Saratoga BLM Activist Found Not Guilty   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lex Figuereo was found not guilty this week in City Court regarding charges in connection with a Saratoga Springs City Council meeting in 2023.  

Glens Falls City Court judge Gary Hobbs announced the not guilty verdict in court Jan. 27. The story was first reported by Aaron Shellow-Lavine of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. 

The charges against Saratoga BLM co-founder Figuereo stem from an April 4, 2023 council meeting that involved a fracas during that evening’s Public Comment session. Following a commotion that continued for several minutes, the meeting resumed to conclusion. 

Figuereo was subsequently charged with obstructing governmental administration – a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct – a violation. Local resident Bridgette Barr, who unfastened a thin barrier separating members of the council and the public and approached the council table while yelling at its members, was similarly charged. 

Five Saratoga County Sheriff’s department patrols were brought in at the request of the city police department and staged on Maple Avenue during the council meeting. Additionally, Saratoga Springs City Police officers stood in a hallway adjacent to Saratoga Music Hall where the council meeting was held.  Explaining the police presence, then-Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino said afterwards that he held conversations with his deputy commissioner and the command staff of the police department “in response to significant activity on social media that indicated an intent to bring and recruit a large number of individuals to Tuesday’s City Council meeting.”

Members of the council that night expressed displeasure that they had not been made aware of the presence of officers in and outside the building prior to the meeting. 

The five-hour meeting was archived on the city’s website and may be viewed at: https://saratogaspringsny.new.swagit.com/videos/223380.