Thruway chase follows Walmart incident
What started as an investigation into an attempted shoplifting incident involving more than $1,000 worth of LEGO sets in Ontario County Saturday turned into a high-speed police chase that caused several crashes, including one that injured a New York State Trooper.
Employees at the Walmart in Hopewell called 911 about 3:50 p.m. to report three people trying to leave the store with unpaid LEGO sets, according to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office. The three people identified by the employees left the store but left the LEGO sets behind, deputies said.
Deputies said the three left in a car, which allegedly matched a description of a vehicle used in a shoplifting incident from the same Walmart store on Friday.
Deputies said the car was spotted on Main Street in Canandaigua and a high-speed chase from Canandaigua to Monroe County covering "17 miles in 19 minutes" followed, according to Sgt. Todd Ford of the Ontario County Sheriff's Office.
Rochester residents Darrel D. Hughes, 23, and Ella M. Cotton, 26, were charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, for allegedly stealing electronic equipment from the store on Friday. Hughes, who was allegedly driving the car, is also facing numerous vehicle and traffic charges.
William D. Johnson, 22, also of Rochester, was charged with attempted fourth-degree grand larceny in the attempted theft of the Lego sets on Saturday.
During the chase, the suspects' car allegedly hit one vehicle in Canandaigua and a New York State Police vehicle on the Thruway, causing that vehicle to collide with a Monroe County Sheriff's Office vehicle. The trooper inside the vehicle sustained a minor burn on his leg and complained of back pain after the collision, deputies.
No other injuries were reported.
The State Police vehicle sustained heavy damage. The two other collisions were described as minor, deputies said.
Police apprehended the suspects after a short foot chase in a wooded area along the side of the Thruway, deputies said.
The Thruway westbound was restricted to one lane for about 90 minutes Saturday during the incident.
Johnson, Hughes and Cotton were arraigned in Farmington Town Court and committed to the Ontario County Jail in lieu of bail.
TYEE@DemocratandChronicle.com