Repeat offender charged with theft of a vehicle in three separate cases failed to appear in court

ROCHESTER, NY (WHAM) – Police are ramping up their search for a suspected repeat offender who has been released back into society multiple times.

Jonathan Rivera-Lopez, 38, who is alleged to have been involved in three separate police pursuits in Monroe County this year alone, failed to appear for a hearing in Rochester Municipal Court on Thursday.

Rivera-Lopez has an arrest warrant for assault in connection with an incident several weeks ago.

Rochester City Council member Michael Patterson said he was disgusted by repeat offenders and tired of feeling unsafe in his home community.

“I wish no ill will on this grown man, but it is not unreasonable to expect the rest of us not to live in fear for our property and our lives because of his lack of regard for either,” Patterson said.

Rivera-Lopez’s most recent alleged incident occurred on August 29th. According to police, the repeat offender led officers on a 10-minute chase in a stolen vehicle after he backed into a marked Greek police car, nearly hitting a Monroe County officer. He then led police on a foot chase before a Rochester police K-9 caught him.

Rivera-Lopez is charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property and reckless driving in this incident. He was released without bail following his arraignment the next day.

BACKGROUND: A multi-agency stolen vehicle investigation in Rochester leads to nine arrests and two chases. Several police departments are saying “enough is enough” when it comes to stolen cars in Rochester

Rivera-Lopez’s failure to appear Thursday forced Rochester Municipal Court Judge Latoya Lee to issue an arrest warrant.

“He’s out there right now. He was not arrested,” Patterson said. “There is no reason to believe that Mr. Rivera-Lopez will, in the meantime, obey traffic laws, not steal vehicles, or behave in an upright and lawful manner. You shouldn’t steal other people’s cars.”

To date, Rivera-Lopez has not turned himself in or been placed on the bench due to an arrest warrant.

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