BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW — A suspended Town of Tonawanda police officer is facing charges after an off-duty crash in January.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says Officer Howard Scholl III is charged with falsifying business records and one count of insurance fraud. His wife, Aimee Scholl is charged with falsifying business records. These are misdemeanor charges.
Scholl and his wife appeared in Amherst Town Court Thursday. The couple was brought in through a back entrance, so cameras did not capture them walking in and out of court. DA Flynn says this is "unacceptable."
"This makes it look like the criminal justice system is giving favoritism to a police officer," he said.
A spokesman for the police department says there is an internal investigation underway, into a motor vehicle accident, while the officer was off-duty, on January 19, 2019. The accident happened at Englewood Avenue and St. Johns about 11:50 p.m. Flynn says Scholl III was coming from a Town of Tonawanda SWAT Team Awards Dinner at Sinatra's down the street from where the crash happened.
Initially, Flynn says Scholl says his wife was driving but then changed his story days later to say he was driving.
Minor injuries were reported from that crash, according to Lt. Tom Haynes.
Scholl is being represented by prominent defense attorney Barry Covert.
"He's a decorated Marine, he's a decorated police officer and he's really lookng forward to getting back and serving the community," Covert said.
Scholl has been a Town of Tonawanda police officer since August, 2007. He is suspended without pay.
