Buford Pleads Not Guilty in Green Bay Shooting Case
Craig Buford entered a not-guilty plea to five charges tied to a September 12 confrontation and police shooting downtown.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Craig Buford pleaded not guilty Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to five charges, including recklessly endangering safety and eluding an officer, stemming from a September 12, 2025 incident in Green Bay. A February 3, 2027 trial date was set.
Why it matters
The case involves a police shooting in a busy downtown parking lot and led to the cancellation of a Saturday farmer's market along Washington Street. Its outcome will bear on how the Green Bay community views the incident and the police response.
Buford faces five counts, including recklessly endangering safety and eluding an officer, and pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. A February 3 trial date has been set, while a blood draw was taken but no results are cited in the complaint.
The players
Craig Buford
The 61-year-old man charged in connection with the September 12 confrontation and police shooting in Green Bay.
The details
According to the complaint, Buford allegedly blocked in another vehicle in a parking lot and drove forward, making contact with the knees of a female, while officers yelled and pointed flashlights to stop him. An officer fired four shots after Buford was stopped near Cherry and Monroe streets, and field sobriety tests were not performed.
Timeline
September 12, 2025: Confrontation and police shooting occur in a downtown Green Bay parking lot.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Buford pleads not guilty to five charges.
February 3, 2027: Trial date set for Buford's case.
Legal Context
The charges of recklessly endangering safety and eluding an officer fall under Wisconsin's established statutes governing vehicle-related confrontations with law enforcement. Cases of this type in the state are typically resolved through the courts rather than summary action.
The cancellation of the Saturday farmer's market along Washington Street affected downtown shoppers and vendors during the investigation. Residents should expect continued legal proceedings before the February 3 trial.
The takeaway
The Buford case shows how a single vehicle confrontation downtown can close public spaces and move through several court dates before a verdict. Readers following the case can track the February 3 trial date for the next major development.
What happens next
A February 3, 2027 trial date has been set for Buford's case.
Further reading
For more on local policing, see Law Enforcement coverage across Green Bay.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLUK.
