Cortlandville, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A 6 hour man hunt in Cortland County failed to track down a man who robbed a restaurant.
The Sheriff's Office believed he was hiding somewhere within a 50 acre wooded area in Cortlandville.
Action News Reporter Leigh Dana has the latest update.
New York State Police, the Cortland Fire Department, the County Sheriff's Office, and SUNY were staked out all day hoping to catch one man.
They say the response was so large, because he could be armed and dangerous.
A briefing with deputies on a plan of attack, while a chopper scours the area from above.
A swarm of officers gear up, getting ready to sweep the area near Groton Road in Cortlandville, where they believe a man with a weapon is hiding.
"We had a canine and other units come out around the perimeter, secure the perimeter, picked up his trail by the water works where we believe the individual is still located," said Herb Barnhart, the Cortland County Undersheriff.
People who live down the block, like Kelly Hegedus, check out all of the police activity.
But, they're told to stay inside their homes and to lock doors and windows as as safety precaution.
"It's crazy, we're like two streets away and we're a nervous wreck," said Hegedus.
Around 9:15 Friday morning, the Cortland County Sheriff's Office says a man entered this Kentucky Fried Chicken on Route 281 in Cortlandville.
The store was preparing to open for the day.
The man demanded cash and threatened he was armed, although no weapon was visible.
He ordered the three employees at the restaurant to go into a walk-in cooler, then fled the scene.
"One of our units actually believed they located the individual on a bicycle, went on a foot pursuit chase, across this parking lot, then went into the wooded area, which is where they lost sight of him," said Undersheriff Barnhart.
Witnesses describe the suspect as a black male, about 5'6 to 6' tall, wearing a dark hoodie, and a ski mask.
Deputies later found the hoodie and mask, with the bag of cash in the woods.
Meanwhile, SUNY Cortland had been on lockdown.
Authorities believe he was hiding in what is called "the water works" area, which is right next to campus.
"It's just unbelievable to think there's an armed robber, running around," said Hegedus, a resident of Cortland.
Deputies could not confirm whether it could have been the same man who's been robbing businesses in the Binghamton area during early morning hours.
While their character and physical description are similar, there is no evidence there's a tie between the two.
Twitter
Facebook