CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A Cheektowaga police officer who was critically injured during a police pursuit in February underwent another surgery this week.
The Cheektowaga Police Department provided an update on Officer Troy Blackchief on Facebook Wednesday. It said he had a fourth surgery. The cranioplasty was done at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. The procedure was similar to one done at Erie County Medical Center in April.
Three weeks later, in May, Officer Blackchief's 3D printed skull bone had to be removed due to infection — a known risk of that surgery. His latest surgery also comes with a higher risk of infection and other complications.
The police department says Officer Blackchief's family reports that he is stable after his operation. They add that a successful recovery over the next 12 weeks is critical to his long-term goals.
Officer Blackchief suffered a fractured skull and brain injury after he was hit by a person driving a stolen car on Union Road on February 6. He was trying to set down a spike strip when he was hit.
The 17-year-old accused of hitting him faces nine felony charges:
- Aggravated attempted murder in the second degree
- Aggravated assault against a police officer
- Two counts assault in the first degree
- One count of assault of a peace officer
- One count of grand larceny
- One count of criminal possession of stolen property
- One count of reckless endangerment
- One count of unlawful fleeing from a police officer
A special prosecutor is assigned to the case because an assistant district attorney was the victim of different alleged crime committed by the teen.