Ithaca, N.Y. — A man charged in a bizarre break-in at Ithaca’s Planned Parenthood this week also faces drug and harassment charges for unrelated incidents, according to Ithaca City Court officials.
[fvplayer src=”https://vimeo.com/123147381″ loop=”fale” mobile=”https://vimeo.com/123147381″]
Tompkins Trust Company
Find Out More about Business Banking
Adam Smith, 32, who is homeless, was charged with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor arson after the break-in on Wednesday. His bail was set at $5,000 by Judge Rick Wallace at his arraignment.
In addition to the criminal mischief and arson charges, Smith will also face charges of harassment, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree, and failing to appear on charges of operating a vehicle with a revoked license, according to court officials. These charges stem from incidents before this week’s break-in, court officials said.
Arraignment
At Wednesday’s arraignment, Judge Wallace said Smith had been charged with causing more than $2,000 in damage at the Planned Parenthood at the West Seneca Street. (The incident drew dozens of emergency responders to the area, caused the building to be evacuated and forced the street to be closed to traffic for hours.)
Smith is accused of setting fire to a purple laminated office sign in the facility’s bathroom, according to the judge. Smith then crawled through a bathroom hatch at the Planned Parenthood, crawled through some duct-work and fell through a drop-ceiling, according to law enforcement.
Police have said that Smith is believed to have been under the influence of “severely impairing narcotics.” There’s no indication he was targeting the Planned Parenthood.
Judge Wallace rejected a bail of $10,000 for Smith, saying it sounded excessively high, but didn’t want it lower than $5,000 out of fear that Smith could reoffend or prove a flight risk.
At Wednesday’s court hearing, Smith said he had recently been in drug rehab and was seeking help.