A late-night disturbance at a Bath motel escalated into a tense police response after a guest allegedly threatened others with a knife and caused significant damage inside a room, authorities said.
Police say the situation unfolded just after midnight, leaving behind shattered fixtures, broken windows, and multiple holes in the walls before officers were able to bring it under control without injury.
According to the Village of Bath Police Department, officers were dispatched around 12:33 a.m. on March 26 to the Super 8 Motel on West Morris Street for a report of a guest making threats with a knife while damaging property.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with the guest, identified as 45-year-old Joseph L. Nichols of Corning. Police said multiple items inside the room had been damaged, and Nichols was found in possession of a knife.
Investigators reported extensive destruction inside the room, including a shattered television screen, a furnace ripped from the wall, broken glass windows, and a microwave that had been thrown out of the window. Officers also observed numerous holes in the walls.
Nichols was persuaded to put down the knife and was taken into custody without further incident.
He has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a Class E felony. Authorities said he was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to answer the charge in Bath Village Court at a later date.
The Village of Bath Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police.
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