Philip Decker

A Little Valley man has been jailed on $250,000 bail after a high-speed chase Tuesday night through parts of Dunkirk and Fredonia.

According to a police report, Philip A. Decker, 26, of Little Valley was charged with first-degree felony reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving and several traffic infractions after a chase at 7 p.m. Tuesday that began near Park Avenue and East Third Street, Dunkirk.

Officers saw Decker driving knowing he had active bench warrants from Dunkirk City Court. An officer tried to pull Decker’s vehicle over, but police report Decker fled at high speeds, leading officers on a vehicle pursuit through the city of Dunkirk and into the village of Fredonia. Police report Decker drove down a dead end street and continued attempting to evade officers by driving through lawns. While turning around in a resident’s yard Decker stopped long enough for officers to get out and attempt to apprehend him, but while officers tried to get Decker out of his vehicle Decker put the car in reverse, accelerating at a high rate of speed and almost hitting numerous officers.

An officer was able to deploy a taser through the only open window in the vehicle. The taser deployment was successful in getting Decker to stop trying to flee and allow police to get him out of the vehicle. Once out of the vehicle police say Decker continued to resist officers. He was taken into custody a short time later.

After an investigation it was discovered Decker allegedly possessed a quantity of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia. He was taken to Dunkirk Police Headquarters where he was held on his active bench Warrant and new charges stemming from the pursuit. He was taken to the Chautauqua County Jail on $250,000 bail.

Dunkirk officers were assisted by Fredonia Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies, the New York State Police and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.