A dispute at a Walmart, Commercial Drive, New Hartford, NY led to a vehicle pursuit and arrest, according to police.
Officers from the New Hartford Police Department responded around 12:30 p.m. on March 6 after reports that a man was chasing another person through the store while wielding a baseball bat.
Police identified the suspect as Ramel Poole, 29, of Utica, New York. Officers said Poole threatened the victim with the bat and acted aggressively, prompting the victim to brandish a knife in self-defense.
Authorities noted that others at the scene, including the victim, were reportedly uncooperative with police. Officers later located Poole’s vehicle nearby and arrested him following a brief pursuit.
Poole was charged with petit larceny, disorderly conduct, unlawfully fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and seven vehicle and traffic law violations.
