GREECE — A 47-year-old man wanted on an arrest warrant was taken into custody Monday evening after allegedly attempting to strike officers with his vehicle and threatening them with a knife before escaping from a hospital and being recaptured Tuesday morning.
Greece Police officers responded to 271 Squareview Lane at approximately 7:18 p.m. Monday to check the welfare of Steven Ploof, who was wanted on an active arrest warrant out of Orleans County.
When officers approached Ploof, he refused repeated commands to exit his vehicle and attempted to strike officers with the car, police said.
Ploof also tried to ignite a spray can into a makeshift torch and pointed it toward police, according to authorities.
Officers broke his car window and attempted to use pepper spray to take him into custody.
Ploof then exited the vehicle armed with a large knife and fled on foot into a wooded area near Route 390 and Maiden Lane.
A perimeter was quickly established, and officers located Ploof, who again refused to comply with commands.
Officers successfully deployed a taser, and Ploof was taken into custody.
He was transported to Rochester General Hospital for evaluation.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Rochester General Hospital security reported that Ploof had left the hospital.
Greece Police, Rochester Police, Irondequoit Police, New York State Police, and hospital security conducted a coordinated search of the hospital and surrounding neighborhoods.
With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Ploof was located on Joseph Avenue in Rochester at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and taken back into custody without incident.
Ploof is facing charges including three counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of menacing a police officer, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, resisting arrest, attempted aggravated assault on a police officer and escape in the second degree.
Ploof was returned to Rochester General Hospital for treatment.
Upon release, he will be arraigned in Monroe County court.
