Alexander J. Hale/ Cortland Police
A wanted city man facing 18 charges, including robbery and burglary, was arraigned Tuesday morning and bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond or $40,000 partial secured bond.
City police asked Thursday for the public’s help in finding Alexander J. Hale, 25, of 7 Winter St., after receiving what they considered was credible information that he started carrying a gun as well as knives.
Cortland County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Hale Saturday afternoon at a residence in Harford and arrested him on warrants from Cortland City Court, the department reported today.
Hale struck officers while resisting his arrest, said Lt. Garry Williams. He was also found to have three hypodermic needles commonly used for drug use, netting him additional charges, according to a department news release.
Hale was arraigned on a single misdemeanor charge on Tuesday; he appeared over the weekend Saturday and Monday on the 17 other charges before Judge Elizabeth Burns.
City police were searching for Hale after he was accused of robbing an acquaintance at knife point on Sept. 2 in the middle of Charles Street, said Lt. Michael Strangeway. The incident occurred at 7:45 p.m., just after sunset, according to court records.
Hale was free on non-monetary bail conditions at the time after his July 30 arrest for burglarizing a city dwelling, according to court records. In that case, the resident came home in the early afternoon to discover Hale inside the residence, stealing military pins, antique coins, brass dice and knives, said Strangeway in July.
When officers spotted Hale shortly after the burglary, he began performing cartwheels in the park, said Strangeway.
“Hale was taken into custody and later told officers he thought that doing cartwheels made him appear less guilty,” Strangeway said in July.
Eight days after the July 30 arrest, Hale was rearrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument, misdemeanors, according to court records.
On Nov. 9, a city officer spotted Hale riding a bicycle on a sidewalk at 12:15 a.m., according to court records. However, Hale eluded the officer.
In total, Hale faces three felonies, 11 misdemeanors, three violations and one traffic infraction for riding on the sidewalk. The felonies are first-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, and criminal possession of a weapon; the misdemeanors are resisting arrest, third-degree criminal tampering, second-degree obstructing government administration, second-degree menacing with a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a hypodermic instrument, and two counts of petit larceny. The violation charges are second-degree harassment and two counts of second-degree harassment.
