Police Foot Chase Ends At Computer Works

A Field Rock Road man was arrested late Friday morning after allegedly trying to make off with $168 worth of baby formula and Red Bull from Big Y Supermarket on Monroe Turnpike. Police said William Lee, 39, tried to leave the store without paying for the items before officers pursued him on foot.

Lee fell and ripped his shirt when he jumped over a fence as he ran south along Route 111, police said, adding officers kept getting calls of a "suspicious person" during the chase before arresting him inside Computer Works.

Lee was charged with sixth-degree larceny and released on a promise to appear in court on Oct. 7.

"I was around the corner with a guy from Charter and saw three police cars come flying in here," Adam Gitow, owner of Computer Works, said of the incident, which occurred around 11:15 a.m. "Then a frequent customer of the deli said, 'Someone's being arrested in your store.' When I got to the door, they already had him in cuffs and were bringing him out."

Michaella Bartell, who was working alone in the store at the time, said Lee asked to talk to one of Bartell's co-workers, before asking to use the phone.

"His shirt was torn and his hands were cut up," she said, adding he was also out of breath. "He seemed fine. Police stormed in and said, 'Put down the phone,' and arrested him."

Gitow, who has a surveillance camera in his store, said the arrest happened without incident. "He didn't put up a fuss and the police were almost polite."