OWASCO — A man was arrested Monday after allegedly attempting to strike his former partner during a child custody exchange, violating an order of protection, police said.
Mitchell Podolak approached his former intimate partner to drop off children at an undisclosed location in Owasco at approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 17, according to the Auburn Police Department.
During the exchange, police said Podolak became agitated and unprovoked, attempted to strike the woman while the children were present.
The victim, who was protected by a previously issued order of protection, feared for her safety, authorities reported.
At the time of the incident, Podolak was already on release from charges stemming from a separate domestic incident that occurred on March 16.
In a joint effort between the Auburn Police Department and Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, Podolak was later arrested without incident.
He was transported to Cayuga County Jail and held pending arraignment with bail set at $5,000.
Podolak faces charges of harassment in the second degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal contempt in the first degree, which is a Class E felony.
