NIAGARA FALLS – Police in a marked car pulled over a vehicle with a headlight out at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of 18th Street. Police said the driver pulled over, but then fled on foot.
Police lost sight of the man, but then noticed a taxi slowly circling the area. Officers located the taxi at 15th Street and Linwood Ave. and identified the passenger as the suspected driver who had fled earlier.
Lawrence E. Smith Jr., 25, was charged with fifth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of drug paraphernalia after police found cocaine, marijuana and suboxone strips and two digital scales in his possession.
He was additionally charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration and an equipment violation.