Larceny Suspects Lead Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies on a Pursuit Ending in the Erie Canal

On September 2, 2025, at 6:31 p.m., Brockport Police officers responded to the Walgreens on Lake Road for two males who were stealing merchandise. Store employees provided a description of the males who were last seen leaving in a U-Haul truck, traveling north on Lake Road. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area and assisted Brockport with searching for the vehicle. A short time later, deputies and Brockport Police officers observed the U-Haul in the village of Brockport and initiated a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, leading deputies on a pursuit throughout the west side of Monroe County and into Orleans County. The operator eventually drove onto the Erie Canal path in the Town of Murray, Orleans County. The pursuit ultimately ended when the vehicle suddenly veered into the canal. 

Deputies observed the operator exit the vehicle and swim to the opposite side, where he exited the canal and fled on foot. The passenger also exited the vehicle in an attempt flee. Deputies could see he was struggling to swim and jumped into the canal to rescue the passenger, ultimately losing sight of him when he went under in the murky water. Additional resources were immediately called to the scene to include the Fire Department Water Rescue, MCSO Underwater Search and Recovery Team and EMS. 

The MCSO Underwater Search and Recovery Team worked with our fire and EMS partners to search the canal for the passenger. Following a thorough search of the canal, they were able to recover the male, who unfortunately had passed away.

With the assistance of the Monroe County Drone Response Team, MCSO K9 Units, and the Orleans County Drone Team, the operator of the vehicle was eventually located and taken into custody. MCSO Major Crimes investigators identified the driver as repeat offender Ryan Armstrong and are holding him responsible for the death of the passenger.

 Ryan S. Armstrong, 43, of Brockport is charged with:

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C-Felony)

Armstrong was arraigned in Orleans County CAP Court and remanded to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to his double predicate felon status.

Along with the extensive rescue and recovery efforts on the night of September 2nd, crews returned to the scene on September 3rd, wher the MCSO Underwater Search and Recovery Team, the Monroe County Fire Bureau, the Murray Fire Department, and Jim’s Service collaborated to safely remove the U-Haul from the Erie Canal.

MCSO Evidence Technicians will be working throughout the week to process the evidence recovered in the U-Haul truck.

The criminal and internal investigations are ongoing. MCSO notified the New York State Attorney General’s Office.