2 People Arrested Following Incident At Park And Pursuit.

Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports 26-year-old Julie Hilliker of Hamburg and 32-year-old Joshua Aman of Elma were arrested on March 8, following a pursuit.

At approximately 9:34 A.M., a Sheriff’s Sergeant was flagged down by a park visitor near Chestnut Ridge Park's tennis courts. The visitor detailed how a woman approached them and asked for a cell phone because she was being kidnapped. The visitor provided a description of the female and the vehicle she entered after the interaction.

The Sergeant observed the vehicle leave the park and headed south on Route 277 in Orchard Park. The Sergeant activated the vehicle’s emergency light to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped up and attempted to flee.

The subject’s vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Boston State Road and continued south onto Zimmerman Road. The fleeing vehicle lost control and crashed into a guard rail near Back Creek Road in the Town of Boston.

Deputies took the female subject out of the driver’s seat of the vehicle and questioned her and a male occupant. The Deputies determined a kidnapping did not take place and continued their investigation. The Deputies discovered Hilliker and Aman had outstanding warrants and took them into custody.

A search of the vehicle discovered a quantity of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. Hilliker and Aman were arrested and charged with multiple misdemeanors and violations.

Hilliker’s charges:

· Criminal possession of a controlled substance;

· Two counts of Criminal use of drug paraphernalia;

· Aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle;

· Criminal impersonation;

· Unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a vehicle;

· Unlawful possession of marijuana;

· Three separate vehicle and traffic law infractions.

Aman’s charges:

· Two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance;

· Two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia;

· Criminal impersonation;

· Unlawful possession of marijuana.

The defendants were transported to the Erie County Holding Center and were later released.