A domestic violence call in the Town of Locke turned tense on Oct. 2 when a 49-year-old man allegedly raised a pocketknife at a sheriff's deputy and a state trooper who were trying to calm him down. Thomas Purdy, of Locke, was taken into custody around 1:18 p.m. and now faces two felony charges tied to the confrontation.
Deputies responded to a Town of Locke address around noon that day for a domestic violence incident, according to fingerlakes1.com. While on scene, a deputy arranged for a person involved in the incident to speak with a victim advocate by phone, the outlet reported. As the situation unfolded, Purdy allegedly became increasingly threatening, prompting a deputy to approach him in an attempt to calm him down.
Knife Raised Toward Deputy and Trooper
Rather than de-escalating, Purdy allegedly raised a pocketknife toward the deputy and a state trooper who was assisting at the scene, the report states. A standoff of sorts followed, though it did not last. Purdy ultimately complied with officers' verbal commands and was arrested at approximately 1:18 p.m., according to Newport Dispatch, which identified Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck as the source of the department's account of the arrest.
Officers then transported Purdy to the Public Safety Building for processing before moving him to Cayuga County Jail for centralized arraignment, per the same account. He was charged with menacing a police officer and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both Class D felonies.
Bail Set at $2,500 Cash or $5,000 Bond
Purdy was held at the jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or a $5,000 bond, the report notes. As fingerlakesdailynews.com emphasized, the charges remain accusations at this stage, and Purdy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities have not released additional details about the domestic violence call that preceded the confrontation, including the identity of anyone else involved. The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the incident to call 315-253-1222.
