Cortland Man Charged With Felony Burglary – Found in Possession of Drugs

Just before 11:30 in the morning on Thursday, April 17th, both New York State Police and the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Walmart in Cortlandville for a report of a man leaving the store with a cart full of merchandise without paying.

Employees with Walmart reportedly tried to confront the man, who then ran from the store to a vehicle where he loaded some items in before then fleeing on foot behind the store. A Trooper responding to the area saw the described man leaving in a vehicle. A traffic stop was then conducted on the vehicle.

During the traffic stop, the suspect was identified to be 38 year old Nicholas Partis of Cortland, who had been previously trespassed from Walmart just two days prior. Due to him being previously trespassed from the store and then knowingly entering the store, he was arrested and charged with Burglary in the 3rd, a Felony.

Partis was also found to be driving with his licensed suspended license and to be in possession of illicit substances inside the vehicle. Partis was additionally charged with 2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, both Misdemeanors.

He was taken to the State Police Barracks in Homer and then transported to the Cortland County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.