Headlines for Wednesday, October 5, 2022

The City of Ithaca is looking to shut down a case against four of its police officers. According to the Ithaca Voice, the city filed a motion in federal court to dismiss a case against the officers involved in the controversial arrests of Cadji Ferguson and Rose DeGroat in 2019. The filing says the officers actions were “justified, reasonable, necessary, and not excessive,” moreover, it claims, the officers are protected by qualified immunity. Attorney Ed Kopko, who represents Ferguson and DeGroat, says the city needs to stop protecting who he called “a few rare, rogue police officers.” He went on to say that until it does, there’s no incentive “for police officers to change their behavior.” A hearing on the city’s motion to dismiss is scheduled for December.

The first recreational cannabis dispensaries in New York should be operational by the end of the year—including in Tompkins County. According to the Ithaca Times, county legislator Rich John attended an informational session presented to the state association of counties aimed at helping municipalities prepare for legal pot sales. He says local governments will see significant income from taxes levied on the licensed sale of weed and that so called “sticker stores” selling high-priced stickers and offering gifts of marijuana will likely face prosecution for tax fraud. 

A missing local woman has been found and is in good health. Marie Jackson, 72, who lives with dementia, had been missing since Thursday evening but Ithaca police reported Friday that she had been located and is under professional care.