×

First Ward foot chase ends with man behind bars

A Dunkirk man is in Dunkirk City Lockup for a wide array of charges after an incident in the First Ward Tuesday night.

Dunkirk Police report the incident began around 11:30 p.m. when patrol stopped a vehicle on Lake Shore Drive East near Armadillo Street for a traffic violation.

The incident allegedly escalated when the officer discovered a passenger who was trying to hide under a blanket in the back seat was wanted on several outstanding warrants for felony robbery charges. The officer called for backup and as officers arrived on the scene, the man, identified as Walter S. Duprey, 33, of 123 Main St., Dunkirk, allegedly crawled into the front seat, locked the car doors and instructed the female driver to take off.

Officers were able to get her to shut the engine off and get the keys from her. However, Duprey was not as easy to wrangle and when extricating him from the car, he allegedly struggled and ran through residential yards in the area.

Dunkirk Police, Fredonia Police, SUNY Fredonia University Police and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to set up a perimeter to contain Duprey within the block. Officers then began searching yards and allegedly flushed out Duprey. He allegedly led officers on a foot chase, but was ultimately caught and subdued on Pangolin Street near the intersection of Pine Street.

Duprey was taken to Dunkirk Police headquarters and was charged with first-degree robbery and third-degree robbery from previous felony warrants as well as two counts of resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance, as a result of allegedly dropping a small bag of coocaine on the floor of the vehicle during the traffic stop.

Duprey is being held without bail until his arraignment in Dunkirk City Court.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today