A chase, a search, and a tip led to the arrest of two people Tuesday night after they were located at Walmart in Batavia.
The incident began with a chase on Route 63 in Oakfield.
A deputy on patrol spotted a Pontiac sedan traveling north at a high rate of speed, so the deputy turned around and attempted to catch the vehicle.
The deputy observed the sedan continue at a high rate of speed and pass a vehicle by crossing into the southbound lane. At that point, the deputy, in his marked patrol vehicle, initiated a pursuit with lights and siren.
The vehicle failed to stop and continued east on Route 262 and then north on Fox Road. At Fox and Maltby roads, the vehicle allegedly ran a stop sign and went into the air off the north shoulder of Maltby Road into a field.
The vehicle struck a tree and then continued northwest through the field. A backseat passenger jumped from the vehicle and complied with a deputy's commands.
The sedan continued northwest and entered a neighboring crop field. It allegedly damaged about $1,000 in crops.
The driver stopped the vehicle and the driver and remaining passenger fled on foot.
A vehicle search allegedly led to deputies finding scales with residue and an illegal weapon in the vehicle.
A K-9 was dispatched to assist in the search. That search led to a nearby residence.
Deputies received a tip that two people matching the suspects were given a ride to the Batavia Walmart.
Police responded to Walmart and located the suspects in the Walmart parking lot.
The driver was identified as Jason M. Fitzpatrick, 38, of Sweet Road, Howell, Mich., and the passenger as Samantha R. Makar, 22, of West Madison Street, York, S.C.
Fitzpatrick is charged with: criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd; unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle; criminal mischief, 4th; obstructing governmental administration, 2nd; and aggravated unlicensed operation. There was also a warrant for Fitzpatrick out of Michigan as a parole absconder.
Makar is charged with obstructing governmental administration and criminal possession of a weapon, 4th.
The weapon recovered was not described in the press release.
The third occupant of the vehicle complied with deputies' orders and was charged.
Assisting the in the incident were NY State Police, The Department of Environmental Conservation's K-9 unit, and Batavia PD.
Deputies involved in the incident included Jacob Gauthier and Jordan Alejandro.
