Shoplifters flee with security clinging to car www.privateofficer.com

Shoplifters flee with security clinging to car www.privateofficer.com

MACEDON NY Dec. 22, 2007 — Two Monroe County men remained jailed Tuesday in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident in which they drove away while a store employee was on the hood of their car.Thomas W. Potter, 25, of Rochester, the driver of the getaway car, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and petit larceny, according to Macedon police. Anthony V. DeGennaro, 18, of 537 Washington St., Spencerport, a passenger in the car, was charged with petit larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.Potter's address was not known, police said.Both were arraigned in Macedon Town Court and sent to the Wayne County Jail. Potter's bail was set at $5,000; DeGennaro's was set at $2,500.The men were accused of shoplifting from a Wal-Mart store on Route 31 in Macedon on Monday. When security workers tried to stop them, the men drove their car toward a Wal-Mart employee and struck him. The employee, thrown onto the hood, hung on while the men drove away.The driver of the car swerved in an attempt to dislodge the employee, who managed to keep hanging on, police said. The men, heading west, eventually stopped at a nearby gas station, where the employee was able to jump off the car.Bystanders tried to stop the men, who drove away and were caught by Wayne County sheriff's Lt. Steve Sklennar.Police later recovered stolen merchandise from the car, along with drug paraphernalia and a small amount of heroin. Potter and DeGennaro admitted being addicted to heroin, said Macedon police Sgt. John Collela.The Wal-Mart employee, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, police said.State police assisted in the criminal investigation.