New Era CEO Arrested For Reckless Endangerment In Buffalo

A heated argument ended with the CEO of New Era in handcuffs after a scuffle in a parking lot over the weekend.

is a company that had its roots here in Buffalo.  You may remember they owned the naming rights to Bills stadium for a couple of years. Now, they're one of the biggest producers of officially licensed hats in the world.  They have contracts with just about every professional sport.  They've had their headquarters here in Buffalo for awhile but unfortunately have shut down plants here in Western New York and moved their production to other areas.

According to WIVB, the CEO of New Era, Chris Koch was arrested on a felony charge of reckless endangerment here in Buffalo.

Koch was allegedly involved in an altercation outside Oliver’s Restaurant on Delaware Avenue near Delham in Buffalo around 8:30 on Saturday night.  The problem started after the victim exited his vehicle and started to approach Koch's vehicle.  Koch allegedly drove his car at the man, forcing him to jump out of the way.

"When the victim exited his vehicle and approached the defendant’s vehicle, the defendant allegedly engaged in conduct that created grave risk of death to another person by intentionally driving his vehicle toward the victim,”  - Erie County DA's Office

The victim suffered damage to the passenger side of his vehicle and a hand injury in teh scuffle.

Koch is due back in court on May 25th where he will face up to 7 years in prison. He remains released on his own recognizance for now.