Deputies: Man runs into Penfield swamp while being arrested for driving stolen car

PENFIELD, N.Y. — Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies say a man ran into a swamp in Penfield while being arrested for driving a stolen car. A different man was also arrested around the swamp for stealing from Wegmans.

Deputies began investigating after getting reports of someone stealing merchandise for Wegmans on Penfield Road on Tuesday morning. After spotting the suspect’s car, deputies tried to stop it but the driver refused to pull over.

Later, deputies found an abandoned car on Route 441 near Fellows Road in Penfield and determined that it was stolen. Deputies say they arrested the driver along with the man who stole from Wegmans after setting up a perimeter.

The man accused of stealing from Wegmans was caught at the edge of the swamp. Deputies say the sheriff’s office Drone Response Team caught the car’s driver hiding in thick weeds and knee-deep water to avoid arrest. From there, K9 units and deputies took the man into custody. You can watch the drone video in this story.

“Excellent teamwork and coordination by all involved. The use of drones to quickly locate the suspect, share his location and ensure a safe arrest in thick brush and swampy conditions is invaluable,” said a statement from MSCO Deputy Brendan Hurley.

The alleged driver, 53-year-old John Ransom of Gates, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property and 18 traffic citations. The man accused of stealing from Wegmans, 35-year-old Javier Davila of Rochester, is also charged with criminal possession of stolen property along with petit larceny.

Davila was issued appearance tickets and turned over to the Greece and East Rochester police departments to answer to outstanding warrants. John Ransom was issued appearance tickets and released.