BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Sheriff Office said a correctional officer has been arrested following an investigation into contraband at the Erie County Correctional Facility.
According to the release, on January 4, just before 6:30 p.m. deputies located Jason Stachowski’s vehicle on I-190 near Clinton Street. While attempting to take him into custody, Stachowski was confrontational with deputies and tried to run.
District Attorney John Flynn said Stachowski had to be tased but was eventually secured and taken into custody.
The sheriff's office said in mid-December, the narcotics and intelligence unit worked with jail management supervisors, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office after a cell phone, a phone charger, and an amount of marijuana was discovered within the Alden facility.
Information collected through the investigation led the sheriff’s office to Stachowski as the alleged individual who smuggled in the contraband.
After the traffic stop, Stachowski was arrested on complaints of introducing dangerous contraband into a prison and obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest.
Stachowski was held overnight Tuesday at the Niagara County Holding Center, arraigned Wednesday afternoon, and he was released under the state's bail reform law as the charges are non-qualifying.
"These are not the people that represent the Erie County Sheriff's Office nor do I want people like Mr. Stachowski representing the Erie County Sheriff's Office of the future," Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said.
At the time of his arrest, Stachowski was already serving a suspension for a separate issue that occurred in late December. He will remain suspended without pay pending an internal review per the sheriff's union contract.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn also confirmed that deputy Stachowski is the same individual who was seen last summer approaching a group of demonstrators in South Buffalo with a baseball bat. Stachowski was also suspended after that altercation.
Two court dates have been set. The first will happen in downtown Buffalo on January 11 for the obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest charges. The second court appearance on the charge of promoting prison contraband will be on February 1 in the Town of Alden.
RELATED STORY: