An unusual thing happened before Wednesday’s press conference at the Dunkirk Boardwalk: A fugitive from justice ran by.

About 15 minutes before the presser began, four Dunkirk Police Department officers showed up at a nearby restaurant.

They were inside for a couple of minutes. Then people on the Boardwalk, including dozens there for the press conference, started yelling and gesturing: A man had run out of the restaurant and the police were chasing him.

The man dashed between the Boardwalk and the lake, the police officers running in pursuit. With the press conference still a few minutes away, the OBSERVER decided to pursue him, as well.

He ran out onto the Clarion Hotel property, sprinting on the driveway next to the front entrance. The police were still behind him.

The press conference was set to begin, so the OBSERVER ended its pursuit — the police did not.

They caught up with the man, who they identified as Chaz Davis, 23, of Dunkirk. He was wanted as a fugitive from justice in a case from another state. The police did not offer information Thursday morning on what he was wanted for, or whether he would be charged for running from them.

The press conference was held to roll out Dunkirk’s schedule of summer events. No doubt, city officials don’t want to see anything like Wednesday’s event at those events.