A 43-year-old man was arrested after New York State Police say he smashed his way into the Target store on Bailey Farm Road in Monroe using a baseball bat, then was found still inside the building along with a stash of prescription drugs. Ross E. Gibson now faces burglary, criminal mischief, and drug possession charges stemming from the overnight break-in.
According to New York State Police, troopers from SP Monroe responded to a reported burglary in progress at the Target located at 128 Bailey Farm Road just after midnight on October 15. The store was closed at the time, and troopers arriving on scene found the glass entry doors shattered.
Gibson was allegedly found inside the building, and investigators later recovered the baseball bat he reportedly used to break the doors, according to Daily Voice. He was taken into custody without incident, and surveillance footage reportedly captured the break-in as it happened.
Drugs Found During Search
A search of Gibson following his arrest uncovered roughly 51 grams of lorazepam pills, the outlet reports, along with multiple buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual films — medications more commonly associated with opioid dependence treatment. Those discoveries led to additional charges beyond the burglary itself.
Gibson was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglar's tools, and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, per the same account. He was transported to the State Police barracks in Monroe before being arraigned at Middletown City Court.
Released Ahead Of Court Date
Middletown City Court released Gibson on his own recognizance following the arraignment. He is scheduled to appear in Monroe Town Court on October 26 at 5 p.m. to face the charges.
State Police issued their statement on the arrest Friday, October 16, confirming the timeline of the break-in and the charges filed against Gibson. No additional details on the incident have been released beyond what troopers and the arresting report have made public.
