NEW HARTFORD — A Rome man has been arrested in connection with a robbery at Kohl’s department store last month.
Dusty Derocha, 30, was taken into custody Thursday evening by the United States Marshals Service – New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Police responded to the Kohl’s store on Aug. 16 after a male suspect forcibly pushed a loss prevention officer to the ground while leaving with unpaid merchandise.
The investigation revealed that Derocha entered the store with a female companion and concealed numerous items while also accepting merchandise handed to him by the woman.
A loss prevention officer observed their suspicious behavior and attempted to intervene.
The female left the store without merchandise, while Derocha pushed past the officer minutes later, knocking him to the ground before fleeing with the stolen property.
The case was assigned to the New Hartford Police Criminal Investigation Division.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to locate Derocha, the U.S. Marshals Service task force took over the case.
The task force includes members from the U.S. Marshals Service, New Hartford Police, Utica Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida County Probation Department, New York State Police and New York State Parole.
Derocha is charged with one count of robbery in the third degree, a Class D felony.
He was processed at the New Hartford Police Department and arraigned in Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Part Court.
Derocha is scheduled to appear in New Hartford Town Court at a later date.
The loss prevention officer was not seriously injured in the incident.
