• A reportedly stolen SUV was chased across a country club golf course.
  • A license plate reader first flagged the Hyundai before the chase began.
  • The 19-year-old driver leapt from the moving Tucson to flee on foot.

Golfers at the Lakeshore Country Club in Greece, New York, got a massive shock on Sunday afternoon when a reportedly stolen 2019 Hyundai Tucson tore across the course with police in pursuit. Talk about a backswing-distraction for those who were just trying to enjoy a quiet day out on the course.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says one of its license plate readers flagged the stolen Tucson heading north on Lake Avenue near Latta Road at 4:42 p.m. on June 21. Police moved to pull the SUV over, but rather than comply, the driver made the ill-witted decision to take off.

Read: Sovereign Citizen Rejects The Cop’s Authority, The PIT Maneuver Rejects Her Hyundai

As police pursued the driver in a Dodge Charger, the Hyundai left the road and cut onto the Lakeshore Country Club golf course, where it was driven along several of the facility’s pristine fairways. Footage from golfers shows the dark red SUV crossing the greens with the blacked-out Charger close behind. A separate video captures the moment the male driver leaped from the moving Tucson, then took off on foot in an attempt to flee the scene.

Arrested And Charged

Before long, the man was in handcuffs. Authorities identified him as 19-year-old Zachary Granito-Hertz, who has been charged with several felonies and misdemeanors, including criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree. The teenager also faces charges of reckless driving and resisting, along with fifteen traffic citations stemming from the chase.

Police say the teen has been involved in multiple stolen vehicle cases and pursuits in the past. After the arraignment, he was remanded to Monroe County and is being held in lieu of a $5,000 cash bail.

“This incident is another example of how one repeat offender’s decisions can place innocent members of our community at risk,” Sheriff Todd K. Baxter said. “Those who choose to steal vehicles and then endanger our community should know that we will hold them accountable and work every day to keep our community safe.”