Couple involved in domestic dispute gets sent to Vegas
NORWICH – A Norwich couple charged with committing a number of domestic violence crimes in front of their children saw those charges set aside Wednesday so the Department of Social Services could fly the two to Las Vegas to stay with relatives instead.
Nicholas Farmer and Kalani Price, both 23 years old and living at 9B Griffin Street, were charged with multiple misdemeanors Wednesday involving a domestic violence incident that ended with personal injuries and police breaking down their front door.
Appearing in Norwich City Court before Acting City Court Judge James Cushman, the charges were adjourned in contemplation of dismissal for one year so prior travel arrangements with DSS could be maintained, which involved taking the defendants to Las Vegas on a 5 p.m. flight from Syracuse yesterday.
Before reaching the decision, Cushman met with DSS representatives, the District Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys behind closed doors to work out the agreement.
The two conditions in the agreement required that neither defendant commit any more crimes for a year and that they accept DSS’s offer to leave the state. However, after 12 months without a violation, the order will expire and the couple may then return to Norwich.
“I’m being told that you will return to Las Vegas, where your mother lives, that there is a ticket waiting for you today and that you will leave Norwich for Syracuse with a member of the Department of Social Services,” said Cushman.
Cushman said the defendants had been a “constant drain” on the community since moving to the area more than two years ago and that the two were being taken to the airport, given tickets for them and their three children, all paid for by Social Services. Following the agreement, the two were promptly released from court to collect their belongs with relatives and were driven to the airport.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne, responding through an aide, said that the all information regarding the issue was confidential and declined any comment.
Assistant District Attorney James Chamberlain explained that DSS had already made arrangements to have the couple relocated to Las Vegas, where new oversight was in place.
It could not be confirmed Thursday morning if the couple and their children had actually boarded the plane.
The situation began with screams and the sound of breaking glass at 5:15 a.m. along Griffin Street in the City of Norwich, Wednesday. Neighbors said they called 911 as they witnessed an apparent domestic violence incident unfold, an occurrence that had transpired several times before in the past few months.
The Norwich City Police reported that in the last year alone, officers had responded to the Griffin Street address 19 times. They also reported that in the two and a half years since the defendants moved to the area, police had 35 documented incidents with Farmer and 32 with Price, some of those involving prior arrests.
“Officers responding to a 911 domestic disturbance call at that address observed a large amount of fresh blood at the scene and received no response at the door. Officer forced their way into the home to make sure no one was in need of immediate medical care,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
As police knocked on the door and demanded entry, neighbors began gathering in the street to witness the event unfold.
Neighbor Dave Francis, a 10-year resident of Griffin Street, was one of those in the crowd. “They were trying everything they could to get inside and then one of the cops turned to the other and said ‘Alright then, we’re done with this, break it in,’” he said.
Police discovered the two defendants inside the home along with their three children, whose ages were not being released – but neighbors at the scene said they were “toddlers no older than elementary school.”
Inside police said they found Price with personal injuries, including lacerations, and she was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Angelino said the couple was “agitated and combative” with officers which resulted in Farmer being charged with an additional second degree harassment charge over his conduct towards police.
He was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and obstructing governmental administration.
Price was charged with criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.
When police escorted the couple out of the home in handcuffs, a gathered crowd of about six neighbors broke out in applause.
The three children at the residence were placed in the care of a relative.
“No less than on three separate occasions did I and other neighbors have to go outside and drag the kids off the street because the parents were fighting,” said Francis, who complimented the City Police and Code Enforcement, but criticized Child Protective Services.
Another neighbor, Bob Clipson, said he was shocked to discover that DSS paid for the couple’s trip to Las Vegas.
“If it was someone like you or me, or her (motioning to his wife), people who actually have a job and are productive members of society, we’d be in jail right now,” he said.
Police reported that the couple was currently unemployed and the ADA confirmed the report saying they were “beneficiaries of the state.”
“I don’t think justice was served. It’s like they said it’s OK to do this stuff, just don’t do it here,” Clipson said.
According to expedia.com, a popular Internet-based travel company, the cheapest possible flight from Syracuse, purchased on the day of departure, ranged from a low of $585.80 per person to a high of $631.30, both flying economy/coach depending on the airline and number of stops.
Based on those figures, the estimated cost for the five tickets would have ranged from $2,929 to $3,156.50, not factoring the cost of travel or the time for the DSS personnel who transported the family to the airport.
“The people in that neighborhood have had their quality of life diminished and if the ultimate goal was to remove them, it’s been accomplished,” said Chief Angelino.
“You have been an aggravation to this community for some time. It is apparent you need to go home to Las Vegas,” said the judge to the defendants.
Nicholas Farmer and Kalani Price, both 23 years old and living at 9B Griffin Street, were charged with multiple misdemeanors Wednesday involving a domestic violence incident that ended with personal injuries and police breaking down their front door.
Appearing in Norwich City Court before Acting City Court Judge James Cushman, the charges were adjourned in contemplation of dismissal for one year so prior travel arrangements with DSS could be maintained, which involved taking the defendants to Las Vegas on a 5 p.m. flight from Syracuse yesterday.
Before reaching the decision, Cushman met with DSS representatives, the District Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys behind closed doors to work out the agreement.
The two conditions in the agreement required that neither defendant commit any more crimes for a year and that they accept DSS’s offer to leave the state. However, after 12 months without a violation, the order will expire and the couple may then return to Norwich.
“I’m being told that you will return to Las Vegas, where your mother lives, that there is a ticket waiting for you today and that you will leave Norwich for Syracuse with a member of the Department of Social Services,” said Cushman.
Cushman said the defendants had been a “constant drain” on the community since moving to the area more than two years ago and that the two were being taken to the airport, given tickets for them and their three children, all paid for by Social Services. Following the agreement, the two were promptly released from court to collect their belongs with relatives and were driven to the airport.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne, responding through an aide, said that the all information regarding the issue was confidential and declined any comment.
Assistant District Attorney James Chamberlain explained that DSS had already made arrangements to have the couple relocated to Las Vegas, where new oversight was in place.
It could not be confirmed Thursday morning if the couple and their children had actually boarded the plane.
The situation began with screams and the sound of breaking glass at 5:15 a.m. along Griffin Street in the City of Norwich, Wednesday. Neighbors said they called 911 as they witnessed an apparent domestic violence incident unfold, an occurrence that had transpired several times before in the past few months.
The Norwich City Police reported that in the last year alone, officers had responded to the Griffin Street address 19 times. They also reported that in the two and a half years since the defendants moved to the area, police had 35 documented incidents with Farmer and 32 with Price, some of those involving prior arrests.
“Officers responding to a 911 domestic disturbance call at that address observed a large amount of fresh blood at the scene and received no response at the door. Officer forced their way into the home to make sure no one was in need of immediate medical care,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
As police knocked on the door and demanded entry, neighbors began gathering in the street to witness the event unfold.
Neighbor Dave Francis, a 10-year resident of Griffin Street, was one of those in the crowd. “They were trying everything they could to get inside and then one of the cops turned to the other and said ‘Alright then, we’re done with this, break it in,’” he said.
Police discovered the two defendants inside the home along with their three children, whose ages were not being released – but neighbors at the scene said they were “toddlers no older than elementary school.”
Inside police said they found Price with personal injuries, including lacerations, and she was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Angelino said the couple was “agitated and combative” with officers which resulted in Farmer being charged with an additional second degree harassment charge over his conduct towards police.
He was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and obstructing governmental administration.
Price was charged with criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.
When police escorted the couple out of the home in handcuffs, a gathered crowd of about six neighbors broke out in applause.
The three children at the residence were placed in the care of a relative.
“No less than on three separate occasions did I and other neighbors have to go outside and drag the kids off the street because the parents were fighting,” said Francis, who complimented the City Police and Code Enforcement, but criticized Child Protective Services.
Another neighbor, Bob Clipson, said he was shocked to discover that DSS paid for the couple’s trip to Las Vegas.
“If it was someone like you or me, or her (motioning to his wife), people who actually have a job and are productive members of society, we’d be in jail right now,” he said.
Police reported that the couple was currently unemployed and the ADA confirmed the report saying they were “beneficiaries of the state.”
“I don’t think justice was served. It’s like they said it’s OK to do this stuff, just don’t do it here,” Clipson said.
According to expedia.com, a popular Internet-based travel company, the cheapest possible flight from Syracuse, purchased on the day of departure, ranged from a low of $585.80 per person to a high of $631.30, both flying economy/coach depending on the airline and number of stops.
Based on those figures, the estimated cost for the five tickets would have ranged from $2,929 to $3,156.50, not factoring the cost of travel or the time for the DSS personnel who transported the family to the airport.
“The people in that neighborhood have had their quality of life diminished and if the ultimate goal was to remove them, it’s been accomplished,” said Chief Angelino.
“You have been an aggravation to this community for some time. It is apparent you need to go home to Las Vegas,” said the judge to the defendants.
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