Lake Ontario chase brings raft of charges
YATES — A 64-year-old man who led Orleans County sheriff’s deputies on a 30-minute chase on Lake Ontario last weekend after they attempted to inspect his personal watercraft is facing numerous charges after he was finally arrested at his home, the Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
Deputies say Richard A. Acer, of the Town of Yates, was riding his 2003 Sea-Doo watercraft at 2:30 p. m. Saturday on the lake near the Niagara-Orleans line when two deputies attempted to perform a marine safety inspection.
When Deputies J. W. Halstead and W. E. Larkin pulled up alongside Acer’s watercraft and explained what they wanted to do, Acer sped off.
The deputies pursued Acer for about half an hour before he retured to his home on Lakeshore Road in Yates, where he was arrested by Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Harrer.
Acer was transferred to the custody of Orleans County deputies and taken to the Orleans County Public Safety Building. He is charged with reckless operation of a vehicle, operating an unregistered vehicle and numerous other navigation law violations.
