NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — Officers have arrested the man who they say dumped a boat on a Niagara Falls street.
Investigators with the New York State Environmental Conservation Police said an anonymous tip led them to city resident David Smouse, 53.
They secured security footage from a transport company in the Town of Niagara, and also interviewed employees at the company. It all pointed to Smouse. Employees said Smouse, who has since been terminated, used a maintenance truck bay at work to grind off the boat's hull identification number and remove the boat’s motor. They allege he then dumped the 25-foot-long boat on 15th Street in the morning hours of March 26.
Smouse was charged with two felonies: forgery of a vehicle identification number and possession of a forged instrument. He was also charged with unlawful disposal of solid waste in excess of ten cubic yards, an environmental law misdemeanor, and unlawful dumping, a Niagara Falls city ordinance violation.
Smouse surrendered himself to the city police department on April 16 to receive his summons for the ordinance violation. He was also arraigned in city court for the state misdemeanor charge. He was then transported to the Town of Niagara by environmental conservation officers where he was arraigned on the two felony charges.
Smouse appeared in city court on April 22 and is set to appear in court in the Town of Niagara on May 20.
