The Rochester Police Department says it’s working out a date with Chase Coleman’s family for the 15-year-old Syracuse high school student to come to Rochester and run with the police recruits.
Coleman is the 9th grade cross-country runner who was slammed to the ground during a meet in Cobb’s Hill Park by a Pittsford man…who told police he thought the black teenager running in the street was going to steal his wife’s purse. Coleman’s mother says the autistic and nonverbal teen was so distraught over what happened that he quit the cross country team and stopped running.
An RPD spokeswoman says the department will bring Chase to Rochester in a patrol car and they hope to connect with him to raise awareness of Autism.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant may be issued soon for the man suspected of shoving Chase Coleman to the ground.
A source tells WHAM 1180 that Rochester Judge Caroline Morrison denied the original application for a warrant because it was missing a statement from the teenager. Somehow that wasn’t communicated to the teen’s mother. A department spokeswoman confirms Rochester officers were in Syracuse Monday and took statements from the family.
Witnesses saw 57-year-old Martin MacDonald of Pittsford shove teenager Chase Coleman and drive off.