Displaying items by tag: saratoga

Thursday, 05 May 2022 16:52

April 30 – May 6, 2022

COURT

Justin W. Jones, 30, of Ballston Spa, was sentenced May 2 to 1 to 2 years incarceration, after pleading to failure to verify as a sex offender, in the town of Malta. 

Peter Brossa, 41, of Clifton Park, was sentenced to 1-1/2 to 4 years incarceration, after pleading to possessing a sexual performance by a child. 

Vallen E. Mayes, 37, of Moreau, pleaded May 2 to felony DWI. Sentencing July 11. 

Mark P. Chauvin, 32, of Mechanicville, pleaded May 2 to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth-degree, a felony, and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor, as first charged Jan. 28. Sentencing July 11. 

Miley A. Thomas, 30, of Mechanicville, pleaded May 2 to felony DWI, first charged October 2021. Sentencing July 11. 

Justin S. Rue, 36, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded May 4 to assault in the second-degree, in connection with charges on Oct. 2, 2021. 

POLICE

Troopers seized nearly a kilo of cocaine, as well as loaded handguns during a Northway stop on April 26 when the New York State Police in Queensbury arrested 37-year-old Jalil K. Hill of Bridgeport, CT, and Tyrone Williams, 32, Long Island City, NY. Both men were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first-degree degree (felony), criminal possession of a controlled substance third-degree - intent to sell (felony), two counts of criminal possession of a weapon second-degree (felony), and criminal possession of stolen property fifth-degree (misdemeanor). Williams was additionally charged with possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, and criminal impersonation.

Tanya Fowler, 41, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 24 with harassment in the second-degree. 

Andrew Rougie, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 23 with assault in the third-degree. 

David Hagen, 47, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with assault in the third-degree. 

Virgilio Smith, 26, of Schenectady, was charged in Saratoga Springs May 1 with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree, and disorderly conduct. 

James Hill, 24, of Schenectady, was charged in Saratoga Springs May 1 with disorderly conduct. 

Todd Murray, 26, of Watervliet, was charged in Saratoga Springs May 1 with disorderly conduct and obstruct governmental administration. 

Tarashawna Anderson, 21, of Schenectady, was charged in Saratoga Springs May 1 with disorderly conduct, harassment in the second-degree, and criminal tampering in the third-degree. 

Evan Jenkins, 18, of Gansevoort, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 30 with grand larceny in the third-degree. 

Joshua Mathusa, 43, of Ballston Spa, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 29 with DWI, DWAI, and moving from lane unsafely. 

Tallie-Ann Christopher, 22, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 29 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third-degree. 

Marcus Fuller, 49, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 27 with harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child. 

Taylor Flores, no age or address provided, was charged was charged in Saratoga Springs April 27 with strangulation in the second-degree, and assault in the third-degree. 

Christen Ward, 23, of Northfield, Vermont was charged in Saratoga Springs April 27 with assault in the third-degree. 

Evan Jenkins, 18, of Gansevoort, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 26 with petit larceny, assault in the second-degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth-degree. 

Nicholas Weeks, 31, of Milton, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 26 with aggravated unlicensed operation, and motor vehicle registration suspended. 

Susan Clark, 53, of West Sand Lake, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 26 with operating motor vehicle impaired by drugs, failure to obey police officer, and four driving-related violations. 

Gary Mackenzie, 58, of Centerline Road  (no municipality provided), pleaded May 3 to criminal contempt in the first-degree, charged June 5, 2021 in Providence. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 28 April 2022 12:32

April 23 – April 29, 2022

COURT

Duane D. McEwan, 41, of Clifton Park, was sentenced April 18 to 5 years’ incarceration, and 5 years’ post-release supervision, after pleading to assault in the second-degree charged in Halfmoon, and 1-1/2 to 3 years’ incarceration after pleading to attempted assault as charged in Milton. Sentences to run consecutively. 

John Fink, 38, of Troy, pleaded April 22 to felony burglary, charged December 2021 in Mechanicville.  Sentencing June 24. 

POLICE

Erin Carey, 48, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 20 with DWAI, criminal possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and moving from lane unsafely, following a property damage accident on Bolster Lane. 

Tanya Fowler, 41, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 19 with forcible touching, and unlawful imprisonment. 

Robert P. Maciong, 26, of Albany, was charged April 22 in Malta with criminal possession of a weapon as a felony, and the misdemeanors: menacing, and endangering the welfare of a child. Maciong is accused of pointing a firearm at another person while two children were present, in connection with a complaint made last October in the town of Halfmoon, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.   

Kenneth Straight, 53, of Greenwich, was charged April 18 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated harassment in the second-degree. 

Shayne Richardson, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 18 with criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Evan Jenkins, 18, of Gansevoort, was charged April 17 in Saratoga Springs with felony burglary, and misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Gregory Myers, 34, of Hudson, was charged April 16 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, refusal to take a breath test, license restriction violation, and moving from lane unsafely. 

Jaronn Campbell, 27, of Ballston Spa, was charged April 16 in Saratoga Springs with harassment, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. 

Dominic Lodestro, 21, of Johnstown, was charged April 16 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and failure to obey a stop sign, and a traffic control device. 

On April 6, the New York State Police in Clifton Park arrested 30-year-old Craig R. Derusso and 34-year-old Emily N. Roerig, both of Clifton Park. Each was charged with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth-degree (felony), and the misdemeanors: identity theft in the third-degree, and conspiracy in the fifth-degree. The charges are connected with a State Police investigation after a Ballston Lake resident reported that someone had stolen their purse from their vehicle while they were parked at Stewart’s in Malta. The victim’s debit card was allegedly used shortly after the theft to make purchases at two stores in Clifton Park. Troopers were able to obtain surveillance footage following the use of the debit card and identified Derusso and Roerig.

On April 19, 2022, following an investigation into a domestic incident in the town of Stillwater, the Sheriff’s Office charged 27-year-old Mechanicville resident Francisco Caamano with felony attempted assault, menacing misdemeanor, and harassment – a violation. Caamano is accused of threatening to stab and attempting to stab a person with a pair of scissors, as well as shoving that person. 

On April 9, the New York State Police in Wilton charged 25-year-old Dylan J. Lyon of Fort Edward with aggravated driving while intoxicated, after police initiated a traffic stop of Lyon’s vehicle traveling south in the northbound lane of I-87 in Moreau. Lyon was later placed in custody and transported to SP Wilton where he provided a breath sample of 0.24% BAC, according to police. 

State Troopers responded to a reported vehicle submerged in the Sacandaga River along Old Corinth Road in the town of Hadley on Sunday night, April 24. Troopers located the vehicle and divers from the Corinth Fire Department were able to remove the driver, who was the sole occupant. The driver, Edward Mastrangelo, 66, of Queensbury, was transported to Glens Falls Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The preliminary investigation determined that Mastrangelo was traveling southbound on Old Corinth Road when his vehicle drove off the east shoulder, down a steep embankment and overturned, landing in the river and becoming submerged, according to State Police. An autopsy on the victim is pending.

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 21 April 2022 15:26

April 15 – April 22, 2022

SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY

The Community-Wide Drug Take Back Day is scheduled to take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  on Saturday, April 30. Officers will be stationed behind Saratoga Springs City Hall on Maple Avenue. Residents may bring all unused, unwanted, and expired medications for safe and secure disposal. No liquid, needles, or radioactive materials.

COURT

Rolland Gibbs, 63, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded April 12 to reckless endangerment in the first-degree, a felony, first charged in Saratoga on Nov. 9, 2021. Sentencing scheduled June 22. 

Justin J. Jewett, 32, of Albany, was sentenced April 15 to 2 to 4 years incarceration, after pleading to felony burglary in Halfmoon. 

Christopher Millington, 38, of Gansevoort, pleaded April 15 to criminal contempt in the first-degree, charged in October 2021. 

Robert Hancox, 37, of Waterford, was sentenced to 17 months incarceration, after pleading to two counts criminal contempt in the second-degree. 

Linda L. Nevins, 71, of South Glens Falls, was sentenced April 15 to a 5-year term of probation, after pleading to leaving the scene of an incident without reporting death, charged September 2021 in Moreau. 

Robert A, Nadeau, 40, of Troy, was sentenced April 15 to 5 years probation, after pleading to attempted grand larceny in the third-degree, charged in Saratoga Springs Oct. 15, 2019. 

Victor A. Guilianelle, 53, of Mechanicville, was sentenced April 15 to 1 year incarceration, after pleading to failure to register or verify as a sex offender, first charged in Lata. 

Wayne M. Bakken II, no age given, of Saratoga, was sentenced to 1-1/3 to 4 years incarceration, after pleading to promoting prison contraband in the first-degree, a felony. 

Ava Maddalla, 21, of Schenectady, weas sentenced April 12 to one year incarceration, after pleading to felony grand larceny, first charged April 2021 in Malta. 

Michael Gladding, 52, of Halfmoon, pleaded April 13 to promoting a sexual performance by a child. Sentencing July 20. 

Anthony Lebrecht, 34, of Malta, was sentenced April 14 to 5 years incarceration and 15 years post-release supervision, after pleading to sexual abuse in the first-degree, first charged November 2021 in Malta. 

Lukas W. Camp-Potter, 26, of Ballston Spa, pleaded April 14 to felony burglary, first charged August 2021 in Ballston. Sentencing June 2. 

POLICE

Joshua A. Salak, 35, of Ballston Spa, was charged April 14 with criminal possession of stolen property in the third-degree. He is accused of driving a vehicle suspected as stolen in Saratoga Springs. 

Glenn Murcko, 30, of Queensbury, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 12 with criminal mischief; intent to damage property. 

Susan Beebe, 64, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 12 with criminal trespass in the third-degree. 

William Bogdanowicz, 32, of Saratoga Springs, and Isaac Martinez, 25, of Rexford, were both charged April 9 in Saratoga Springs with petit larceny, obstruct governmental administration, and conspiracy. 

Matthew Cinquanti, 43, of Gansevoort, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 9 with DWI, refusal to take breath test, failure to keep right on a two-lane road, and failure to obey traffic control device. 

Julianne Goins, 36, of Tampa, FL, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 8 with DWI, motor vehicle equipment violation, and failure to obey traffic control. 

Kevin Dreyer, 50, of Greenfield Center, was charged in Saratoga Springs April 7 with DWI, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle on the highway. 

Jamie Cyphers, 38, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 7 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle license violation, and following to close. 

Candido Merino Lopez, 34, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 7 with DWI, failure to keep right, failure to stop at a stop sign. 

Michael Cooper, 31, of Albany, was charged April 6 in Saratoga Springs with grand larceny in the third-degree. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 14 April 2022 15:28

April 9 – April 15, 2022

COURT

Jason M. Lafountain, 39, of Greenfield, was sentenced April 8 to 30 days jail, 5 years’ probation, and served order for no ownership of animals for 30 years, after pleading to aggravated cruelty to animals, first charged September 2021 in Greenfield.

Taylor C. Hatch, 36, of Moreau, pleaded April 8 to felony grand larceny, as charged November 2021 in Hadley. 

John Kasaj, 22, of Waterford, was sentenced April 8 to 2 to 6 years’ incarceration, after pleading to felony burglary, as charged October 2020. 

Brandon L. Griffith, 20, of the Bronx, pleaded April 8 to criminal possession of a controlled substance, as charged in January in Wilton. 

Michael Siddon 53, pleaded April 7 to criminal sexual act in the first-degree, a felony, as charged in 2021 in Stillwater. Sentencing June 9. 

Thomas Tedesco, 42, of Mechanicville, was sentenced April 7 to a 5-year-term of probation, after pleading to felony criminal possession of a weapon, as charged June 2021. 

Blake Hefflin, 20, of Malta, was sentenced April 7 to a three-year-term of probation, after pleading to assault in the third-degree, and boating while intoxicated, in connection with a July 4 boating incident on Saratoga Lake. 

Demetrius L. Anderson, 32, of Clifton Park, was sentenced April 6 to 5 years of probation and 25 hours of community service, after pleading to felony DWI, charged October 2021. 

Cedar Lofland, 49, of Queensbury, was sentenced April 6 to 1-1/2 to 3 years incarceration, after pleading to felony grand larceny, charged July 2021 in Northumberland. 

Michael Taylor, 31, of Schuylerville, was sentenced April 6 to 6 months incarceration and 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, charged April 2021 in Wilton. 

POLICE

Kevin Cavanagh, 55, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 4 with petit larceny. 

Hayden Holland, 28, of Denver, Colorado, was charged April 4 in Saratoga Springs with DWI, refusal to take breath test, and two driving violations. 

Larry Fritts, 26, of Ballston Spa, was charged April 3 in Saratoga Springs with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs and moving from lane unsafely. 

Anthony Sales, 41, of Troy, was charged April 2 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the third-degree. 

Nasseem Coleman, 22, of Albany, was charged April 2 in Saratoga Springs with DWI, and three driving related violations. 

On April 6, the New York State Police in Clifton Park charged 30-year-old Craig R. Derusso and 34-year-old Emily N. Roerig, both of Clifton Park, each with two counts criminal possession of stolen property (felony), identity theft in the third-degree, and conspiracy in the fifth-degree, on the suspicion of using a stolen debit card. 

Christina Jones, 33, of Guilderland, was charged April 2 in Saratoga Springs with resisting arrest. 

Deion Taylor, 22, of Poughkeepsie, was charged April 2 in Saratoga Springs with resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. 

Domonique Gilliam, 23, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 31 with harassment in the second-degree. 

Randy Jones, 54, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 29 with two counts criminal trespass.

Evan Jenkins, 18, of Gansevoort, was charged March 29 in Saratoga Springs with petit larceny. 

Antonio Randolph, 23, of Cohoes, was charged March 27 in Saratoga Springs with disorderly conduct/ violent behavior. 

Ashley R. Donovan, 26, of Greenfield Center, was charged April 11 with criminally negligent homicide, endangering the welfare of a child, and speeding, in connection with a motor vehicle crash last year. At approximately 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2021, members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of State Route 9N and Lanie Drive in the town of Greenfield. Six people, including three children, suffered various injuries and all were transported to area hospitals. One of the injured, 62-year-old Diane Welch, succumbed to her injuries after arriving at Albany Medical Center. An investigation of the cause of the crash by the Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit and Criminal Investigations Unit, determined that Donovan was operating a 2015 Nissan Rogue northbound on State Route 9N at a speed of 91 MPH with four passengers in her vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Welch, who was operating a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Lanie Drive, entered the intersection with the intention to travel southbound on State Route 9N when her vehicle was struck by Donovan’s vehicle, authorities said.   Donovan was arraigned in the town of Greenfield Court and released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to appear again at a later date, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The other patients injured in the crash were treated and subsequently released from hospitals. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 07 April 2022 15:39

April 2 – April 8, 2022

COURT

Norman E. Rose, 43, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded April 1 to misdemeanor DWI, and felony grand larceny, as charged in Saratoga Springs in October 2021. Sentencing scheduled June 3. 

Corey M. Clow, 51, of Troy, pleaded April 5 to misdemeanor DWI, and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, as charged in Saratoga Springs May 2019. Sentencing June 7. 

John Martino, 35, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced April 5 to 2 years incarceration and 3 years post-release supervision, after pleading to felony assault in connection with an incident in Milton, and 12 years determinate and 5 years post-release supervision after pleading to felony burglary in Wilton. Sentences to run concurrently. 

Cynthia L. Ferendzo, 62, of Burnt Hills, was sentenced April 4 to 5 years of probation and 30 days community service, after pleading to felony DWI, first charged in Ballston September 2021. 

Robert Porter, 38, of Ithaca, pleaded April 4 to felony grand larceny, first charged in Moreau September 2021. Sentencing June 6. 

Derek R. Halikias, 29, of Mechanicville, pleaded April 4 to criminal contempt, and attempted kidnapping – both felonies, charged Jan. 1, 2022. Sentencing June 6. 

Orette A. Shrowder, 36, of Malta, pleaded April 4 to criminal contempt in the first-degree, first charged in Malta October 2021. Sentencing June 6.     

Matthew Scoons, 44, of Ballston Spa, pleaded April 1 to criminal mischief in the third-degree, a felony, as charged in Malta. Sentencing June 3.

Richard Tifft, 50, of Queensbury, was sentenced April 1 to 1 to 3 years’ incarceration, after pleading to failure to register or verify as a sex offender, as charged in Moreau. 

Dean J. Attwell, 33, of Mechanicville, was sentenced to 3 years’ incarceration and 1 year post-release supervision, after pleading to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third-degree, in Corinth. 

Anthony Lebrecht, 34, of Halfmoon, pleaded March 29 to sexual abuse ibn the first-degree, a felony, first charged in Malta. 

Brian Ramirez-Ortiz, 33, of Ballston Lake, was sentenced March 29 to 1-1/2 to 3 years’ incarceration, after pleading to felony criminal mischief, in Malta. 

Dennis A. Combs, III, 24, of New York City, was sentenced March 30 to 6 years’ incarceration and 5 years of post-release supervision, after pleading to criminal possession of a weapon, first charged June 2021 in Saratoga Springs. 

POLICE

David Trombley, 62, of Ballston Spa, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 26 with DWI, refusal to take a breath test, and unsafe backing of a vehicle. 

Dominick Holmes, 26, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 22 with criminal mischief.

Kathryn Fasano, 48, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 22 with criminal contempt, and aggravated family offense. 

Nathan Surprenant, 35, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Fiona Boyle, 26, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 25 with DWI, and three driving-related violations.

Todd A. Axton, 59, of Burnt Hills, was charged March 31 with strangulation in the second-degree, aggravated criminal contempt, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree. All three charges are felonies. Axton is accused of causing physical injury to a victim in a domestic incident, where an order of protection was in effect against him. Subsequent to a search warrant at Axton’s residence, several illegally possessed firearms belonging to Axton were confiscated, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. 

Joshua J. Allen, 38, of Providence, was charged March 30 with felony assault, and misdemeanor resisting arrest, after allegedly getting into an altercation with a Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office investigator while being questioned at his residence over a separate incident.    

Ryan N. McPherson, 20, of Troy, was charged April 1 with criminal mischief felony, and the misdemeanors: criminal trespass, and making a punishable false written statement. McPherson is accused of driving his truck onto the Vosburgh Preserve Trail in Halfmoon and causing damage to the trail, which is enclosed and posted in a manner to exclude unauthorized vehicles and intruders. 

New York State Police announced they will participate in a national crackdown on distracted driving as part of April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The enforcement effort, called Operation Hang Up, will include increased patrols and checkpoints targeting drivers using electronic devices while behind the wheel. This year’s enforcement detail will run through Monday, April 11. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 31 March 2022 12:17

March 26 – April 1, 2022

COURT

Chalmers B. Davis, 44, of Schenectady, was convicted March 25 of two counts assault, one count attempted assault, and one count criminal possession of a weapon, in connection with an Aug. 10, 2021 incident that occurred on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs. Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said Davis “nearly stabbed one man to death and came within inches of slashing another man’s throat,” following an alleged verbal dispute. The trial jury rejected Davis’ claim that he acted in self-defense, Heggen said, thanking the Saratoga Springs Police Department and adding that the victim “would have almost certainly bled to death had law enforcement not responded as quickly and effectively as they did” in applying a tourniquet and subsequent transport to Albany Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.  Sentencing is May 18 and Davis faces up to 40 years in state prison.   

James Garafalo, 28, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded March 25 to felony assault in Saratoga Springs, and felony aggravated family offense in Milton, first charged in summer 2021. Sentencing May 25. 

Mindy J. Hayes, 34, of Witherbee, pleaded March 23 to felony DWI, in Ballston. Sentencing May 23. 

Damani Went, 22, of Ballston Spa, pleaded March 23 to aggravated criminal contempt, a felony, in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing March 23. 

Lloyd W. Kelone, 36, of Mechanicville, was sentenced March 23 to 3 years incarceration and 3 years post-release supervision, after pleading to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in Saratoga Springs. 

Jesse Stewart, 37, of Ballston Lake, was sentenced March 23 to a 5-year-term of probation, after pleading to felony DWI in Saratoga Springs first charged December 2021. 

Pedro Cabrera Tavarez, 35, of Queensbury, was sentenced March 23 to a 5-year-term of probation, after pleading to felony DWI in Wilton, first charged June 2021. 

Christopher D. Brewer, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced to 179 days incarceration, after pleading to criminal contempt in the first-degree in Saratoga Springs. 

POLICE

Shari L. Stephens, 37, of Malta, was charged March 23 with two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance – one felony, one misdemeanor – and one felony count criminal sale of a controlled substance. Stephens is accused of selling and possessing quantities of methamphetamine. 

Nicholas R. Alber, 24, of Schenectady, was charged March 22 with felony assault, and menacing, a misdemeanor, in connection with an incident in Charlton. Alber is accused of engaging in a physical altercation during which he struck a man in the face with BB pistol, causing serious physical injury. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail. 

James E. Reinhart Jr., 50, of Delanson, was charged March 26 with felony burglary and misdemeanor petit larceny, on the suspicion of committing a larceny on Feb. 7 at the Home Depot store located at Halfmoon Crossing in the town of Halfmoon, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the larceny, Reinhart had previously been advised that he was prohibited from entering the store.

On March 19, New York State Police conducted an Underaged Drinking Enforcement Detail in Washington County. During the initiative 20 businesses were checked for compliance. Nineteen of the businesses were in compliance under the New York Beverage Control Law prohibiting sale to person under the age of 21. The one business not in compliance was Greenwich Mart, on Route 29, Greenwich, according to State police, and one person was charged with unlawful dealing with a child in the first-degree after selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Also on March 19, State Police conducted an Underaged Drinking Enforcement Detail in Albany County. During the initiative 22 businesses were checked for compliance. Eighteen of the businesses were in compliance under the New York Beverage Control Law prohibiting sale to person under the age of 21. The following businesses were not in compliance: JT Maxie’s Bar & Grill on Wolf Road, Chili’s Grill & Bar on Wolf Road, TGI Friday’s on Western Ave., and University Wine & Liquor on Western Ave. Four people were charged with unlawful dealing with a child in the first-degree after selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21.

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 31 March 2022 11:52

Open Case: Break-In, Vandalism, Hate Crime

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The first indication something was amiss came in the form of an anonymous complaint someone made with the city, says Heather Chevally. A few days later the hard evidence showed up literally fixed to the interior walls of the house. 

“I have no idea if the two things are correlated, but the timing is suspicious," she says. “To me, it feels like someone is watching."

Chevalley works in software sales. She grew up on Long Island, where her family was employed in the home-building industry. Chevalley’s wife Adrienne grew up in the Geyser Crest neighborhood of Saratoga Springs - where her mother still resides. They recently embarked on a side project buying and rehabbing houses. 

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Our goal is to make a living doing this eventually, and to be responsible people in real estate‚" Chevalley says. “Eventually, we’d love this to be our full-time job." 

There is another home in Saratoga they are rehabbing and are also involved in a project in the Rochester area fi “similar, but (in that instance) we’re going into lower income areas, to get the bad landlords out and give people a better quality of life and a home they could be proud to live in." 

Given Adrienne’s background and familiarity with Geyser Crest, they purchased a home in the neighborhood and are undertaking a $100,000 rehab with the purpose of re-investing in the community.

The home is settled in a residential community, a short song’s serenade south of SPAC, in a neighborhood comprised of single-family homes, accented by driveways and an occasional attached garage. An American flag flies here. A portable basketball hoop stands there. A cross-section of roads swoop into one another, bending around soft turns.    

“We feel like there’s a right way and a wrong way to be successful. We’re big believers in good karma and I think when you give back to the community and do things in the right way, the community and people give back to you as well,‚ she says. “I feel the same way about our realtor and our contractor. I really like these guys, trustworthy, just making sure everything they’re putting their name on is being done right.“

Five weeks into the project came an unexpected visit from the city. “Last week, the building department showed up because of a complaint fi which we thought was weird. We had talked to all our neighbors, and everybody seemed really friendly. The guys working are very friendly and the job site is kept very clean. Nothing in the house needed to be permitted, but they got a complaint and made us stop working, until I went down to the city‚" says Chevalley, adding that the complaint was made by an anonymous person, or, at least by someone not known to her. An engineer visited the home and confirmed that given the work being, done a permit was not needed. After a two-day pause, the project resumed. It was Friday.   

On Saturday morning, when the contractor entered the house, he noticed someone had broken in after the crew had left the previous day. The windows were all open, the heat turned off. A roll of blue painter’s tape was peeled off and used to create a large message that spread across two interior walls. One read: “GET OUT." The second one: N-word, plural. All in caps. 

“The crew are all people of color. It was very clearly directed at them. We were devastated. To walk in and have to look at that? They’re such good guys. I was sick to my stomach," Chevalley says. 

“Someone specifically broke in the house to send a message. There was thousands of dollars of tools and equipment there. They didn’t steal anything. They wrote on the walls in painter’s tape. They shut our heat off and left the windows open - it was a cold night and the pipes froze and busted. Honestly, it was creepy. They broke in and entered just to send a message.

Police were called and initiated an investigation. They unfurled painter’s tape from the wall hoping to secure fingerprints, dusted the windows, and found a hand-print on the wall, Chevalley says. “The police seem pretty committed. Obviously this is appalling, so hopefully they can figure out who did it."

One of the steps involves learning whether the person who initially called the building department with the complaint is connected in some way to the person or persons who broke in. The break-in occurred the first day after the crew returned to work. 

“It’s being taken very seriously because of the nature of the incident‚" said Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino. He confirmed there was a search at the scene for fingerprints and that an investigation is underway. Potential charges could include offenses related to the break-in, as well as to the intentional targeting of persons regarding their race or color, by definition a hate crime.   

“I’m sure there are more hateful people out there than I want to believe, but I just can’t imagine this is how people think," Chevalley says. “I do generally feel this is an isolated incident. That not the way of the community. The community has really seemed to rally around the guys. They have been stopping by and bringing the guys lunch; people said they want to hire them for more work in the neighborhood," she says.  “You really have to have nothing going on in your life to break into someone’s house because you hate someone so much over the color of their skin. I can’t even start to try to understand that."  

Published in News
Thursday, 24 March 2022 13:05

March 19 – March 25, 2022

COURT

Andrea J. Howard, 37, of Glenville, was sentenced March 22 to a five-year term of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, first charged October 2021 in Wilton. 

Shamiek A. Shorter, 26, of Schenectady, was sentenced March 21 to 6 months incarceration and a five-year term of probation, after pleading to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, first charged July 2021 in Saratoga Springs.

Michael R. Brownell, 51, of Northumberland, pleaded March 18 to aggravated vehicular assault, in connection with a hit-and-run crash in the area of Route 32 and Rugg Road in Northumberland on Sept. 24, 2021. According to a statement released by the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, Brownell admitted he was driving recklessly and while intoxicated at the time of the crash, during which he failed to stop at a stop sign, lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and struck a motorcyclist head-on, and subsequently fled the scene. The victim was sent to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment. Sentencing scheduled for May 13 when it is anticipated Brownell will receive a 3-to-9 year sentence, said county District Attorney Karen Heggen. 

Timothy J. Lenzi, 36, of Mechanicville, was sentenced March 18 to 1.5 to 3 years incarceration, after pleading to attempted strangulation in the second degree, and 1 to 3 years after pleading to DWAI. Sentences to run concurrently. 

Dion E. Weis, 30, of Schenectady, was sentenced to 3 years incarceration and 2 years post-release supervision, after pleading to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree, in Wilton. 

William Shedrick, 22, of Albany, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years incarceration after pleading to attempted assault in the second-degree, initially charged November 10, 2019 in Saratoga Springs. 

Rebecca Ann Wheland-Kruger, 44, of Clifton Park, pleaded March 18 to criminal contempt in the second-degree.  Sentencing May 13. 

Tyler A. Podrazik, 28, of Amsterdam, pleaded March 18 to aggravated DWI with child, in Ballston. Sentencing May 13. 

POLICE

Shannon Tyrell, 36, of Chestertown, was charged March 21 in Saratoga Springs with petit larceny. 

Susan Thomas, 61, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 20 with misdemeanor DWI, refusal to take a breath test, speed not prudent, and moving from lane unsafely. 

Nicole Braender, 23, of Schenectady, was charged March 19 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated DWI, and speed not prudent.

Chad Lang, 48, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 18 with burglary in the third degree, and petit larceny. 

Stephanie Moreno, 25, of Schenectady, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 18 with DWI, failure to keep right, and moving from lane unsafely. 

Joshua Busold, 23, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 18 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and exposure of a person. 

Michael Gilman, 51, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 17 with criminal mischief in the second degree – a felony. According to city police, the department’s Communication Center received a call from a business owner on Broadway at approximately 6:30 p.m. on March 17 reporting criminal mischief had just occurred. Authorities said a short while later patrol officers located the person allegedly responsible for the damage and placed him into custody.  Second -degree criminal mischief relates to damages of property of another person in an amount exceeding $1,500. On March 18, Gilman was subsequently charged with second-degree harassment, related to a suspected incident on Church Street. 

Logan O. Desjadon, 24, of Clifton Park, was charged March 16 for failure to register a change of address within 10 days as a sex offender, a felony. 

Bianca Barnes, 23, of Schuylerville, was charged March 16 in Saratoga Springs with two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts criminal sue of drug paraphernalia, and single counts criminal possession of a narcotic drug, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign, and two vehicle equipment violations. 

Bryan Phillips, 57, of East Junction, VT, was charged March 15 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. 

Sarah Bestler, 23, of Clarksville, was charged March 12 in Saratoga Springs with DWI, aggravated DWI, and vehicle equipment violation. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 17 March 2022 14:54

March 12 – March 18, 2022

POLICE

Sara B. Brennan, 23, of Stillwater, who was working as a corrections officer at Saratoga County Jail, was charged March 9 with two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count promoting prison contraband – all felonies, and official misconduct – a misdemeanor.  Brennan is alleged to have possessed and sold a controlled substance while at the Saratoga County Jail. She was arraigned and released on her own recognizance to return to court at a later, unspecified date. Brennan is no longer employed by the Sheriff’s Office, according to that office. 

Okon Songobong, 37, of Schenectady, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 8 with petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and burglary. 

Sean Riberdy, 31, of Cohoes, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 8 with criminal tampering, criminal mischief, and falsely reporting fire explosion or hazardous substance. 

Trevor Keniry-Thompson, 22, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with petit larceny. 

Kira Walker, 29, of Kingsbury, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 9 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Gregory Craig, 65, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 9 with sex offender failure to report change of address. 

Jodie Cruger, 50, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 9 with criminal tampering. 

Casey Watrobski, 31, of Clifton Park, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 10 with operating motor vehicle without insurance, and motor vehicle registration suspended. 

Maison Dufty, 18, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 10 with burglary, and criminal mischief. 

Cassandra Barden, 36, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 10 with burglary, and criminal mischief. 

William Bogdanowicz, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 10 with burglary.

Robin Mattison, 43, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 11 with unauthorized use of a vehicle. 

Jaime Ryf, 40, of Troy, was charged in Saratoga Springs March 11 with petit larceny. 

Bridgete Parisi, 52, of Warrensburg, was charged March 11 with aggravated harassment in the second-degree. 

Zachary Vanearden, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 12 with misdemeanor DWI, speeding not prudent, and moved from lane unsafely. 

James F. Daley, 62, of Malta, was charged March 4 with felony assault obstructing governmental administration, and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Jonathan E. Volland, 38, was charged March 9 with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance following a lengthy investigation into narcotics trafficking in the Town of Waterford. Volland is accused of selling and possessing quantities of controlled substances. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail or bond pending further action in the matter. 

Robert T. Kennedy Jr., 24, of Halfmoon, was charged March 3 with felony reckless endangerment, and illegal discharge of firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling house, a misdemeanor, after Sheriff Deputies responded to the Twin Lakes Apartment Complex in the town of Halfmoon for a resident reporting what appeared to be a bullet hole in the ceiling of their apartment. There were no injuries reported due to the alleged incident. Kennedy was arraigned and released on his own recognizance, pending further court proceedings. 

Michael K. Emmerson, 44, of Greenfield Center, was charged March 13 with making a terroristic threat, a felony. The charges followed a complaint of allegedly harassing and threatening communications made against CPS workers, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Emmerson was arraigned in Ballston Spa and released on his own recognizance. 

Published in Police Blotter
Thursday, 10 March 2022 11:37

March 5 – March 11, 2022

POLICE

Kalvin Lamar Pittman, 39, of Amsterdam, was charged in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon, making an unsafe turn or failure to give appropriate signal, and operating a motor vehicle without signal devices/reflectors, following patrol officers effecting a vehicle stop on Spring Street at approximately 1:45 a.m. on March 5.  Police said Pittman was the operator of the vehicle and was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson automatic pistol which he did not lawfully possess, an ammunition feeding device with more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and cocaine. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $30,000 cash/$60,000 bond. 

Caroline St. charges on March 6: Jade Dunkle, 27, of Schenectady, disorderly conduct, criminal tampering in the third-degree; Wayne Brown, 25, of Troy, assault in the second-degree with intent to cause injury to officer, obstruct governmental administration, resisting arrest, and harassment; Jasmine Fleming, 34, of Troy, disorderly conduct; Sabrina Chambers, 30, of Schenectady, disorderly conduct, criminal tampering;   Nicholas Manna, 27, of Ballston Spa, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruct governmental administration; Ayanna Hamby, 27, of Troy, disorderly conduct. 

Thomas Loehr, 38, of Schenectady, was charged March 6 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation, and three motor vehicle violations: without insurance, without inspection certificate, and registration suspended. 

Rogerio Torres, 40, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 7 in Saratoga Springs with criminal trespass in the third-degree. 

Madison Laudicina, 22, of Halfmoon, was charged March 1 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation, two driving related violations, and license registration violation.

Gary Mackenzie, 57, of Gansevoort, was charged March 1 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, following too close, and a vehicle license violation. 

Alyssa Bridge, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 2 with unauthorized use of a vehicle. 

Robert Caserta, 50, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 3 with aggravated harassment. Enrique Moreno, 28, of Albany, was charged March 3 in Saratoga Springs with possession of hypodermic instrument. 

Joshua Aybar, 21, of Albany, was charged March 6 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation, operating motor vehicle without insurance, and vehicle registration suspended.

John F. Lincoln-Lynch, 55, of Moreau was charged March 1 with leaving the scene of a personal injury incident resulting in death. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond.  Lincoln-Lynch is accused of being involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in the village of South Glens Falls and fleeing the scene. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond. 

Bryan Lacasse, 36, of Ballston Spa, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 19 with DWI, moving from lane unsafely, and two vehicle equipment violations. 

Shaina Clark, 34, of Argyle, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 19 with DWI, and two driving-related violations. 

Ian Osgood, 24, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 19 with criminal mischief. 

Joseph Deschenes, 51, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 19 with criminal trespass, and Feb. 21 with criminal mischief. 

Korleaun Williams, 20, of Albany, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 20 with criminal tampering, harassment, and assault. 

Stanley Greer, 35, of Albany, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 20 with DWI, moved from lane unsafely, leaving scene of a property damage accident, speed not reasonable, aggravated DWI, and an equipment violation. 

Timothy Hunter-Byrne, 35, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 22 with harassment. 

Justin Rock, 37, of Ballston, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 22 with four counts of robbery. 

Annie Emery, 38, of Albany, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 23 with two counts each criminal possession, and criminal sale of a controlled substance. 

Amber Bagley, 29, of Rotterdam, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 23 with criminal obstruction of breathing, and act in manner injure child. 

Shari Venable, 50, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 27 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Published in Police Blotter
Page 7 of 66

Blotter

  • New York State Police The New York State Police announced that it issued 5,576 tickets during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day enforcement initiative. The campaign began on Friday, March 15, and continued until Sunday, March 17. During the campaign, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and underage drinking and sales to minors detail. State Police also ticketed distracted drivers who use handheld electronic devices. State Troopers arrested 132 people for DWI and investigated 199 crashes, which resulted in 25 people being injured and no fatalities. As part of the enforcement, Troopers also…

Property Transactions

  • BALLSTON Heather DiCaprio sold property at 473 Garrett Rd to Justine Levine for $288,000 Sharon Willman sold property at 99 Jenkins Rd to Charles Lemley for $165,000 CORINTH George Montena sold property at 422 Oak St to Stephen James for $142,250 Mark Makler sold property at 313 Oak St to Sabrina Sinagra for $195,000 GREENFIELD Landlord Services of Upstate New York sold property at 1935 NYS Rt 9N to Cochise Properties LLC for $210,000 MALTA  Linda LaBarge sold property at 35 Snowberry Rd to Qu Haozheng for $270,000 Dennis Mitchell sold property at 60 Village Circle North to BGRS Relocation…
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