Sheriff W. Timothy Luce reports the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office had a successful and safe conclusion to an armed standoff with a male on County Road 139 in the Town of Ovid. The incident began on March 11, 2021, at about 4:28pm when Deputies and Investigators responded to 2463 County Road 139 for the report of a male threatening self-harm and believed to be armed. A perimeter was immediately established and Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiators were requested to the scene. Crisis negotiators who were also CIT–(Crisis Intervention Team), trained immediately began communicating with the male by phone to obtain his safe surrender. The male refused to comply and would not exit the residence. The crisis negotiations continued through the night.
The Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit was deployed and a drone was used to survey the scene and enhance safety of perimeter officers.
At about 9am on March 12th, the male surrendered to Sheriff’s Deputies unharmed and was taken into custody.
The subsequent investigation into the incident led to a search warrant execution where Sheriff’s Investigators seized an unlawful firearm, namely a “sawed-off” shotgun. As a result, Mark H. Taggerty, age 62, of 2463 County Road 139, Ovid, New York, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony.
Taggerty was issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Ovid Town Court on March 15, 2021, at 10am. Taggerty was then taken to a psychiatric facility for an evaluation.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, Ovid Fire Department, South Seneca Ambulance, Seneca County Highway Department, and the Seneca County E-911 Center.
A special thanks goes out to the Fire Police who blockaded the roadway so that more Officers could be devoted to the incident.
The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the community for their continued patience during the incident. A power outage in the area during this incident was coincidental and not related.