Press release
On May 29th, 2023, at about 12:05 hrs. the Albion Police Department was notified by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Dispatch of a stolen vehicle (2021 White Chrysler 300) that was headed northbound on State Route 98 into the Village of Albion, from the area of State Route 31a and State Route 98. The vehicle was reported stolen out of the City of Tonawanda. Patrols were then advised that Sirius XM was now reporting the vehicle at another location in the Village of Albion. Patrols checked the location with negative results.
The vehicle was then located later on Ingersoll Street. As a patrol car confirmed the vehicle as the stolen vehicle, the car fled the area traveling south on Ingersoll Street and driving in a manner that was erratic in an attempt to flee from marked police cars.
The vehicle continued eastbound on East State Street traveling at speeds in excess of 100 MPH.
Albion Police Department officers continued to pursue the vehicle.
The vehicle then made a left-hand turn and traveled northbound on Butts Road. The occupants of the vehicle eventually exited the vehicle in the area just south of State Route 104 on Crandall Road allowing the vehicle to roll off the roadway and eventually coming to rest off of the road. The occupants of the vehicle fled into the nearby wooded area. An observant homeowner directed responding units to the area where the 3 occupants fled to.
A perimeter was set up in an effort to contain the suspects to the area. As a result of the perimeter, along with help from multiple K9 teams and New York State Police Aviation, one of the suspects was taken into custody without incident.
Due to the weather and terrain, the search for the other suspects was called off and members from the Albion Police Department began investigating in an attempt to identify the two outstanding suspects. Later in the afternoon, another observant resident spotted individuals in the area of the original incident location.
Resources were again directed to the area as the two individuals matched the suspects descriptions. After searching the area patrols were able to take the remaining two suspects into custody without incident.
The two remaining suspects were apprehended about 3.6 miles from the original crash site and around 7 hours after the incident occurred.
The Albion Police Department investigated this incident and were assisted on-scene by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, New York State Police out of the Albion Barracks, New York State Police Aviation Unit, Medina Police Department, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force, Orleans County Emergency Management, and the Albion Fire Department. The Albion Police Department would also like to commend the observant residents in the area as well as Brown’s Golf Course for use of equipment and other homeowners who provided patrols with equipment.
As a result of the investigation the following suspects were arrested:
Ceu Uk (20 years of Age) from North Carolina who was determined to be the operator of the motor vehicle. Uk is charged with the following:
- NYS PL 165.45(05): Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th (E Felony)
- NYS PL 270.25: Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in Motor Vehicle 3rd (A Misdemeanor)
- NYS PL 120.25: Reckless Endangerment 1st (D Felony)
- Multiple V&T violations
- Nathaniel Thompson (22 years of age) formerly from North Carolina, now residing in the Albion area with:
- NYS PL 165.45(05): Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th (E Felony)
- Thobee Osborne: (21 years of age) formerly from North Carolina, now residing in the Albion area with:
- NYS PL 165.45(05): Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th (E Felony)
All of the following suspects were released with appearance tickets as none of the charges are arraignable
offenses under NYS Bail Reform Laws.