Ithaca, N.Y. — An Ithaca man who beat a murder charge was arrested Wednesday after colliding with a police vehicle during a failed escape attempt, according to law enforcement.
Corbin D. Whyte, 20, hit two cars, struck a guardrail and took police on a foot chase before he was eventually arrested, police said. He had been wanted for violating parole.
Whyte was accused of murder in the shooting death of Paul Garcia at the Maple Hill Apartments in 2010.
Prosecutors dropped the murder charge in December 2013 after three juries failed to render a verdict on his guilt, according to WHCU. Whyte did get sentenced for tampering with physical evidence, which is a felony, WHCU said.
Today, officers found Whyte in the parking lot of a Floral Avenue apartment complex. He was ordered to get out of his car, according to Officer Jamie Williamson.
Instead, Whyte drove forward toward police. Officer Williamson said Whyte collided with an unmarked police car as he tried to flee.
Whyte pushed the cop car out of the way before continuing south on Floral Avenue, according to police.
As Whyte fled, he struck a different car on Floral Avenue, causing “moderate injuries,” according to Williamson.
Another attempt to stop Whyte failed. But Whyte had gotten a flat front tire from the other crashes, and soon struck a guard rail on Route 13 near the 34/96 split, according to Officer Williamson.
Whyte then ran into a wooded area before he was arrested. Whyte is now in the Tompkins County Jail.
Additional charges are pending.