The City of Cortland Police Department (Photo: Provided)
City police are continuing to investigate the assault of a man in front of a Main Street restaurant despite Monday’s social media posts that prompted witnesses to stop cooperating with detectives, according to the department.
Officers are investigating the assault of a 68-year-old man around 9:15 p.m. July 28 in front of Wild Ginger Asian Fusion at 47 Main St., said Lt. Michael Strangeway.
The man suffered a head injury and was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and was later released, Strangeway said.
A post on social media at 7:11 p.m. released the injured man’s identity as well as alleged details of the incident, prompting comments of sympathy, outrage and some apparent calls for vigilante justice. More than 300 social media profiles commented on the post and it was shared more than 600 times.
“This is an ongoing investigation of a reported assault,” Strangeway said. “I would discourage members of the public from circulating information, some of which is false, to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”
The post and the comments caused witnesses to become wary of sharing information with detectives, he said.
“Circulation on social media of details of the incident, both true and untrue, have discouraged witnesses from coming forward to assist with the investigation,” Strangeway said.
