Police announced Monday the arrest of a city man for attacking a woman in front of her young children --- an arrest that was at least his third for similar attacks since 2018.
Tristen Libbey, 21, of 37 Madison St., turned himself in to police at 1:05 a.m. Monday at the 25 Court St. police station after a warrant was issued for his arrest, said Lt. Michael Strangeway.
Libbey was wanted for attacking a 25-year-old mother on Oct. 12 in front of her two young children, according to a news release. Libbey entered the Hubbard Street home of the woman without permission and in violation of an order of protection issued against him, the release states. While there, Libbey pushed the mother, pulled her hair and smashed her cell phone while the children were present, according to city police.
The woman did not report any injuries to the police following the attack, according to the release.
A review of The Cortland Voice archives reveals this is Libbey’s third arrest for attacking a mother in front of her children since 2018.
In June, Libbey was arrested on a warrant for going to the apartment of a mother who had an order of protection against him and punching a hole in the wall in front of her two children, according to city police. In that case, police determined he had a previous conviction for a family offense in the last five years.
In August 2018, Libbey was arrested for punching a 36-year-old mother in front of her three children, according to city police and The Cortland Voice archives.
Libbey was charged on Monday with second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal contempt, felonies, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanors. The violation of second-degree harassment was also levied against him.
Libbey was charged with burglary as, according to state penal law, “A person is guilty of burglary in the second degree when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime” and “the building is a dwelling.”
