Foot Chase Ends in Drug Arrest in Utica’s Oneida Square

July 29, 2025

UTICA, NY — A narcotics investigation took a dramatic turn in Utica's Oneida Square neighborhood Monday afternoon. Around 1:25 PM, investigators from the Utica Police Department's Special Investigations Unit spotted the target of an ongoing drug operation and attempted to stop him.

Rather than comply, the suspect bolted, leading officers on a foot chase through the neighborhood. The pursuit ended when the man fled into the basement of a nearby home, where he was quickly located and taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect has been identified as 53-year-old Nicky Woods of Utica. He now faces multiple charges, including two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree (related to sale and weight) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree.