Nancy A. FischerT.J. Pignataro | Tuesday, July 1, 2008

NIAGARA FALLS -- A 39-year-old Buffalo man was arrested early Monday after a police chase that involved officers from a half-dozen police agencies.

Ricardo J. Saulters, of Oxford Avenue, was charged after leading authorities on a chase on the Niagara Thruway, Niagara Falls Boulevard and Youngmann Highway through the cities of Niagara Falls, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, and the towns of Amherst and Wheatfield, Niagara County sheriff's deputies and State Police said.

Saulters was pulled over at about 12:45 a.m. by State Parks Police Officer David Oun on the eastbound Robert Moses Parkway. When Oun approached Saulters' vehicle, he pulled away.

Oun pursued Saulters through Niagara Falls city streets to Niagara Falls Boulevard, police said. During the pursuit, deputies laid down spikes at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Military Road, but Saulters drove around them onto the Youngmann, according to reports.

He eventually exited onto Delaware Avenue on the westbound Youngmann in the Town of Tonawanda, drove into a ditch and ran off, police said.

Officers gave chase and found Saulters hiding under a vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel near the Youngmann.

Police from the Falls, Amherst and the City of Tonawanda also participated in the chase.

Several officers at the scene were treated for minor lacerations caused by jumping over fences, police said.

Saulters was arraigned Monday night in Tonawanda Town Court on charges of misdemeanor counts of unlawful fleeing, obstructing governmental administration, aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless operation, and operating with a suspended registration as well as 11 vehicle and traffic infractions. He also faces a charge of felony possession of a forged instrument after allegedly being found with counterfeit $20 bills. He was ordered held in the Erie County Holding Center on $5,000 bail.