CORTLAND, N.Y. — A Cincinnatus man faces a slew of charges after fleeing with his 18-month old child and setting off an Amber Alert in Cortland County, the county sheriff's office announced today.
At around 12 p.m. Sunday, officers from the Cortland County Sheriff's Office were called to a home on Harris Road in the town of Solon to investigate a tip of a wanted person.
Kyle J. Heller, 29, of Cincinnatus, had a warrant for a prior domestic violence incident, authorities said.
Prior to police arrival, Heller fled into the woods on foot with his 18-month old child. An Amber Alert was issued for the child because Heller does not have any legal custody or visitation rights to the child, and an order of protection is currently in place between Heller and the child, the sheriff's office said. Heller's family also voiced concerns over "his current state of mind" and suspected drug use.
Kyle J. Heller (photo provided)
Heller was located and taken into custody late Sunday afternoon, but not before breaking into two separate residences in Solon and Freetown, where he stole food and clothing, the sheriff's office said. The child appeared to be unharmed but was transported to Cortland Regional Medical Center as a precaution.
Heller faces a number of charges, including two counts of second-degree burglary, a class C felony; criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony; two counts of criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, and endangering the welfare of a child, also a misdemeanor.
The sheriff's office was assisted by members of the New York State Police, New York State Forest Rangers, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Police Helicopter 1H17.
In addition to the Amber Alert, the Cortland County 911 Center utilized a "reverse 911,"–alerting residents in the area to the Amber Alert–which led to officials receiving several calls as to Heller's whereabouts.
Heller was taken to Cortland County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in Freetown Town Court on June 22.
