City Hall controversy continues

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - There's new information about the City Hall controversy involving the mayor and a former basketball star.

Buffalo Parking Enforcement Director Len Sciolino confirms that there was an incident involving former basketball star Leonard Stokes.

Director of Buffalo Parking Enforcement Leonard Sciolino said, "Stokes was caught with a stolen permit."

Sciolino says it happened on January 8th 2007 in downtown Buffalo.

He says his people spotted a stolen handicapped parking permit and issued stokes a ticket. Sciolino, who was at the scene himself, says Buffalo Police were called, "I know that the police removed him from the scene but I had left already."

Sciolino says Stokes paid a $100 dollar fine for possessing the permit, a $90 dollar charge for towing and a $25 dollar charge for storing the vehicle after it was impounded.
But what happened with police still remains a question.

City Council Member David Rivera claims that Stokes was taken to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's office by police, and then released.

Rivera says that information comes from an officer familiar with the situation.

News 4's Luke Moretti said, "Was the mayor present for this meeting?"

Rivera said, "Yes."

Moretti asked, "So this Stokes was brought into the mayor's office with the mayor in there?"

Rivera said, "Yes."

Mayor Brown said, "I don't know about anybody being arrested and being brought to my office."

Brown calls it a case of dirty politics, less than a week before he squares off in a Democratic primary against South Buffalo Council Member Michael Kearns.

Mayor Brown said, "The issue is not whether or not I met with Mr. Stokes. The issue is, did I do something wrong? No. The issue is, did I get someone out of a ticket? No. The issue is, did I get someone out of jail? No."

In an unrelated matter, Leonard Stokes was arraigned in Buffalo City Court Wednesday on an outstanding trespass warrant.

According to the complaint obtained by News 4, the incident happened in January at a beauty shop on Herman Street in Buffalo. The woman who runs the shop claims stokes was physically on top of a woman "yelling and screaming." Mary Smith says she told Stokes "get off of her, get out."

Attorney Herb Greenman, who's representing Stokes, says his client was not aware of the warrant until recently. Greenman says Stokes pleaded not guilty, and will return to city court on October 7th.