Spencer Man Charged With Firing Gun & Killing Pet After Standoff

A Spencer man is facing felony charges for reportedly firing shots inside a home and killing a resident’s pet on Prospect Valley Road in the Town of Candor late at night on Wednesday, April 14.

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Tioga County Sheriff’s officials say they arrested 35-year-old Randy Cottrill Junior on felony counts of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and aggravated cruelty to animals after making threats to harm Deputies and himself and barricading himself inside the home.

Authorities say the incident lasted from the late-night hours on April 14 until Cottrill peacefully came out of the home at around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15.

Tioga County Sheriff’s Investigators and Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin executed a search warrant at the home and accused Cottrill of intentionally discharging a rifle in the direction of another person in the home, damaging property and intentionally killing a companion animal.

Tioga County Sheriff’s officials say they were assisted at the scene of the standoff by the SWAT team, including members of the Waverly Police Department, the New York State Police, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, Candor Emergency Medical Services, a crisis negotiator and Cottrill’s attorney, Paul Battisti.

In addition to the felony counts, the Spencer man is charged with misdemeanor menacing.

Cottrill was released on his own recognizance under New York State’s bail reform mandates.