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Watkins Glen Man Arrested After Standoff With Deputies at Reading Home

Watkins Glen Man Arrested After Standoff With Deputies at Reading Home

Deputies from the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Watkins Glen man after a tense standoff at his residence on Wednesday. The incident began at around 9:20 a.m. when deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident on Cross Road in the Town of Reading.

During the investigation, Dennis J. Thompson, 43, emerged on the front porch of his home and became verbally confrontational with law enforcement. Deputies were aware that Thompson had an active felony arrest warrant, and despite several attempts to engage with him, he remained uncooperative.

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By 8:30 p.m., the situation escalated, prompting a Tactical Team from the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office to enter the residence. Thompson was taken into custody without further incident.

Thompson now faces multiple charges, including Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a Class E felony; Menacing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, also a Class A misdemeanor, stemming from an earlier domestic violence incident.

Authorities transported Thompson to the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, where he awaits arraignment in Schuyler County CAP Court. Multiple agencies assisted in the operation, including local fire departments, EMS, and law enforcement from Schuyler, Steuben, and Chemung counties, as well as the New York State Police.