Deputies Tase Sly Crook in Avon Chase from Crack Car

AVON – The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office tased and arrested a Rochester man who allegedly decided to run from a parked car while Deputies were taking him into custody.

According to a press release from Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Jerome Brandon, 42, was arrested for felony Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree and Resisting Arrest, all of which are misdemeanors.

On June 17 at about 10:33 p.m., Deputy Shawn Whitford of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office assigned to Operation Safe Interstate stopped a car just off of Interstate 390 on Route 5 near Exit 10 after he allegedly observed the driver with an equipment violation.

The operator was identified as John Clarke, 66, of Rochester. It was discovered that Clarke was operating his motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, a total of 15 times. Clarke was also being sought by the Rochester Police Department regarding an outstanding warrant. Clarke was taken into custody without incident.

Deputy Michael Williams of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist Deputy Whitford on the traffic stop. The Deputy Sheriffs met with the passenger, who said that his name was Kenndrick Roddy. It was found that ‘Roddy’ was actually Jerome Brandon.

The Deputies also located what is believed to be crack cocaine in the vehicle. As Deputy Whitford was taking Brandon into custody, Brandon took off on foot. The Deputies gave chase and took Brandon into custody quickly after a short foot pursuit ending in taser deployment. Brandon was later seen by members of Avon Ambulance and declined any further medical treatment. No deputies were injured in the chase either.

Brandon and Clarke were transported to Central Booking at the Livingston County Jail.

It is alleged that more crack cocaine was found in Brandon’s shoe by Deputy Matthew Templeton of the Sheriff’s Office Jail Division, who was assisting in the booking process.

Brandon has three felony convictions on his record and was not eligible for bail. According to the NYS Department of Corrections an Community Supervision, Brandon spent 2 years at Livingston Correctional Facility starting in 1999 for a Criminal Contempt in the First Degree that he committed in Monroe County. He spent 8 months starting in 2009 for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance he committed in Orleans County, and was released to parole by merit release in 2010.

Clarke was also booked into the jail on the charge of misdemeanor Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the Second Degree.

Clarke and Brandon were processed at Central Booking and held in pre-arraignment detention. Avon Town Court before Justice Michael Torregiano arraigned both men on June 18. Clarke was held on $300 cash or $600 bond.

Brandon is held without the possibility of bail on the felony charge out of the Livingston County Jail. He is held on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond on the misdemeanor charges from Avon.

Deputy Bryan Mann, Deputy Connor Sanford and Sergeant James Merrick assisted with the arrests.