Orleans sheriff appreciates multi-agency response in arrest of driver who fled canal
Ryan Armstrong charged with manslaughter in passenger’s death
Photos by Tom Rivers: Many fire departments and law enforcement agencies are shown near the Bennetts Corners Road bridge on Tuesday after a U-Haul plunged into the Erie Canal.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
MURRAY – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, working closely with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, has arrested and charged a Monroe County man in connection with a fatal incident on the Erie Canal.
Ryan S. Armstrong
On Tuesday evening, deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a U-Haul box truck, operated by Ryan S. Armstrong, 43, of Brockport, formerly of Rochester. That followed reports that Armstrong and his passenger stole merchandise from a Walgreens in Brockport.
Armstrong drove recklessly when he refused to stop, leading law enforcement on a dangerous pursuit that reached speeds of over 85 miles per hour. Armstrong drove onto an Erie Canal service road where he abruptly drove the truck into the canal in an attempt to evade police. Armstrong was able to escape the vehicle and swim across the canal, but his passenger was unable to do so and tragically drowned.
Following a coordinated perimeter search on the north side of the canal and the deployment of drone technology, Armstrong was located and taken into custody.
As a result of the joint investigation between the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Armstrong has been charged in Orleans County with Manslaughter in the second degree.
He was arraigned during Orleans County central arraignment court this morning and is currently being held in the Orleans County Jail without bail. Armstrong has had multiple law enforcement contacts in Monroe County dating back to May 2000. A bail hearing for Armstrong is set in Orleans County Court for September 4th.
We are grateful for the close collaboration with our partners at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, whose swift actions and coordination were instrumental in bringing this case to resolution.
We would also like to thank all the resources deployed to keep the scene safe and secure, with special thanks to the Orleans County Emergency Management, Murray Joint Fire District, Brockport Fire District, and Mercy and Monroe Ambulance services, and all mutual aid agencies.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to the family of the victim during this difficult time.
Rescue boats from Kendall, Murray and Brockport fire companies and the Orleans marine patrol look for a man in the canal. His body was recovered by the dive team from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
