Five individuals are being sought by the Ithaca Police Department following a stabbing in “the Jungle” drug encampments. One male victim is in critical but stable condition. A dog also suffered a stab wound during the late night assault behind Warehouse Carpet Outlet on Cecil Malone Drive.
A firearm, possibly unrelated to the assault, was recovered at the scene.
911 dispatch was informed of the stabbing around 2:15 AM the morning of June the 19th. Responding Ithaca Police officers were assisted by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca Fire Department and Bangs Ambulance personnel.
The unconscious victim was found by an officer “deep in the Jungle” bleeding heavily from a stab wound to the leg. A tourniquet was applied while Bangs Ambulance personnel were summoned.
Tompkins County SPCA After Hours also responded to assist the wounded dog, who had been transported to Cecil Malone Drive in a shopping cart by residents of the Jungle.
The suspects are described as a Hispanic male, a white male with tattoos and a beard, two black males who were wearing face masks, and a heavy-set black female. One of the black males was described as being light skinned and having dreadlocks.
Law enforcement dispatch audio described a great deal of blood at the scene of the assault.
Less than a five minute walk from Ithaca’s Wegmans, the site occupies both railroad and city of Ithaca property. It is also a focal point of frequent overdoses, assaults & campsite fires, theft & drug use.
This stabbing is the most recent violent incident in what is one of the most active areas of Ithaca’s network of open drug scenes. Open drug scenes are gatherings of drug users who publicly consume and deal drugs.
The area labeled ‘1’ in the below image is City of Ithaca Property. The area labeled ‘2’ is railroad property.
A representative of Ithaca Central Railroad had told Ithaca Crime that the area marked ‘2’ is owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad and leased to the Ithaca Central Railroad.
Norfolk Southern Railroad Police claim area ‘2’ is listed in the Federal Railroad Administration Database as being owned by the Ithaca Central Railroad and is not their property.
The June 21st meeting of the City of Ithaca Planning & Economic Development Committee will see an updated presentation of the city’s proposed color coded policy of unsanctioned encampments on city land.
A 66 acre parcel of city land behind Ithaca’s Wal-Mart would be designated a sanctioned encampment site. Amber Zones, yet to be designated, would see a reduced priority for enforcement provided the sites are well maintained and do not elicit complaints. A singular Red Zone has been designated thus far. It encompasses an area between Cecil Malone and Brindley streets, and includes a small portion of the far side of the inlet described above as area ‘1.’
Due to being located on railroad property, the majority of the site behind Warehouse Carpet Outlet will not be subject to the city’s camping ban.
The plan describes an escalating series of warnings before a person camping on city land would be issued a ticket by law enforcement. The total number of Green, Amber & Red Zones is yet to be determined.
A series of Jungle encampments were visible in the city’s proposed Red Zone behind Warehouse Carpet Outlet in October of 2022.
Several dozen stolen bicycles were consumed in a campsite fire in the area behind Warehouse Carpet Outlet on June 7th, 2023.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ithaca Police Department via any 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
The draft city policy on unsanctioned encampments can be viewed below.