B U F F A L O N E W S
Boyfriend accused of running over woman
Attack follows months of domestic violence complaints, deputies say
By VANESSA THOMAS
News Staff Reporter
4/1/2005
Felix A. Medina has been harassing a woman for years - but this time he tried to kill her, say Erie County Sheriff's deputies.
On Thursday morning, Medina, 26, of Carolina Street on Buffalo's Lower West Side, allegedly ran over the 38-year-old woman, said to be his girlfriend, several times with his car on Alan Court, Grand Island, just steps from her home.
The vicious attack left a trail of tire tracks on the street and grass and a woman's earring and necklace scattered along the street.
The woman is hospitalized with serious injuries in Erie County Medical Center.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, Medina turned himself in to the Sheriff's Department on Delaware Avenue after deputies launched a statewide manhunt for him.
He was in the Holding Center late Thursday, pending arraignment on charges of assault with the intent to cause serious injury with a weapon, and assault with the risk of death, a spokeswoman said.
"This is obviously a domestic where unfortunately the situation just got worse," said Capt. Ron Kenyon of the Sheriff's Department.
"The calls we've been responding to at that home were never of this magnitude."
Deputies believe Medina drove his 1998 Cadillac over the woman at least twice Thursday morning.
A man, believed to be Medina, brought the woman to Kenmore Mercy Hospital where she was reportedly bleeding from her ear.
When hospital officials asked the man what happened, police say he fled.
Deputies said the woman told hospital officials that her boyfriend tried to run her over with his car. She was later transferred to ECMC.
"We're trying to determine who brought her into the hospital," said Kenyon. "Whoever brought her into the hospital left her and took off."
On Thursday, deputies scoured Alan Court for clues, examining tire tracks and using their helicopter to take aerial photos of the crime scene.
The crime follows months of complaints to police by the woman.
Two months ago, Medina was charged with harassment at the woman's home when he returned there after being bailed out and was arrested again while hiding in her chimney, deputies said.
On Feb. 7, Medina was arrested after he allegedly threatened the woman in the presence of her child in her home. He was charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken to the Holding Center and released on $500 bail.
Several hours later, on Feb. 8, the woman heard his voice in her home and called police. The deputies arrested Medina after finding him hiding in the chimney, where he had climbed to avoid being caught, they said.
Medina was charged with criminal trespass, resisting arrest and two more counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent back to the Holding Center without bail.
Just a month later, on March 9, Medina was arrested again and charged with possessing drugs in the company of two teenagers who had been named in a court order of protection, sheriff's said.
Medina had been mandated to stay away from the two boys, ages 15 and 16, but they were found with him in his vehicle during a traffic stop on River Road in the Town of Tonawanda, deputies said.
Deputies said they stopped Medina because his vehicle had only one license plate, and found marijuana and 20 Ecstasy tablets in his possession. He was charged with felony possession of drugs with intent to sell, two counts of contempt of court and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to the Holding Center, pending arraignment in Grant Island Town Court.
In August 2003, Medina was accused of striking the woman's two sons - then ages 10 and 14 - when they came to the aid of their mother during a domestic dispute at their home.
Deputies said Medina entered the woman's home and started a fight with her, but when her sons came to her aid, Medina struck them in the face. He was charged with two counts of assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, burglary, grand larceny and harassment.
Neighbors said the front yard of the woman's home is often the site of domestic disputes - everything from shouting matches to physical violence.
"We knew something was going to happen over there," said one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The victim, the mother of four children, had an order of protection against Medina, authorities said. A few weeks ago, the four children were placed in foster care by Child Protective Services.
Last May 10, Medina was seriously injured when he was shot several times on the West Side.