Three Illegal Firearms Found Inside Vehicle: 'You caught me riding dirty, I’ve been drinking'

Niagara Falls Police were on routine patrol around 1:30am on July 15th when they observed a vehicle traveling East on the 1300 block of South Avenue with no headlights or taillights on.

Officers pulled behind the vehicle and activated overhead emergency lights initiating a traffic stop, to which the operator complied.

Upon approaching the vehicle, officers came into contact with the male driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Officers immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle. The male driver had slurred speech and glassy eyes. There was music coming from the vehicle and it was extremely loud.

Officers asked him to turn down the music. He looked confused and disoriented and was unable to find the dial in order to turn down the music.

At this time, officers asked the driver for his license and registration to which he replied, “you caught me riding dirty, I’ve been drinking.”

Officers had him exit the vehicle. While doing so, he fell into the driver’s side door and then into an officer.

Officers had to grab ahold of him in order to stop him from hitting from the ground. Due to him falling on the officer, he was able to smell an overwhelming odor of alcohol from his person.

Officers ordered the driver to move towards the back of his vehicle where he again started stumbling and used the car to catch his balance.

While patting him down for weapons officers asked if he had any weapons on him to which he replied, “yeah, I’ve got all the guns and drugs.”

The driver then stated, “come on take me to the police station f*ck all this.” Officers attempting to calm him down. However, he became more hostile and tried to push past officers.

Due to his erratic behavior and officer safety, he was placed in handcuffs and detained in the rear of a patrol vehicle.

While looking at the vehicle, officers observed what appeared to be the handle of a white handgun sticking out from under the driver’s seat in plain view. Upon taking a closer look, officers were able to clearly identify that it was indeed a firearm.

While entering the vehicle to retrieve the driver’s wallet, as directed by the driver, officers observed a second firearm a second firearm in the center console. There was also a spent shall casing on the driver’s seat.

Officers then did a thorough search of the vehicle at which time a third firearm was located under the driver’s seat. During the search, officers found five additional spent shell casings and an open alcoholic beverage called “Labatt Ice” that was cold to the touch on the passenger seat.

Officers asked the driver if he had a pistol permit to carry the firearms located in the vehicle to which he replied, “do you have a stupid permit?”

He then expressed he would like a lawyer and all questions ceased.

The driver was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated and transported to police headquarters for booking and processing.

While booking him, officers asked if he would perform standardized field sobriety testing, to which he refused. He also refused to submit to a chemical breath test.

No further information is available at this time.

Three Illegal Firearms Found Inside Vehicle: 'You caught me riding dirty, I’ve been drinking'