Seat Belt Stop Spirals into Wild Chase Through Niagara Falls, Ends in Arrest and Seizure of $4k Cash

Niagara Falls Police were on routine patrol around 6:45pm on September 9th at the intersection of 22nd Street and Pine Avenue when officers observed a vehicle pass by with an unknown black male, now identified as Marvin Porter, not wearing his seat belt.

Officers turned around and activated their unit lights and initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle.

Officers approached the vehicle and and spoke with the driver/sole occupant of the vehicle who immediately stated, “I put it on. I just pulled it off.” Marvin provided officers a Pennsylvania driver’s license and rental agreement for the vehicle he was operating.

At this point, officers returned back to their patrol vehicle. While checking the driver status of Marvin, it was found and confirmed through NY EJustice that his NYS driver’s license was suspected (expired 8/15/2025).

Officers returned back to the vehicle and requested Marvin exit the vehicle due to him being unlicensed. Marvin refused to comply, put his vehicle in drive, and immediately began to speed off recklessly.

Officers got back into their patrol vehicle and began to follow Marvin. Officers followed behind Marvin from a safe distance observing him break multiple NYS vehicle and traffic laws. While behind him, officers observed him ignore multiple traffic control signs, travel unsafe speeds through the city roadways (almost 70MPH), failed to use proper signals when turning, and placed nearby citizens and local traffic in alarm and fear for their lives. At one point, Marvin did nearly collide into a separate marked NFPD vehicle.

After a few moments, Marvin did stop the vehicle in the rear parking lot of Rapids Theatre. Officers performed a felony traffic stop, acquired a target on Marvin, and were able to safely take him into custody.

Marvin was placed into the rear of a patrol vehicle and transported to police headquarters for booking and processing without incident.

Officers observed a small burnt cigarette blunt in plain view on the center console and a clear plastic bag with unknown green lead-like material inside it on the floorboard of the driver door. The vehicle was searched for more intoxicants which concluded negative.

However, officers did take custody of $4,010 cash, three cell phones, Marvin’s prescription medication and wallet, a black hat, and transported it to NFPD booking. The vehicle was towed.

At booking, Marvin was given a Sotoza Oral Fluid Test which he voluntarily did. The sample tested positive for CNS Stim-Coc, cannabis and CNS Stim-Amp.

However, due to his lack of sufficient exhibit cues from the standardized field sobriety testing that was performed, Marvin did not appear to meet the threshold needed for a DWI/DWAI. He was charged with various other vehicle and traffic related offences in addition to unlawful fleeing of a police officer, which is an A-misdemeanor.

No further information is available at this time.

Seat Belt Stop Spirals into Wild Chase Through Niagara Falls, Ends in Arrest and Seizure of $4k Cash