Deputies track down man who fled on foot, leaving drugs behind in a rental car

NIAGARA FALLS – A man who fled from his rental vehicle after a traffic stop two weeks ago was tracked down by Niagara County sheriff’s deputies and arrested Sunday.

Romond M. Lamar, 29, of Ninth Street was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana after a two week long investigation.

Deputies said on March 3 they tried to stop the vehicle on Centre Avenue after it was noted that both the driver and his male passenger were not wearing seat belts. Deputies said they made a turn to follow the car, lost sight of it, then found the rental car abandoned in a driveway in the 2900 block of Greenview Terrace. Two sets of footprints led away from the vehicle, both in different directions, said deputies.

In the vehicle deputies found a baggie of marijuana and other items with traces of marijuana. Deputies were able to find identification items in the trunk, a name of a woman who rented the vehicle and after several interviews found the name of the man who had been driving.

Lamar said the marijuana was his, but told deputies that he knew only the first name of his passenger.