On July 21, 2026, at approximately 12:05 a.m., New York State Police at Ithaca 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.
The investigation determined that just before midnight, the residents of the apartment heard a banging outside their residence. They observed an unknown male outside who began kicking the apartment door before kicking and shattering a glass pane next to the door. The suspect then forced entry into the apartment.
The residents armed themselves with a cane and a pocketknife and repeatedly told the suspect to leave. During the confrontation, one of the residents struck the suspect with the cane. The suspect then ultimately fled the area on foot.
A short time later, a State Trooper located a male matching the suspect’s description walking on Graham Road. As the Trooper attempted to take him into custody the suspect resisted arrest by punching the Trooper in the face and refusing to comply with commands to place his hands behind his back. With the assistance of a Tompkins County Sheriff’s Deputy, the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect was identified as David E. Thomas, 48 of Ithaca, and charged with:
Burglary in the 2nd degree, a class “C” felonyCriminal Mischief in the 4th degree, a misdemeanorResisting Arrest, a misdemeanor Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd degree, a misdemeanor
Thomas was evaluated on scene by Bangs Ambulance but did not require transport to a hospital. Thomas was processed at SP Ithaca then turned over to the Tompkins County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.