Shoshone Park attack leads to criminal charges against Buffalo man

Lamont K. Love, 34, of Buffalo, was arraigned Friday in Erie County Court and charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, a the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said.

Authorities said that around 10:30 p.m. on March 3, while riding his bicycle, Love approached the victim, who was walking in Shoshone Park in the 1900 block of Hertel Avenue.

Love is accused of jumping off his bike and attacking the victim.

The victim escaped the attack and reported the incident to the police.

“She was able to fight him off, and then during that encounter, during that fight, she was able to deescalate the situation and deter him,” Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said after Love’s arrest.

Love is scheduled to return for a pretrial conference at 2 p.m. on July 2. He remains held on $25,000 bail.