Cops: Flanders man ran from police after drug stop

A Flanders man was arrested for marijuana possession early Sunday, and a man who was with him was arrested for running away from an officer, according to Southampton Town Police.

The incident took place at about 12:07 a.m. on Meadowbrook Lane in Flanders, which is off Evergreen Road, according to police.

The officer observed a “suspicious car” parked on the side of the street with the interior dome light on, and he discovered that the man in the driver’s seat had marijuana.

Guillermo Ayala, 20, of Flanders, was arrested at the scene and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, which is a violation, and then released on an appearance ticket.

The passenger, Elijah Stewart, 20, of Flanders, got out of the car, despite repeated orders from the officer to get back in it, and ran to a nearby home, police said.

However, he came out of the home a short time later and was arrested for second-degree obstructing governmental administration, which is a misdemeanor, a more severe charge that the marijuana possession charge.

He was taken to police headquarters and processed, and then released on an appearance ticket, police said.