Criminal charges against Seneca Falls Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter have been dismissed after a grand jury declined to issue an indictment in connection with an incident at Town Hall that led to his arrest last month.
Schmitter, 66, was arrested May 1 and charged with harassment, criminal mischief and official misconduct following a dispute involving modifications to the town’s zoning and code enforcement offices. The charges stemmed from allegations that Schmitter cut a hole in an office wall to create a teller window and later became involved in a confrontation with Town Board members.
According to a criminal complaint, Schmitter cut the opening without authorization, prompting objections from board members. One board member alleged that Schmitter shoved her during a subsequent confrontation.
On Tuesday, a grand jury heard testimony from those involved and ultimately declined to return an indictment, resulting in the dismissal of all charges.
“This is one of the dumbest cases, one of the dumbest arrests I’ve seen in my career,” Schmitter’s attorney, Daniel Strollo, said after the decision. Strollo argued that the dispute stemmed from political disagreements within town government and maintained that his client had done nothing criminal.
Strollo said Schmitter testified before the grand jury and suggested jurors found his account more credible than those presented by other witnesses. He also indicated that a civil lawsuit against the Seneca Falls Police Department is being considered, citing legal expenses and reputational damage suffered by the town supervisor.
Special prosecutor Christine Callanan declined to comment on the outcome, noting that grand jury proceedings are confidential. Town Board members and the Seneca Falls Police Department had not publicly responded to the dismissal as of Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement, Schmitter said the grand jury recognized that he had not violated any laws and criticized both the police investigation and prosecution of the case.
“Today, a Grand Jury heard from every involved individual. They clearly recognized that I did not break any law,” Schmitter said. “Had there been a proper investigation, this never would have gotten to this point.”
The dismissal ends the criminal case, though the dispute surrounding the alterations at Town Hall and tensions within Seneca Falls government are likely to continue drawing attention.
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