ITHACA, N.Y. — With 2015 over, here’s a look back on the year’s biggest stories about crime, courts and police in Tompkins County.
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1 — Man kills himself after 61-hour standoff with police in Danby
Video shows Danby home in aftermath of standoff — Shortly after David Cady, 36, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a 61- hour standoff with police, a video began circulating on social media. It shows the inside of the Danby home where Cady was holed up during the standoff. Ithaca Voice
Wife in Tompkins barricade wonders if there was better way — “It was a fucking DWI. He wasn’t a murderer. He wasn’t a bank robber,” Melissa Cady says. Ithaca Voice
‘I think the police did what they were supposed to,’ cop expert says of Danby standoff — John DeCarlo, who reviewed a series of articles, statements and videos about the Danby case, dismissed the idea that the police could have left two patrol cars and waited for Cady to come out. “That’s not even a realistic alternative. What if a guy comes out with a shoulder weapon and shoots one of the guys sitting in the car?,” DeCarlo says. Ithaca Voice
2 — Attorney General investigates Tompkins Sheriff’s office amid allegations
Tompkins deputy falsified timesheets, sheriff says; Attorney General investigating – Confidential sheriff’s office records obtained by the Ithaca Voice appear to detail charges against Deputy Shane Spencer that are different than the ones mentioned by Sheriff Kenneth Lansing. Ithaca Voice
Tompkins sheriff’s office offered not to charge guard who kissed inmate, DA says – The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office told a guard accused of having a “romantic embrace” with an inmate that if the guard resigned he would not face criminal charges, according to District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson.
Confronted with criticism, Tompkins sheriff cites conspiracy against him – “That’s why they don’t like me, okay?,” Sheriff Kenneth Lansing said. “Because I’m not one of them nor would I ever be one of them, and that’s why they work so hard to take me down.”
3 — Tompkins County Sheriff’s deputy indicted on 5 felonies, 11 misdemeanors
Tompkins deputy accused of pinning victim, hitting dog, hiding evidence — A deputy in the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office is accused of attacking a woman, hitting her dog, pinning the woman to the floor repeatedly, trying to prevent her from calling 911, and concealing evidence of the crime, according to police records obtained by The Voice through a Freedom of Information Law request. Ithaca Voice
Why Tompkins County deputy charged with felonies is still getting paid — “It’s part of the bargaining agreement: It’s in their contract,” Ashley Rackl, executive assistant to Sheriff Ken Lansing. “It’s defined in the collective agreement part of the deputies’ union.” Ithaca Voice
Tompkins deputy pleads not guilty to 16 charges — “I am not guilty. I did nothing wrong,” Jeremy Vann said. Ithaca Voice
4 — Former Cornell student Charles Tan’s murder charge dismissed
Cornell student charged with murder of father near Rochester— Charles Tan, 19, was charged with second-degree murder in the Monroe County town of Pittsford. He was accused of murdering his father. Ithaca Voice
Reports: Former Cornell student Charles Tan’s murder charge dismissed — A mistrial was declared in Tan’s first murder trial after jurors spent eight days trying to reach a verdict. The charges were later dismissed Nov. 5. Ithaca Voice
5 — Benjamin Cayea sentenced to 22 years for murder of Cornell girlfriend
Tompkins lawyers say jurors must decide if Benjamin Cayea intended to kill girlfriend — “This issue about intent to cause the death of Shannon — that’s going to be a big issue in this trial,” Deputy District Attorney Andrew Bonavia told jurors. “I don’t believe there’s going to be an issue over who caused her death.” Ithaca Voice
Opening statements begin in Benjamin Cayea trial : Live updates— All Tweets relating to the trial were corralled into this story. Ithaca Voice
Mother of killed Cornell student: ‘This self-serving, monstrous murderer took her away’ — Benjamin Cayea was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison Dec. 7. He was convicted on Oct. 22 of second-degree murder for the death of Shannon Jones. He killed her on Thanksgiving in 2014 at their Cayuga Heights apartment. Ithaca Voice
6 — New lawsuit claims Ithaca police racially profiled black teens
New lawsuit: Ithaca police racially profiled teens in 2014 incident — A new lawsuit says Ithaca police racially profiled two innocent black teenagers, threatened them with lethal force without probable cause and then tried covering up the incident by pretending the teens were suspects in an unrelated arson. Ithaca Voice
Mayor Myrick, Chief Barber: Race not a factor in police stop — “The stop was legal, justified, and entirely race-neutral, as indicated by the City’s internal review of this incident,” officials said. Ithaca Voice
7 — Former Cornell student sentenced to prison for 2013 rape
Rape, alcohol and intent: Experts respond to Peter Mesko’s defense — Peter Mesko, a former Cornell wrestler, was arrested on a charge of first-degree rape in April 2013. In a document submitted to the Tompkins County Court, his lawyer said Mesko’s intoxication made him unable to form the requisite intent to find him guilty of rape. Ithaca Voice
Jury fails to reach verdict on rape charge; Peter Mesko freed — After days of deliberations, a Tompkins County jury was unable to break a deadlock and failed to reach a verdict on a rape charge leveled against a former Cornell student. Ithaca Voice
Former Cornell student Peter Mesko sentenced to 5 years in prison — The incident he was sentenced for occurred in March of 2013. According to law enforcement, he entered the room of another Cornell student and raped her while she slept. Ithaca Voice
8 — Ithaca police begin using body cameras
Is it worth it? New Ithaca police body cameras to cost +$192,000 — Added together, the total cost of the Ithaca police body cameras to the city is at least $192,000 — for the first five years they’re in use. Ithaca Voice
Public reacts to Ithaca PD body cameras with praise, questions — Community members who spoke publicly about Ithaca police officers wearing body cameras were in favor of the devices — though they had questions about the protocol for using them. Ithaca Voice
Ithaca police body cameras: What’s in the protocol? — Officials said the cameras are intended to aid police officers in their daily tasks, increase transparency and gather evidence. Ithaca Voice