GENESEE/ORLEANS COUNTY/Three charged after pursuit through two counties

On Monday, December 1, 2021 at 10:19p.m., NYS ENCON Officer Fuerch was investigating a conservation violation in the area of Horseshoe Lake road and Sanders road in Stafford, and was attempting to make contact with the suspect vehicle by activating her emergency lights. The suspect vehicle failed to comply and took off, initiating a motor vehicle pursuit.

Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies in the area, assisted in the pursuit and successfully deployed a tire deflation device, a spike strip, in the area of Rt. 237 and Rt. 33 in Stafford.

The vehicle continued to flee from law enforcement at a high rate of speed, failing to yield to police.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was notified as the pursuit headed north on Rt. 237.

At the intersection of Glidden road and Rt. 237 in Clarendon, the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate a left-hand turn onto Glidden road , leaving the roadway on the north shoulder and striking a street sign and utility post. The vehicle then became inoperable and the operator and front seat passenger fled from the vehicle on foot.

The rear seat passenger was taken into custody at the disabled vehicle and was identified at Jason R. Schmeer, 41, of Rochester.

A perimeter was then set up by responding law enforcement, and ECCON Officer Fuerch and her K-9 partner Handley were able to locate and apprehend the front seat passenger, Alexander D. Scheg, 27, of Byron. in a heavily wooded area.

The driver of the vehicle, Zachary P. Hursh, 37, of Rochester, was taken into custody after being located in a nearby residential garage.

Following an investigation, it was determined that the vehicle, a 2017 Honda Civic, was reportedly stolen out of the City of Rochester. After a search of the vehicle was conducted, drug paraphernalia and cocaine were located.

Hursh is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 3rd degree, a class D felony, unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a class A misdemeanor, obstructing governmental administration 2nd, a class A misdemeanor, reckless driving and other vehicle and traffic violations.

Scheg is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 3rd degree, a class D felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree, a class A misdemeanor, and obstructing governmental administration 2nd, a class A misdemeanor.

Schmeer is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 3rd degree, a class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th degree, a class A misdemeanor.

All three suspects were arraigned in the Town of Stafford Court by Judge Penepent and Hursh and Schneer were remanded to the Genesee County Jail based on having two or more previous felony conviction. Scheg was released on the arraigned charges and then held at the Genesee County Jail on an active City of Batavia warrant.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and NYS ENCON were assisted in the investigation by members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Albion Police Department, the NYS Police and the Batavia Police Department.