Ithaca man arrested following incident involving baseball bat, walking stick

ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM) – An Ithaca man has been arrested on multiple charges following two separate incidents that occurred yesterday near downtown Ithaca.

According to the Ithaca Police Department, officers were called to a home on the 400 block of North Aurora Street on Thursday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. after receiving the report of a man involved in a dispute with the homeowner.

Police say that during this dispute the man threatened the homeowner with a baseball bat, and at one point, began swinging the bat near the homeowner, causing fear. The two involved in this incident are said to know each other.

Then, at 4:58 p.m. on the same day, police were sent to the 100-block of East Seneca Street after receiving the report of a male with a wooden walking stick who had struck a vehicle that was being driven through the intersection of Tioga Street and East Seneca Street. Police say that the vehicle sustained damage as a result and that the victim did not know the man.

Following investigations into both incidents, police say that Richard M. Johnston, 66, was identified as the man responsible. He was located by IPD around 5:28 p.m. in the Fall Creek Neighborhood riding a bike, and after briefly attempting to avoid arrest, was taken into custody.

As a result, Johnston was charged with the following:

• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony
• Criminal mischief in the third degree, a class E felony
• Menacing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor
• Obstructing Governmental Administration, a class A misdemeanor

Johnston’s charges were read to him in the Ithaca City Court by the Honorable Judge Peacock and he was released on his own recognizance.

IPD is asking anyone who has information on either incident to contact them as soon as possible by one of the following means:

• Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245
• Police Administration: 607-272-9973
• Police Tipline: 607-330-0000
• Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips

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