A Dryden man was charged with attempted murder after allegedly pouring gasoline on a female victim and two children during a verbal dispute at a residence on Schwan Drive in Dryden.
The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the New York State Police, responded to the Schwan Drive residence for a reported dispute at about 10:18 a.m. Saturday, June 6. While police were enroute, witnesses reported observing a man pouring gasoline on a residence before leaving the scene.
During the investigation by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, an adult female victim alleged that Matthew J. Demming, 53, of Dryden, arrived at the residence in violation of a court-issued protection order.
A verbal dispute then occurred on the front porch involving Demming and the female victim while her two children were present, police said. It is alleged that Demming retrieved a gasoline can from beside the residence and began pouring gasoline on the female victim, the two children, and the residence.
Police said that Demming attempted to ignite the gasoline with a lighter before a witness intervened and physically removed him.
Tompkins County deputies located Demming in the area shortly after and took him into custody without incident. The Varna Volunteer Fire Company responded to the scene and assisted in decontaminating the victims.
Demming was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal contempt and aggravated family offense, all felonies, plus two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
He was arraigned in Tompkins County Centralized Arraignment and sent to the Tompkins County Jail on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond bail. He will return to court at a later date.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Dryden man charged after allegedly pouring gas on kids, woman
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Smith, Ithaca Journal | USA TODAY Network
