An Ithaca Police Department press release has announced the arrest of 38 year old Ernetta Skipper, who was taken into custody just after 1 PM on Wednesday, August 23rd, following reports of a woman attacking cars with a meat cleaver at Aldi grocery store.
Multiple callers reported a woman waving a meat cleaver in the air, using it in an attempt to break windows, slash tires, and cause damage to multiple vehicles parked at the store.
One eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous, described an interaction with the suspect.
“She pulled the knife out right in front of me and my 7 year old, then apologized when she realized she scared us. I went inside and told the staff. So glad I no longer work down town.”
“I’ve never encountered anything like that before.”
“She was muttering to herself, too. Mad about something,” the witness said. “I worked at that Aldi for seven and a half years. We never had things like that happen.”
“I just kinda stopped in the middle of the parking lot and tucked my daughter behind me. And she did apologize and walked around to the side of the store,” the witness said.
Skipper lost her own daughter to a stabbing in 2018. Skipper was previously charged with stabbing a woman in the neck in a 2016 incident.
Skipper was charged with disorderly conduct and was sent to Cayuga Medical center for a mental health evaluation.
Incidents in the area have increased following the opening of Marketview Apartments on Carpenter Circle, less than one block from Aldi. The building has become the site of frequent police activity despite it being open for less than three months. Marketview Apartments are for low to moderate income households.
The Ithaca Police Community Dashboard shows calls to Marketview for issues like theft, trespassing, burglary & overdoses.
Aldi is also one block from Lakeview Mental Health Services Single Room Occupancy (SRO) building.
Lakeview’s website states, “Lakeview’s Residential programs provide a variety of housing options for individuals over the age of 18 who are recovering from the impact of mental illness in their life.”
The website further states, “Lakeview’s SRO is a 38 bed program located in Ithaca with on-site support specifically targeted to individuals who have had limited success in other housing environments.”
Lakeview SRO is also the site of frequent calls for police assistance.
