3 charged after 2-county chase ended with a crash in Clarendon on Wednesday night
Three people were charged after a high-speed chase on Wednesday. From left include Jason Schmeer, Zachary Hursh and Alexander Scheg.
CLARENDON – A high-speed chase that started in Genesee County ended with a crash on Route 237 near Glidden Road on Wednesday night in Clarendon.
According to a police report issued by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Conservation Officer F. Fuerch was investigating a conservation violation in the area of Horseshoe Lake Road and Sanders Road in the town of Stafford. When the officer attempted to make contact with the suspect’s vehicle by activation of her emergency lights, the vehicle failed to comply and took off, initiating the motor vehicle pursuit.
Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies in the area joined the chase and successfully deployed a tire deflation device, known as a spike strip, in the area of Route 127 and 33 in the town of Stafford. The vehicle continue to flee at a high rate of speed, failing to yield to emergency vehicles pursuing it. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was notified, based upon the direction of travel, and the pursuit continued into Orleans County.
The suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a left turn onto Glidden Road in the town of Clarendon, going off the north shoulder of the road, striking a street sign and utility pole. The vehicle became inoperable and the driver and front seat passenger fled on foot. The rear seat passenger was taken into custody at the vehicle and was identified as Jason R. Schmeer, 41, of Rochester.
Responding Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies, Albion police and Batavia police with their K9 partner set up a perimeter. ENCON officer Fuerch deployed her K9 partner, leading to the apprehension of the passenger, identified as Alexander Scheg, 27, of Byron, in a heavily wooded area.
Meanwhile, a resident in the area heard the sirens, and called a neighbor ask her if she had heard all the commotion. The neighbor decided to go her garage and when she opened the door, she heard moaning. A deputy was in her driveway and discovered the driver in the back of the resident’s pickup truck, apparently injured from the crash.
The driver, identified as Zachary Hursh, 37, of Rochester, was taken into custody.
Following the investigation, it was determined the vehicle they were operating, a 2017 Honda Civic, was reported stolen out of the city of Rochester. A search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia and cocaine.
All three suspects were arraigned in the town of Stafford court by Honorable Judge R. Penepent. Hursh was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and reckless driving and various other vehicle and traffic violations.
Scheg was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.
Schmeer was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Both Hursh and Shmeer were remanded to Genesee County Jail, based on having two or more previous felony convictions. Scheg was released on the arraigned charges and held in Genesee County jail on an active city of Batavia warrant.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s office and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were assisted in the investigation by members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s office, Albion Police Department, New York state police and Batavia Police Department.
