Dimitriy S. Bindas (Cortland County Sheriff's Office)
CORTLAND, N.Y. - A Dryden man was arrested Tuesday after he attempted to steal money from the JC Penney store in Cortlandville, the Cortland County Sheriff's Office said.
Dimitriy S. Bandas, 26, has been charged with third-degree attempted robbery, a class E felony, and fourth-degree attempted grand larceny, a misdemeanor.
At around 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Cortland County Sheriff's Office responded to the JC Penney store on Route 13 in Cortlandville for a reported attempted robbery.
A store employee told officers over the phone that the man passed a note to a clerk in the store demanding money. A weapon was mentioned, according to Lt. Todd Caufield with the sheriff's office, though no weapons were found on Bindas at the time of his arrest, and no money was obtained. The employee also gave a description of the suspect and his vehicle.
As sheriff's deputies arrived at the store, a state trooper spotted the suspect's vehicle at a gas station on Route 13 in the village of Dryden, according to Lt. Todd Caufield with the sheriff's office.
The trooper, with assistance from the Dryden Police Department and the Tompkins Cortland Community College Police Department, took the suspect into custody without incident.
The suspect's vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded by the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office says its investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 607-758-6151.
Bindas was arraigned in Cortlandville Town Court and taken to the Cortland County Jail.
