Pittsford, NY — Two Erie County men are facing a long list of charges after a violent carjacking at an Ontario County hotel escalated into a high-speed chase and foot pursuit that ended in Monroe County early Monday morning, according to law enforcement officials.
Carjacking Reported at Victor Hotel
The incident began around 3:25 a.m. when the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police responded to the Microtel in Victor after receiving multiple 911 calls.
Sheriff David Cirencione said the first call involved reports of a disturbance outside the hotel, including a vehicle horn blaring repeatedly. Moments later, a hotel employee called reporting that a bloodied male had run into the lobby claiming he’d been assaulted and his vehicle stolen.
The victim told investigators he had been attacked by two men—later identified as Yavier Harris, 26, of Buffalo, and English Reynolds, 23, of Amherst, as per 13WHAM.
High-Speed Pursuit on Route 96
Minutes after the alert, a deputy spotted the stolen vehicle heading north on State Route 96, near the Ontario–Monroe County line. With assistance from New York State Police, the deputy began pursuing the vehicle.
“The operator failed to comply and accelerated to 100 miles per hour,” Sheriff Cirencione said.
The intense pursuit lasted four minutes as the suspects fled through Pittsford. The stolen vehicle eventually pulled off the road near Rustic Pines, where both suspects jumped out and ran.
Foot Chase and Drone-Assisted Capture
Deputies immediately chased the fleeing men.
- Harris was apprehended quickly after a brief foot chase by the pursuing deputy.
- Reynolds, however, ran into a field, prompting a coordinated search effort.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deployed a drone, which detected heat signatures in the field. A Rochester Police Department K-9 team was then brought in.
“The dog picked up the scent and pursued the suspect,” Cirencione explained. Reynolds continued attempting to run and was eventually caught and bitten by the K-9, allowing deputies to take him into custody.
Attack Was Domestic-Related, Police Say
Officials revealed that the male victim and Reynolds had a domestic relationship, and a protective order against Reynolds was already active at the time of the assault.
Investigators said Reynolds and the victim had been in communication earlier Sunday evening, and that both suspects had taken an Uber to the hotel before the targeted attack.
Authorities emphasized that the assault was not random, and there was no wider threat to the community.
Multiple Charges Filed
Both Harris and Reynolds face an extensive list of felony charges connected to the carjacking and pursuit.
Charges for Yavier Harris, 26, Buffalo
- Robbery
- Assault
- Grand Larceny
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon
- Resisting Arrest
Charges for English Reynolds, 23, Amherst
- Robbery
- Assault
- Grand Larceny
- Criminal Contempt (for violating an order of protection)
- Multiple vehicle and traffic violations
Both suspects were arraigned Monday night in Ontario County CAP Court.
What Do You Think?
How should authorities handle domestic-related violent crimes that escalate into dangerous pursuits like this one? Share your thoughts in the comments below — your voice matters!
