GREENE COUNTY
A White Plains man was arrested on Feb. 3 after threatening to harm his wife inside the Second Baptist Church in the area of Pittsburg Avenue and Kilpatrick Street in White Plains.
Joseph Thomas Cummings, 48, of 1100 Pittsburg Ave., White Plains, was charged with open container and terroristic threats and acts.
According to reports, Sgt. Will Smith was dispatched to the area in reference to a scared female who wasn’t wearing any shoes on the property.
While Smith was on his way, he was advised that the female called and stated that she was at the church and that she had been running from her husband Joseph Cummings, who had been trying to fight her.
She told deputies the stated that the argument started because Cummings accused her of cheating on him. She also said Cummings has been threatening to kill her.
Smith located the female, and while he was speaking with her, she pointed to a grey Toyota SUV that was attempting to leave the area and stated “that’s him.”
Smith saw Deputy Eli Franks approaching the Toyota in his patrol unit and advised Franks to stop the vehicle. Franks activated his emergency equipment and attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the driver turned towards Smith and the female and began accelerating.
According to the report, Smith and the female were beside the patrol unit, which was still on the road.
Concerned for Cummings and the female, Smith removed his pistol from its Holster, pointed it at Cummings’ vehicle, and instructed him to stop.
Cummings stopped, and Smith instructed Cummings to raise his hands and get out of the vehicle.
Cummings was then detained but continued to yell at the female. Franks stood by with Cummings while Smith continued his investigation.
The woman said that she and Cummings had physical altercations in the past, but she did not want to fight with him anymore, so she attempted to get away from Cummings by running out of the house with no shoes and no coat, according to the report.
She said she ran into the church to get away from him, but Cummings followed her inside anyway. He told her she had two days to get out of the house, or he would kill her.
According to the report, a man who let the woman into the church corroborated her story.
Smith went inside the church and met with the man who said he saw Cummings park his vehicle at the church and walk towards the woman’s house.
When he saw the woman attempting to enter the church, he let her inside.
Cummings also came inside the church to confront the woman. Smith asked the man if Cummings threatened to kill the woman, and he stated “Yes.”
Smith then advised Cummings that he was under arrest. While Cummings was being searched, he began getting upset and began yelling at the woman, according to the report.
The woman was placed into the rear of Franks’ patrol unit.
Smith later found a black scale with a white powder residue on it along with several empty clear plastic bags and an open bottle of vodka in the vehicle Cummings had been driving.
According to the report, Franks later advised Smith that during the transport, Cummings continued to be disorderly.