Police Use Force to Detain E-bike Rider who Walked Away from Traffic Stop

Niagara Falls Police were on routine patrol on the 200 block of 1st Street around 11:45am on August 22nd when they observed a male, later identified as Gabriel Felts, riding an E-bike on the sidewalk in front of the Quality Inn. Riding an E-bike on the public sidewalk is prohibited under the law.

Officers activated their emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop. Once Felts stopped, officers asked him for his license and advised him that this was a traffic stop. Felts disregarded the officer’s requests and began walking into the Quality Inn hotel.

Officers again advised Felts it was a traffic stop and that he could not walk away. Felts then walked inside of the Quality Inn refusing to comply.

As officers entered the lobby, Felts started to walk down a hallway. At this point officers used to subdue him.

Felts was then placed in an employee officer area at the Quality Inn to wait for assisting officers due to the aggressiveness of Felts, crowd, and distance to the patrol vehicle.

Once officers arrived, he was then taken to the patrol vehicle and transported to police headquarters for booking and processing. Felts was released on an appearance ticket.

No further information is available at this time.

Police Use Force to Detain E-bike Rider who Walked Away from Traffic Stop