A Brevard County man was caught on surveillance footage as he stuffed items into his clothes inside a Kohl's and then left the store before leading deputies on a 12-mile chase.
Alexander Ruff, 27, of Cocoa, was arrested on charges of grand theft and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after he was caught by a loss prevention officer taking items from the store Kohl's store at The Avenue Viera shopping center Monday, Nov. 17.
The loss prevention officer was monitoring store cameras and noticed Ruff putting fitness electronics down his shirt and in the back of his shorts. He then called 911.
- Loss prevention officer on 911 call: "He's scoping out the area where the electronics is. He's watching and ducking up and down."
- Loss prevention officer on 911 call: "Right now! Right now! He's ripping the Garmin off. I need to get somebody here."
Ruff is then seen leaving the store, pursued by loss prevention officers. That's when Brevard County deputies arrived at the store.
Investigators said Ruff got into a car with a woman already in the passenger seat. As he sped off, he almost struck a deputy's cruiser.
A car chase ensued as Ruff headed toward Stadium Parkway.
A few minutes later, Ruff stopped the car on Cox Road, in Cocoa — about 12 miles away from the store.
Ruff got out of the vehicle and went face down on the ground as deputies converged on him with their guns drawn.
Ruff is on probation until mid-2019 for dealing in stolen property, investigators said. He's being held in the Brevard County Jail without bond. A court date has been set for Dec. 18.
The woman in the vehicle wasn’t injured or charged in the case, deputies said.