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Erie County Sheriff's Office locates person of interest; Clarence Schools remain closed Wednesday

According to the school's website the Clarence Schools were closed Wednesday due to an ongoing search for a suspect in the area.

CLARENCE, N.Y. — The Erie County Sheriff's Office has located a person of interest in the Clarence area.

The sheriff's office tweeted just before 10:20 a.m. Wednesday that David Cottom Sr., 50, of Akron, has been located and is currently in custody.  

According to the sheriff's office, early Wednesday morning, a vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and nearly hit a sheriff's vehicle on Main Street in Clarence. Deputies tried to stop the vehicle; however, the driver allegedly fled the scene.

The sheriff's office deployed additional deputies along with K9 units, QRF and Air-1 to search for the suspect in the area of Pineledge Drive and Winding Lane. 

During their search, the sheriff’s office received a call for a stolen vehicle just before 9:30 a.m. in the City of Buffalo. They say the person driving the vehicle matched Cottom's description. 

Investigators say patrol units followed the vehicle, but lost sight of it near Niagara Street. The stolen vehicle was located shortly after on Prospect Avenue. It was unoccupied. 

After a brief search of the area, Cottom was located by deputies near Niagara and Maryland and taken into custody, and is now facing numerous charges.

Cottom has been charged with misdemeanor counts of unlawful fleeing from police, reckless driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. He was also charged with vehicle and traffic law violations such as speeding, operation of a vehicle by an unlicensed driver, and three violations for failing to stop at a stop sign.

In addition, Cottom is facing charges for allegedly stealing a vehicle from a residence on Hillcrest Drive. Cottom has been charged with a felony count of grand larceny, a felony count of criminal mischief in the second degree and a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Cottom will be arraigned Wednesday evening in Clarence Town Court.

Police say the incidents remain under investigation and are not commenting further.

Earlier in the day the sheriff's office said they did not believe that Cottom was a danger to the public, but they note that he was "despondent" when the incident occurred.

Due to this ongoing situation, the Clarence School district announced early Wednesday morning that all schools would be closed for the day. Clarence Superintendent Matt Frahm wrote in a letter sent to the Clarence School community Wednesday morning saying, "To ensure the safety of students and staff, local law enforcement advised that we close school to give them adequate time to resolve the situation."

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