Local News
Career criminal leads police on multi-jurisdiction pursuit across multiple Monroe County communities resulting in several crashes and injuries to a deputy, a police K9, and a community member
Monroe County, New York – A nearly hour-long police pursuit that stretched across several Monroe County communities ended with the arrest of a repeat felony offender after a series of crashes, a physical struggle with officers, and injuries to a sheriff’s deputy, a police K9 and a civilian motorist.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the incident was the result of an investigation that began weeks earlier with the theft of a work truck and later escalated into a dangerous chase that placed motorists, pedestrians and responding officers at risk.
Investigators said the case started during the overnight hours of June 8, 2026, when a white Dodge work truck was stolen from a farm in Chili, New York. Days later, on the night of June 16, two license plates were reported stolen from a construction site in Perinton. Authorities believe those stolen plates were attached to the Dodge in an effort to disguise the truck and make it more difficult for law enforcement to identify.
Deputies continued searching for both the stolen truck and the missing license plates over the following days. Their efforts led to a significant break in the case on the morning of June 24.
At approximately 11:13 a.m., deputies received an alert from a License Plate Reader system indicating the stolen plates had been detected near Penfield Road and Cheswell Way. Responding deputies located the stolen Dodge parked at Corbett’s Glen Nature Park. Authorities said Ryan Novick, 45, of Rochester, was sitting alone in the driver’s seat when officers arrived.
Deputies positioned marked patrol vehicles around the truck to keep it from leaving and approached on foot. Law enforcement officials said officers clearly identified themselves and repeatedly instructed Novick to get out of the vehicle.
Instead of complying, investigators said Novick attempted to escape. He first backed the truck into a tree before crashing into a nearby parked vehicle to maneuver around police cruisers. After breaking through the perimeter, he drove across the grass inside the park and sped away, forcing deputies to begin a pursuit.
What followed was a 48-minute chase that crossed multiple Monroe County jurisdictions.
Throughout the pursuit, authorities said Novick drove recklessly while ignoring public safety. During the chase, he was involved in six additional vehicle crashes, creating hazardous conditions for other drivers, pedestrians and the officers attempting to stop him.
One member of the public suffered an arm injury in one of the collisions. Officials said they are thankful the injury appears to be minor.
As the pursuit unfolded, deputies coordinated closely with multiple law enforcement agencies in an effort to end the incident while minimizing danger to the public. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the response included assistance from the New York State Police Aviation Unit, traffic management efforts designed to reduce civilian exposure and the deployment of spike strips intended to safely disable the stolen truck.
The pursuit finally came to an end on Lyell Avenue near Verona Street, not because the suspect surrendered, but because the stolen vehicle became disabled after suffering mechanical failure.
Even then, authorities said the confrontation was far from over.
Investigators reported that Novick refused repeated lawful commands after exiting the disabled vehicle and physically resisted officers attempting to arrest him. Deputies initially used lower-force options, including a Taser, but officials said those efforts proved ineffective.
As the struggle continued, officers deployed a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office K9 to assist in bringing the suspect under control. Authorities said additional force became necessary before officers were finally able to place Novick into custody.
During the confrontation, both a deputy and the police dog were injured. The deputy suffered a hand injury, while the K9 sustained an injury to one of its ears. Officials said both required hospital treatment and surgery but are expected to make full recoveries.
Following department policy, Novick was transported to a local hospital after the K9 deployment. He was treated, released later that evening and then taken to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office A-Zone so investigators could complete processing.
The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that, in accordance with department policy, an internal review regarding the use of force during the arrest is currently underway.
Following the investigation, Novick was charged with multiple offenses, including Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest and Injuring a Police Animal.
After being processed, Novick appeared before Monroe County CAP Court for arraignment. On the morning of June 25, a Monroe County Court judge ordered him held without bail at the Monroe County Jail because he is a predicate felon.
Authorities described Novick as a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history involving stolen vehicles and previous police pursuits. The Sheriff’s Office also said he is considered a persistent felony offender and currently has outstanding warrants in both New York and another state.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office credited numerous partner agencies for assisting during the lengthy pursuit and arrest, including the New York State Police, the NYSP Aviation Unit, the Rochester Police Department and police departments from the towns of Irondequoit, Greece and Gates.
Officials said the incident highlights how a single suspect’s decisions can rapidly escalate into a situation that endangers an entire community. Investigators noted that Novick had several opportunities to surrender peacefully but instead continued fleeing, causing multiple crashes, damaging property, injuring a civilian, wounding a sheriff’s deputy and harming a police K9 before his arrest brought the dangerous pursuit to an end.
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