July 10, 2024 - Failure to Comply/Narcotics/Weapons Arrest

On July 10, 2024, at 8:34 AM, Tompkins County Sheriff's Deputies and Dryden Police Officers observed a wanted person, Joshua F. Conklin, age 35 of Groton, NY leaving the Dryden Hotel located at 42 W. Main Street, Dryden in a black Ford Mustang. Deputies and Officers attempted to stop Conklin, but he failed to comply and fled, leading police on a several mile pursuit into Cortland County and back into Tompkins County through the Town of Dryden. While fleeing,

Conklin went down Dutcher Road, currently a closed road due to road construction and paving. Conklin nearly struck a black top roller, a paver and the crew operating the equipment

before losing control and going off the roadway into the woods. 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 constructions crew.

Conklin then fled on foot, leading Deputies on a lengthy foot pursuit. During the foot pursuit, Conklin attempted to steal several occupied vehicles on Fall Creek Road waiting in traffic for other road construction, one of which he jumped on top of when the operator refused to open the door. Conklin was taken into custody after being tased and transported back to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office. Conklin’s vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded at the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office pending a search warrant.

While being processed at the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, Conklin attempted to flee from custody by fleeing on foot when his restraints were being transferred so that he could use the restroom. Conklin was apprehended again by use of a Taser while fleeing through the side yard of the Sheriff's Office.

That afternoon, Conklin was only booked on the Escape in the Second Degree (Class E Felony) and remanded to the Tompkins County Jail while the pursuit/vehicle investigation continued.

On July 12, 2024, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, Village of Dryden Police Department, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed the search warrant of Conklin’s motor vehicle. During the search, an approximate aggregate weight of 16 ounces of Methamphetamine, a loaded and modified 12-gauge shotgun commonly referred to as a "sawed- off shotgun", a full length 12-gauge shotgun and shotgun ammunition was located.

In the afternoon of July 12, 2024, Conklin was booked on the additional charges.

• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree - Class A-II Felony (Methamphetamine)
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree - Class C Felony (modified shotgun) Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree - Class D Felony (X3 counts)
• Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree - Class E Felony (motor vehicles)
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree - Class A Misdemeanor (convicted felon in possession)
• Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree - Class A Misdemeanor Universal Traffic Tickets (infractions and unclassified misdemeanors)

Already remanded on the Escape in the Second-Degree charge, Conklin will be arraigned on the new charges at Centralized Arraignment this evening. The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office would like to thank and were assisted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The New York State Police, Village of Dryden Police Department, Village of Groton Police Department, Dryden Ambulance, and the Town of Dryden Department of Public Works.

Conklin was wanted for the following charges:

• Grand Larceny Fourth Degree
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property Fourth Degree Criminal Mischief Second Degree
• Possession of Burglary Tools Conspiracy Fifth Degree Driving While Intoxicated Grand Larceny Third Degree
• Possession of Stolen Property Third Degree

*Criminal charges are solely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.