An Ithaca man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after New York State Police say he forced his way into a Lansing apartment before later resisting arrest and punching a state trooper.
David E. Thomas, 48, of Ithaca was arrested early Tuesday following the incident, according to New York State Police.
Troopers and members of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported burglary in progress at an apartment on Graham Road in the Village of Lansing at about 12:05 a.m.
Investigators said the incident began shortly before midnight when residents heard banging outside their apartment. They found an unknown man outside who allegedly kicked the apartment door and shattered a glass pane next to it before forcing his way inside.
Police said the residents armed themselves with a cane and a pocketknife and repeatedly ordered the man to leave. During the confrontation, one of the residents struck him with the cane, and the suspect fled on foot.
A short time later, a state trooper located a man matching the suspect’s description walking on Graham Road. Police said Thomas resisted arrest by punching the trooper in the face and refusing commands to place his hands behind his back before he was taken into custody with assistance from a Tompkins County Sheriff’s deputy.
Thomas was charged with second-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration.
He was evaluated at the scene by Bangs Ambulance and did not require hospitalization. After processing at State Police in Ithaca, Thomas was turned over to the Tompkins County Jail for centralized arraignment.
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