05/29/12 Buffalo, NY – Unknown Suspect Steals Buffalo Police Car – Police Confront – Fit The Description Suspect – Struggle – Officer Injured – Suspect Shot – Died

May 29, 2012

wgrz.com

A spokesman for the Buffalo Police Department tells 2 On Your side that a man has died after a struggle with an officer ended with gunfire early Sunday morning.

Police have identified the man who died as 25-year-old John A. Sordetto. And a source has identified the Officer as Mark Andrewczak.

According to Tom Burton, an attorney for the Police Benevolent Association, police were looking for a stolen police cruiser around 5 a.m. Sunday when an officer patrolling the city’s Black Rock neighborhood in the 700 block of Tonawanda Street noticed a man whom he thought fit the description of the man who stole the cruiser.

While the man in Black Rock turned out not to be the man who stole the cruiser, when Officer Andrewczak stopped the man, a struggle began, according to Burton. When the officer attempted to handcuff the man, the man resisted and ran away, Burton added.

“The officer was knocked aside,” Burton said. “There was a chase. The officer tackled the individual, and there was a violent, violent, fight that took place.”

Burton said Officer Andrewczak was punched in the head repeatedly, and that the officer felt the person try to pull his gun away from his gun belt. Burton said the officer then drew his weapon, but the man kept on coming at him, so the officer fired once.

The officer’s bullet hit the man. Burton said the officer was able to radio-in his location before he passed out, face-down, in the middle of Tonawanda Street.

Police responding to the incident grabbed the man. He was taken to E.C.M.C. where he was later pronounced dead.

Officer Andrewczak was also treated for injuries he sustained during the struggle. Police continue to investigate the situation as well as the Internal Affairs Division, which is customary anytime an officer uses his weapon. Andrewczak has been placed on administrative leave.

Burton said Buffalo police did recover the stolen cruiser car, but had not yet caught the thief. However, we’re told he left his wallet in the car.