BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – An undercover Buffalo Police Sergeant was attacked while carrying out a sting operation last Friday at Broadway and Peck, on the city’s east side.
Buffalo police have begun a crackdown on prostitution.
Police say Elijah Simmons of Buffalo, who has been arrested before for robbery and prostitution, was dressed as a woman when he got into the car.
Undercover police video shows Simmons beginning to grope his intended target while reaching for cash with the other hand.
His target, who works in the city’s narcotics-vice unit, said Simmons pulled out a screw driver during the alleged robbery attempt.
“I wanted him to stop, take his hands off me,” said the undercover detective whose identity cannot be revealed.
The video shows the struggle and Simmons then being arrested by backup detectives who arrived quickly at the scene.
They pulled his wig off his head and put him in handcuffs. He is seen still holding onto a twenty-dollar bill he allegedly stole.
“It could have been a life or death situation,” said Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda. “It’s an incident that could have happened to someone else, not a police officer, that could have ended in very tragic results.”
Families and business owners in this section of Broadway say the quality of life has deteriorated. They say prostitutes are becoming more desperate for money to support drug habits.
Simmons, besides being charged with robbery, was also in possession of a controlled substance, according to police. He is being held on five thousand dollars bail.