BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A chief with the Erie County Sheriff's Office will not spend any time behind bars after admitting he was responsible for a string of hit-and-run crashes.
Chief Daniel "DJ" Granville pleaded guilty on Friday to Reckless Driving and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Only Accident. He was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and nearly $700 in fines.
WATCH: Video appears to show ECSO chief Granville hit parked cars as questions surround alleged cover-up
Allegations of the crashes surfaced following a lawsuit that was filed last year. That lawsuit claimed Granville, the Chief of Narcotics and Intelligence for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, was driving on Buffalo's west side negligently, recklessly, and carelessly in his county-owned vehicle before losing control and crashing into several parked cars on Prospect Avenue in April 2024.
Hind Mohamed was a witness to the crash. She said she came out of her home after hearing a large bang. Mohamed said Granville got out of his car and became combative. She said he pulled a female Buffalo police officer to the side, and took command of the situation as if he were the investigating officer.
"Had it been one of us, we would have been locked away," said Mohamed. "Had it been one of us, it would have been guns drawn at the scene...I'm just so upset, it just doesn't make any sense."
"If the sheriff's watching, what would you say?" asked 7 News Reporter Michael Schwartz.
"Shame on you, honestly, shame on you," said Mohamed. "You should have done way more. The people that were involved, people in that community, you guys want us to trust you guys? We can't, because look what you guys do protect your own, like shame on you and shame on everyone else, they didn't wanna do anything else to help this whole situation."
"None of the Buffalo police officers who were called to respond that night cooperated with my office," said Brian Seaman, the Niagara County District Attorney who was appointed as special prosecutor to this case.
He said Buffalo Police Officers did not give a field sobriety test or provide a breathalyzer. Seaman also said body cam footage is missing, on top of officers not cooperating.
"None of them would give a supporting deposition when I asked them to do so, and none of them would come and meet with me or any of my investigators to talk about what they observed that night," Seaman said."So our investigation was without any of those things."
Granville was placed on administrative leave in April 2025. In a new statement issued Friday afternoon, Sheriff John Garcia said Granville is now suspended without pay.
You can read the rest of the statement below:
“I want to thank Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman, his staff and the staff of the Buffalo Police Department Internal Affairs Division for their work on the investigation into the April 11, 2024 crash involving D.J. Granville.
As has been previously stated, Granville was involved in a multi-vehicle property damage accident. Erie County Sheriff’s Office personnel were never called to the scene, and we never participated in the criminal investigation. Granville informed us about this accident approximately 8-9 hours after its occurrence. Chief Granville stated that he was working, that there were no injuries, that he wasn’t intoxicated, that he received a summons for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and that the Buffalo Police Department prepared an accident report. As acknowledged by his lawyer in court today, just days before the incident, Chief Granville sought medical treatment for physical and mental health issues. Soon after the motor vehicle crash, he availed himself to our Employee Wellness Program. This is not a matter I could previously disclose for obvious reasons. There is a need for confidentiality regarding employee wellness programs, as we need people to come forward when they are struggling. There are also HIPAA parameters by which we need to abide. I was unable to speak to this earlier. However, D.J. – through his attorney - made it public in court today.
I, for one, do not feel he – nor anyone – should have his career defined by one night. In my 3 ½ years as Sheriff, D.J. Granville has presided over numerous investigations that have culminated with massive seizures of cocaine, fentanyl, meth, the seizure of more than 150 illegal firearms and the seizure of more than $3.5 million in ill-gotten proceeds. His efforts have undoubtedly saved countless lives in our community and taken many bad actors off of our streets.
Chief Granville has had a stellar career, but he obviously used terrible judgment when this accident occurred. Everyone at the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, especially those in command positions, needs to be held responsible for their actions. While he should have taken responsibility sooner, D.J. has done so today"
Five officers with the Buffalo Police Department have been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues into their actions when responding to the crash.
