Derik Churchill
/ Courtesy Madison County Sheriff’s Office
CAZENOVIA -- Lockdowns at two Madison County college campuses have been lifted and one man is under arrest after a two-county police chase overnight.
Madison County sheriff’s deputies tell CNY Central that around 9:50 p.m. Thursday 26-year-old Derik R. Churchill illegally showed up at the home of a woman after having been served a restraining order by police just an hour earlier. Police received a report about the incident, and were told that Churchill may have been armed.
The incident evolved into a police pursuit, starting in Munnsville and leading throughout southern Madison County and parts of Onondaga County. Police say they made several attempts to stop Churchill using ‘stop sticks’, and were unsuccessful until the suspect was finally brought to a halt and arrested near the Cazenovia College campus.
Deputies say during the chase Churchill damaged property with his minivan and rammed a sheriff’s department car, though the deputy was not injured.
Police say despite threats that he had a weapon, Churchill was not armed. The Cazenovia College and SUNY Morrisville campuses were locked down during the incident, as students and nearby residents were advised to stay indoors for their safety. The lockdowns were lifted a little before 2:00 a.m.
Churchill was arraigned Friday morning in Stockbridge Town Court on charges of felony first-degree criminal contempt and misdemeanor second-degree aggravated harassment. He is currently in the Madison County jail on $1,000 cash bail or $5,000 bond. Police say more charges are pending.
