Anne Hayes

1 week ago | syracuse.com | Anne Hayes

Syracuse, N.Y. — Some Westhill High School lacrosse players were involved in a failed hazing attempt the day before they abducted a younger teammate, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Monday. Fitzpatrick confirmed that the players attempted an abduction on Wednesday, April 23, but the targets of the hazing recognized the older students and knew it was a “sick joke.” No abduction actually occurred, he said.

1 week ago | syracuse.com | Anne Hayes

Auburn, N.Y. — An Auburn man threatened two garbage collectors with a knife Friday, police said. Two garbage collectors were working on Wall Street in Auburn when they discarded a trash can after emptying it, Auburn police said in a news release Monday. Frederick W. Stormes Jr., 65, was upset with how the men handled his trash can, police said. Stormes followed them down the street and confronted them for being “disrespectful,” police said. He then pulled a knife on the two men, police said.

1 week ago | syracuse.com | Anne Hayes

Syracuse, N.Y. — The Westhill Central School District superintendent informed parents Friday that lacrosse players involved in a serious hazing incident last week will face discipline from the school in addition to the criminal chargesIn an email to parents Friday afternoon, Superintendent Steve Dunham said that he would not share the specific details of the students’ discipline outcomesdue to privacy laws. He said that the consequences would be determined by the district’s code of conduct.

1 week ago | syracuse.com | Anne Hayes

Constantia, N.Y. — A conversation between an Oswego County man and police officers in a garage in Constantia escalated quickly after he was told his young child, who was in his arms, would be taken from him. “Your mom is coming up to take your son,” Oswego County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Charles Costello told Miles Dignean.

1 week ago | syracuse.com | Anne Hayes

Syracuse, N.Y. — Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick promised 11 Westhill High School lacrosse players accused of abducting a young player that things would go better for them if they turned themselves in. He pledged they would get a ticket for a misdemeanor instead of being charged with kidnapping, a felony. He said they would have no criminal record, would not be held in jail and would not have bail set by a judge. The 11 players quickly turned themselves in.