Homeless Man Arrested After Pointing Rifle at Three Individuals – Police Find Encampment in Wooded Area Near Kellogg Road

Officers with the City of Cortland Police Department responded to a residence on Comando Ave around 12:40 in the afternoon on Tuesday, August 13th for a reported menacing involving a firearm.

Cortland Police say residents on Comando Ave. told them their garbage container was stolen the day prior from their property. The residents then informed officers they went looking for their stolen garbage container about 40 minutes prior to calling police. Three people ended up looking for the container and walked into a wooded area just 600 yards south of Commando Ave.

As the three individuals were in the heavily wooded area, near 30 Kellogg Road, they came across an encampment that was occupied by multiple people. At some point, an argument ensued over the missing garbage container by the three individuals and those at the encampment.

One of the individuals at the encampment, identified by Cortland Police as 42 year old Joshua F. Marshall, who is listed as homeless, joined in the argument and pointed a rifle in the direction of the three individuals. Cortland Police say Marshall threatened to shoot the three individuals if they didn’t leave. He also threatened the three to not call the police.

After the argument and threat, the three individuals returned to Commando Ave. to call police to report being threatened by a man with a rifle.

Due to the nature of the call, a large police presence responded to the scene. A perimeter was set up around the wooded area behind 30 Kellogg Road. State Police, the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, Homer Police, Cortland Fire, and TLC Ambulance all responded to assist Cortland Police.

To locate the exact location of the encampment in the wooded area, Cortland Police used their drone. With this, officers were able to locate the encampment with multiple people located within it.

After negotiating with the individuals within the encampment, officers were successful to safely remove the occupants by 3:25pm. Marshall was also taken into custody by police, but only after a brief struggle.

The weapon in question that was used was found to be a scoped pellet rifle.

Marshall was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd, a Felony, Menacing in the 2nd, and Obstructing Governmental Admin in the 2nd, both Misdemeanors.

He was taken to the Cortland Police Department for processing and was arraigned in Cortland City Court later that evening at 8pm. He was then remanded to Cortland County Jail. Marshall is due to appear in Cortland City Court on Friday.