Buffalo mayoral candidates raise concerns over investigation into D.J. Granville crash

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The three men running for Buffalo mayor are speaking out and raising concerns, calling for accountability over how the D.J. Granville crash was handled that night by police.

This comes about a week after the special prosecutor on the case announced no criminal charges will be filed against any of the officers who responded the night of April 11, 2024.

Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman was unable to charge any of the officers who responded that night because of “insufficient evidence.”

Erie County Chief of Narcotics D.J. Granville hit six cars and damaged seven on Buffalo’s West Side, causing over $60,000 in damage. It’s believed he was on prescribed medication at the time.

In August, Granville pleaded guilty to reckless driving and leaving the scene. At the time, while addressing the media, Seaman said officers didn’t collect any evidence that night, no sobriety tests, breathalyzer tests, or a blood draw.

State Senator Sean Ryan, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Buffalo, raised concerns when it comes to the internal investigation that’s now underway by Buffalo Police.

“It doesn’t smell like a clean episode,” Ryan said. “This is a very long internal investigation that’s been going on.”

Due to there being no evidence collected at the time, Ryan questions what type of investigation is underway internally at the Buffalo Police Department.

“We’re not sure what’s going on with that internal discipline matter because all we hear is that it’s under investigation,” Ryan said. “But, there’s no breadcrumbs or a trail to say what type of investigation is going on.”

The five officers who responded that night were placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave, a year after the incident. Seamen, who was attached to the case, said he received “no cooperation” from the officers during the course of his investigation.

Among the officers to respond to the scene that night was Lt. Lucia Esquilin, who happens to be Granville’s sister-in-law, something Independent Mayoral Candidate Michael Gainer weighed in on.

“Because of nepotism, because of people’s relations, friends or relatives, they’re treated differently,” Gainer said. “It’s difficult to show up as a family member, in that position, responsible for holding another family member accountable. I understand the challenge of that. It doesn’t make it right how it was handled.”

Republican mayoral hopeful James Gardner tells us, as a former prosecutor, he’s worked with hundreds of police officers.

“Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of them are excellent people who hold themselves to the highest standards, who work hard everyday to keep us safe, and when they fall short of living up to that standard, there needs to be consequences,” Gardner said. “Both in terms of how late it was reported, to the way it was reported, there’s a lot of things here that beg the question as to whether or not everything was on the up and up.”

In August, Granville was sentenced to community service and was suspended from his position without pay for 30 days. WIVB News 4 reached out to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office who confirmed that he is still employed with their agency.

WIVB News 4 also reached out to the Buffalo Police Department, requesting a sit-down interview with Commissioner Alphonso Wright, or a statement in response to the candidates’ concerns. We are still waiting to hear back.