TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A traffic stop ended with a car rolling into Ellicott Creek on Sunday night, according to City of Tonawanda Police.
Two men who were in the vehicle have been arrested.
City of Tonawanda Police Captain Fredric Foels said at about 6:50 p.m. Sunday, police attempted to pull over a vehicle on Kohler and Erie Streets. As the officer got out of the patrol car to approach the vehicle, the driver took off and led police on a chase that ended with the vehicle going down an embankment and into the creek.
Before the car rolled down the embankment and into the water, the two people who were in the vehicle fled and jumped into the water. Police say the driver and passenger tried to flee police by swimming across the creek, but had to be pulled out by police, who then arrested them.
"And according to a witness, something was tossed from the vehicle," Foels said. So right now, the police divers are in the canal, in the creek, right now, looking for, A, the vehicle, and B, something that was tossed from the vehicle."
The driver, Ernest B Green Jr , 37 of Buffalo, is facing several charges, including: Aggravated unlicensed operation-E felony, Criminal mischief 2ed -D felony, fleeing a police officer, obstructing govt administration and 19 traffic charges.
Daniel Rodriguez, 36, of Buffalo, was the passenger in the vehicle. He is charged with obstructing governmental administration 2ed and resisting arrest.
