Groton Man Leads Police on Multi-County Chase, Crashes, Tries to Steal Vehicles – Weapons and Drugs Found in Car

Last Wednesday, just after 8:30 in the morning, a wanted man was observed leaving the Dryden Hotel by both Deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Dryden Police Department. The wanted person in question was 35 year old Joshua F. Conklin of Groton. He was seen leaving in a black Ford Mustang.

Officers and Deputies attempted to stop Conklin, but Conklin sped away from law enforcement. The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office says Conklin led them on a several mile pursuit that went into Cortland County and then back into Tompkins County in the Town of Dryden.

The Sheriff’s Office says as Conklin was fleeing, he proceeded down Dutcher Road, which was closed due to road works and paving. Conklin reportedly almost hit a black top roller, a paver and the crew who was operating the equipment before he lost control of the Mustang and went off the road and into a wooded area.

“The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the operator of the construction equipment for his quick thinking and vehicle maneuvering, which undoubtedly assisted in Conklin’s eventual apprehension and the safety of the construction crew.”

Undersheriff Jennifer Olin said in a press release.

After crashing the Mustang, Conklin then fled on foot. As he was fleeing on foot, he attempted to steal several occupied vehicles on Fall Creek Road that were waiting in traffic due to other road works. Conklin jumped on top of one vehicle when the driver refused to open the door for him.

Deputies were able to take him to custody after tasering Conklin. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Office and his vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded.

Conklin didn’t stop his antics at the Sheriff’s Office however, and again attempted to flee on foot while he was in restraints. He was again apprehended by use of a taser in a side yard of the Sheriff’s Office.

Two days later, on July 12th, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Dryden Police, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a search warrant on Conklins Mustang.

The search found nearly 16 ounces of Meth, a loaded and modified 12-gauge shotgun (known as a sawed-off shotgun), a full length 12-gauge shotgun and shotgun ammunition.

Conklin was charged with the following from the chase and search warrant: Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd, 3 Counts of Reckless Endangerment in the 1st, Attempted Grand Larceny in the 3rd, Escape in the 2nd, all Felonies.

He also faces numerous Misdemeanor charges and traffic violations. Conklin was wanted already on 8 different charges.

Assisting in the apprehension of Joshua Conklin were the US DEA, New York State Police, Dryden Police, Groton Police, Dryden Ambulance, and Dryden Public Works.

Conklin is currently in custody at Tompkins County Jail.