‘It’s a cycle’: Law enforcement continues plea for change amid continuous stolen vehicle details

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A multitude of chases involving stolen vehicles has law enforcement agencies across Monroe County are highlighting a need of systemic change to stop these violent crimes.

It is something News 8 has been reporting on almost weekly. A stolen car, typically a Kia or Hyundai, speeding down roads and police making the call to chase it down and with a significant detail Thursday that left a number of deputies injured.

Police continue to say it is time for change.

“The community is getting fed up with being victimized by the same people over and over and over again,” Lieutenant John Watson with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. “The community has got to step up and say to the State and County legislators, ‘Hey, maybe it’s time for some of these laws to change so that we’re not getting victimized by the same people over and over.”

We last spoke to Lieutenant John Watson one week ago. It was the day after police spent hours on a stolen vehicle detail.

Friday, Lieutenant Watson provided details on a pursuit involving a stolen Kia that happened Thursday night ending on Route 390 when it crashed. However, before that:

“There was an accident where the vehicle took a very evasive maneuver and one of the Sheriff’s Office struck the vehicle,” Lieutenant Watson said. “A deputy, while he was trying to extricate the driver from the vehicle, did get dragged for a little bit. He was able to land on his feet.”

All deputies involved are physically okay and were evaluated for scratches and cuts. They returned to work Friday morning.

The driver, 40-year-old Shaundale Williams was arrested and is currently being held.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is not alone in this. Rochester Police and New York State Police assisted in Thursday night’s pursuit, however, every area in Monroe County is affected.

Irondequoit Police taking to X Tuesday after a group of stolen Kias filled with teens came into a neighborhood. Police were only able to locate the vehicles and the people inside after they had crashed.

A part of the post reading, “We are throwing away a generation because no one has the audacity to say we need to make necessary changes.”

News 8 spoke with Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters after the thread was posted.

“It’s a cycle that what do they say as what’s the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over again, expecting different results. All we want is some help,” Chief Peters told News 8.

Chief Peters points to repeat offenders and says that this is an issue that is beyond the power of police to solve.

“We can only enforce the laws that are given to us, and we can only follow the policies, as far as what the state dictates, but the state’s not giving us anything in return,” Chief Peters said. “Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes you’re just, you throw your hands up in exasperation. But now we’re just like, ‘When is this going to end?’ And it doesn’t seem like anybody is listening to citizens.

While law enforcement has reported a large number of these stolen vehicles involving teens, Thursday’s detail involved four people all between the ages of 30 and 53. With those details, Lieutenant Watson says “You can’t stereotype. It’s everybody out there.”

Rochester Police have complimented the Monroe County’s JEDS program as being a benefit for teens. Data obtained by News 8 shows nearly 600 juveniles have participated in the program since it launched, with only one percent of teens reoffending.

FULL DATA FROM MONROE COUNTY:

• To date, 599 juveniles participated in the program
• 52% completed the stabilization period
• 1% of juveniles re-offended while they were in the program
• Average age is 15.3 years old
• Car thefts reduced 61% (Overall YTD 2023 vs 2024)

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