Police: Parolee choked, punched woman in RGH parking garage before stealing her car, crashed after chase

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. A robbery at a Rochester hospital led to a deadly police chase Monday morning, and the arrested suspect was on parole just 10 days ago for other carjacking crimes.

Police said the woman was in her Kia in a parking garage outside Rochester General Hospital when the man demanded she get out of the car and beat and choked her for several minutes until she got out of the car and ran away.

Officers found the suspect in a car near Lake Avenue and Britton Street, but police say the driver did not stop when officers tried to pull him over. That set off a short chase, and officers say the suspect ran into New York State troopers on Lake Avenue who were trying to remove spike strips.

The car later crashed in River View Heights. Officers say that’s when the suspect got out of the vehicle and began to run until an RVP K9 officer located them in the backyard of the home.

RPD says the suspect, 34-year-old Isaiah Weathers, is charged with:

• Robbery in the second degree
• Assault in the second degree
• Theft in the third degree
• Reckless endangerment in the first degree
• Criminal obstruction of breathing

Weathers could face additional charges as police continue to investigate, and he is also on parole for first-degree robbery and other carjacking offenses dating back to 2013.