported.
Buffalo attorney Barry Covert joined Voices to discuss the appointment of the special prosecutor. You can watch the full conversation below.
