ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A Brighton man with a lengthy theft record, Christopher Cole, 58, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly stealing merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Henrietta and fleeing on foot.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were alerted around 3:30 p.m. by Home Depot loss prevention at 770 Jefferson Road after Cole was spotted trespassing.
A loss prevention officer followed Cole to the nearby Dick’s Sporting Goods, where he filled a duffel bag with items and left without paying. When store employees tried to intervene, Cole reportedly spat in the face of a Home Depot worker before running away.
Cole was seen entering Bob’s Furniture in the Market Square Plaza, then attempted to escape through the rear of the store. Deputies say he ignored commands to stop, ran through the parking lot, and tried to hide behind a dumpster before being caught with help from a sheriff’s K9.
Cole was treated by EMS and taken to a hospital before facing multiple charges, including petit larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, trespassing, and second-degree harassment.
He was arraigned and remanded to Monroe County Jail on $7,500 cash bail or $20,000 bond.
Officials noted Cole’s extensive criminal history with 16 prior misdemeanor convictions and two open felony cases, including a second-degree robbery in Chili.
Cole was also arrested in July for multiple larcenies in Sweden, including theft from Brockport Walmart and an attempted theft at Lowe’s. Law enforcement used drones, K9s, and a state police helicopter during the search before he was apprehended in a Byrne Dairy parking lot and released to pre-trial supervision.
