A 41-year-old Brant man will serve prison time for trying to flee New York State Police in a stolen police patrol vehicle in October of last year.
Bryan D. Ells, 41, of Brant, was sentenced Thursday before Acting Erie County Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio. He received an indeterminate sentence of 1 to 3 years in prison.
On Oct. 17, a New York State Trooper initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation on Aldrich Street in the Village of Gowanda. Ells, who was a passenger of the vehicle, was wanted on a warrant from Chautauqua County. He was subsequently handcuffed and placed in the rear of the State Police patrol vehicle.
While the van was being searched, the defendant managed to escape the rear seat and drove off in the patrol vehicle. Ells unlawfully fled police in the patrol vehicle, which was found on Gowanda Zoar Road in the Town of Collins. When located by members of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Ells intentionally drove the stolen patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed and nearly hit a sheriff’s office vehicle. The stolen patrol vehicle was later found unoccupied on Eaton Road in the hamlet of Versailles. Ells was found inside a nearby residence where he was taken into custody.
In December, Ells pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny (Class “D” felony) and one count of third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. He pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the New York State Police SP Collins, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gowanda Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin L. Southern of the Felony Trials Bureau.