On August 29, 2024 at approximately 3:00 p.m., while participating in a multi-agency stolen vehicle detail in the City of Rochester, Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies, Rochester Police Officers and Greece Police Officers, and New York State Police were engaged in two separate stolen vehicle pursuits. As a result of the overall detail, law enforcement officers made nine felony arrests, recovered eight stolen vehicles, and served eight warrants.

Just before 3:00 p.m., at the beginning of the detail, an Investigator from the Ogden Police Department located a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe that had been stolen earlier in the day in Parma, parked on Smith Street. Law Enforcement Officers observed someone who appeared to be sleeping in the driver seat and two people at the rear of the vehicle. Upon attempting to stop them, the driver woke up and backed the Sante Fe into a marked Greece Patrol vehicle, drove onto a sidewalk, nearly striking a deputy, and then fled. Officers pursued the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes before the driver ran from the vehicle near the Campbell Street Recreation Center. A Rochester Police K9 Officer was able to safely apprehend the suspect a short distance away. At the location where the vehicle was located, officers detained the two individuals that were at the rear of the vehicle and learned they both had outstanding felony warrants.

As a result of this incident, the following individuals were charged:

  • Jonathan Rivera-Lopez, age 38, of Rochester is charged with four counts of Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd Degree, and multiple violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. He was transported to the Monroe County Jail. Rivera also had a warrant out of Livingston County for Unlawful Imprisonment, stemming from an incident in which he fled from Livingston County Sheriff’s deputies in a stolen vehicle with multiple passengers who were unwilling participants and feared for their safety. Rivera was Released Without Bail following his arraignment in Rochester City Court this morning.
  • Sara Mullen, age 31, of Rochester was served with an outstanding warrant for Robbery in the 1st Degree and Kidnapping in the 2nd Degree from the Town of Gates.She was transported to the Monroe County Jail.
  • Cody Newland, age 31,of Rochester is charged with a 12-count warrant that included Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, Unlawful Fleeing, and various violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. He was transported to the Monroe County Jail.

During the aforementioned pursuit, a deputy in the area observed a stolen 2018 Kia Sportage pass him on Jay Street. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, in the area of Rockview Terrace and Otis Street, a stolen 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe attempted to ram a pursuing deputy’s marked patrol vehicle, driving her off the road. Once back on the roadway, the Santa Fe then pulled up next to the marked Sheriff’s vehicle and attempted to sideswipe it and then pulled in front of the deputy, attempting to block her from pursuing the initial Kia. During this time, the Kia crashed on Santee Street and two occupants fled. Around the corner,one of the occupants that fled the Kia were picked up by the Sante Fe that officers were pursuing. Officers pursued that car until it crashed in the area of Lyell Avenue and Cameron Street. Two people were taken into custody at that scene and the third was located after a K9 track. As a result of this incident, the following charges were filed:

  • A 17-year old female driver of the original Kia Sportage of Rochester charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree and an outstanding Parole warrant relating to a previous Robbery conviction. She was transported to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.
  • 17-year old male driver of the intervening Hyundai Santa Fe of Rochester, charged with Attempted Assault on a Police Officer and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd Degree. He was arraigned in Youth Part and transported to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.
  • Denaisha Robinson, age 23, of Rochester (the passenger in the Kia Sportage), is charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Later in the detail, around 6:15 p.m., an MCSO Sergeant observed two stolen vehicles on Genesee Street. Deputies attempted to stop a 2017 Hyundai Elantra and the two occupants ran from the vehicle on Flint Street. As a result:

  • Both juveniles, age 17, of Rochester, were charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree and transported to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center. One of the juveniles is on Parole for Robbery; the other was wearing an electronic ankle monitor as part of their Probation Supervision.

Shortly after that, at around 6:45 p.m., officers observed a stolen 2019 Hyundai Elantra driving recklessly on Arnett Blvd. Officers lost sight of the vehicle and then found it crashed near the intersection of Love Steet and Taylor Street. A K9 track located two suspects, who were taken into custody after a short foot chase. As a result:

  • A 15-year old and 14-year old, both of Rochester, were charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree and transported to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.

“This chaos HAS to end," said Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “We as a society created this culture of lawlessness by failing to hold repeat offenders and dangerous individuals accountable. We are all paying the price. I implore legislators to come to the table and work with us to make some common sense adjustments to our laws. We cannot afford to wait any longer. How many more innocent lives have to be lost?”

“Thank you to all of our partners, including MCSO, NYSP, along with the Town and Village Police Departments that have graciously joined us in attacking this scourge of motor vehicle thefts across our communities,” said Rochester Police Chief David Smith. “Yesterday’s detail had great success with law enforcement doing their part in holding these criminals accountable and we look forward to continuing this success.”

Thank you to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Police Department, Greece Police Department, New York State Police, Ogden Police Department, U.S. Homeland Security Investigators, NYS Department of Motor Vehicle and NYS Department of Financial Services.

These men and women put on the uniform every day and night and run toward danger in an effort to keep our community safe. All of the individuals involved are repeat offenders who either have current pending charges or outstanding warrants. We appreciate these law enforcement officers and the sacrifices they and their families make in the name of public safety.

 

Amy Young
Communications Director
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
MCSOCommunications@monroecounty.gov
(585) 753-4518