‘Armed and dangerous’ suspect taken into custody in Tioga County after manhunt

SHARE NOW

UPDATED: On Friday at approximately 7:54 a.m., New York State Police took Matthew O. Perry, age 32 of Cortland,  into custody without incident. A search for Perry began Thursday after Perry eluded police in jurisdictions within Cortland, Broome and Tioga Counties.

Perry is wanted for the felony of Criminal Contempt in the first degree, in the City of Cortland and other charges.  On April 8, 2021 he was spotted by law enforcement members in Cortland County and a vehicle pursuit was initiated into Broome County where law enforcement from Broome County assisted.  The pursuit was ultimately terminated. 

Perry was later spotted in his vehicle by a trooper in Tioga County but was able to evade the trooper.  It’s believed that Perry then struck an unoccupied vehicle in the village of Owego before ending up on a logging trail on Brooks Road in the town of Barton.  His vehicle caught on fire and he abandoned the vehicle.  The vehicle fire started a brush fire and a vacant home also caught fire. 

State Forest Rangers, Halsey Valley, Tioga Center, Nichols and Owego fire departments responded to the scene of the fire.  The fire was additionally monitored by New York State Police Aviation and a New York State Police drone.  No other homes were in danger. 

Troopers, members from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, SORT (Special Operations Response Team) and the Forensic Identification Unit (FIU) responded to the scene.  City of Cortland Police, Cortland County Sheriff’s Department, Broome County Sheriff’s Department, Broome County SWAT, Tioga County Sheriff’s Department, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department SWAT and the Village of Owego Police Department assisted in the investigation. 

Throughout the night, law enforcement patrolled in the Barton and surrounding area searching for Perry. 

On April 9, 2021, Troopers were dispatched by Tioga County 911 to a reported sighting of Perry on Halseyville Road in the town of Tioga.  He was taken into custody by New York State Police without incident.  He is being evaluated at Wilson Medical Center. 

Perry is being charged by the State Police with the felony of Reckless Endangerment, other charges are pending. 

The investigation continues.