A man who works at a local Walmart is accused of assaulting a security officer at the store and leading police on a wild chase.

On Wednesday around 2:20 p.m., the Sullivan County Sheriff's Patrol received a report of a security officer being assaulted in the parking lot of Walmart in the Town of Thompson.

Deputy Roy Rogers, who was on patrol near the store, spotted the suspect in a Ford Escape exiting the parking lot and stopped the vehicle near Burger King on Route 42.

As the deputy approached the vehicle the suspect drove off, police say.

The suspect fled north on Anawana Lake Road towards Hurleyville, then south on Old Liberty Road toward Harris Road, then onto Holmes Road and Old State Route 17, where he made his way to Catskill Regional Medical Center.

At the medical center, responding officers were able to box in the man’s car.

When the suspect refused to surrender, deputies broke the driver's side window and forcibly removed the man from his car, police say.

Jose Rupert, 50, of Monticello was charged with felony assault and reckless endangerment as well as the misdemeanors of resisting arrest, unlawful fleeing and criminal mischief. He was also issued numerous vehicle and traffic tickets

A preliminary investigation by police revealed that Rupert, who is an employee of Walmart, allegedly approached the security officer in the parking lot and without warning, hit him with a trowel, unprovoked.

Rupert previously served time for attempted robbery and drug sales, officials say. He was treated at Catskill Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and released.

Rupert was sent to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Two injured deputies were also treated and released. Several police cars were damaged during the pursuit.

Police from Monticello, Fallsburg, State Police and the NYS Encon Police were involved in the chase.

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