Albany Man Arrested for Robbery

ALBANY >> A 20-year-old Albany resident has been charged in connection with two robberies.

Justin Walker was arrested following an investigation by members of the Albany Police Department.

On Wednesday at approximately 2:55 a.m, Walker allegedly approached a man walking in the area of Quail Street and Hamilton armed with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. Walker and two other suspects who were present, then proceeded to strike the victim in the head, steal his property, and flee the scene, police said.

The victim, age 21, sustained a laceration to his head and was transported to Albany Med for an evaluation.

Additionally, on Wednesday at approximately 3:20 a.m., Walker and two other suspects allegedly approached a female in the area of Second Avenue and Benjamin Street armed with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded her property. The victim complied and the three fled the scene with property belonging to the victim, police said.

The victim, age 27, was unharmed in this incident.

Through the course of the investigation, some of the stolen property has been located.

Walker has been charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and criminal possession of stolen property.

He was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.

The incidents remain under investigation and further charges may be pending.

(Walker)

Two Albany Police Officers Save Shooting Victim's Life

ALBANY >> Two Albany police officers are being credited with saving a man’s life after he was shot Saturday afternoon on Lexington Avenue, a police spokesman said Monday.
On Saturday at approximately 4:45 p.m., Officers Amy Forgea and Robert Lawyer responded to the area of Lexington Avenue and First Street for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, the officers located a male victim on the sidewalk who had been shot in his upper leg and was bleeding significantly.
The officers immediately began to render aid to the victim by applying a tourniquet to his leg in an attempt to control the bleeding and administered CPR when the victim became unresponsive and had no pulse. As a result of the officers’ actions, the victim regained consciousness at the scene and was monitored until medical personnel arrived.
The 20-year-old victim was transported to Albany Medical Center where he is currently admitted and is listed in stable condition.
The incident remains under investigation, police said.

Police: Schenectady Man Found in Possession of Loaded Gun, Drugs

WATERVLIET >> A Schenectady man was arrested by the Watervliet Police Department for being found allegedly with a loaded gun and drugs on Saturday, police said.
John Smith, 22, age 22 was charged him with: second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a C felony, DWI 1st Offense, and seventh-degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Officers responded to a civilian complaint of a man sleeping in his vehicle and possibly in possession of a handgun on the 1600 block of 6th Avenue. Upon arrival the vehicle described had already left the area. About 30 minutes later, the vehicle was located by patrol officers in the area of Broadway and 14th Street. The driver appeared to be sleeping.
Upon further investigation, the driver identified as Smith, was allegedly in possession of a loaded Glock 9mm handgun as well as a quantity of heroin and hypodermic syringes. Smith failed the standardized field sobriety tests and was administered drug recognition tests by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) which he also failed. He was arrested, processed and held for arraignment. Niskayuna Police assisted with the investigation, police said.
Smith was arraigned by the Honorable Thomas Lamb and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility without bail.

(Smith)

Police: Woman in Colonie Stabbing Has Died

A woman put in a medically-induced coma following stabbing injuries to her throat has passed away, police said.
Jacquelyn Porreca, 32, of Colonie died at Albany Medical Center Sunday as a result of her injuries sustained Friday, according to a Colonie police spokesman.
There is no information on a possible suspect and the investigation is ongoing.

Here is our prior story on the fatal incident: http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20150823/woman-in-medically-induced-coma-following-stabbing

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Colonie Police at 783-2744.

UPDATE - Three Shot in Troy: Two Police Officers Stable, Albany Man Dead

Two Troy Police Officers who responded to an attempted car jacking in Lansingburgh late Saturday night are hospitalized and the suspect, an Albany man, is dead after a shooting in which about 20 rounds were fired. It is believed that the 39-year-old man was under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting, officials said.
The officers involved are Chad Klein, who was shot at point blank range in the back in his shoulder, and Joshua Comitale, who was shot from about a block away in both legs, said Troy Police Chief John Tedesco. He said both were wearing bullet proof vests.
The Albany man involved in the shooting is Thaddeus Faison, 39.
This was the first officer involved shooting in Tedesco's tenure as chief, he said. He believed the last one was back in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
The investigation is still ongoing but officials said that a call came in around 10:45 p.m. about an attempted car jacking near 113th Street and East Park Place. Comitale was in the immediate vicinity and responded, then seeing a suspect matching the description. He radioed for assistance and followed Faison, who was understood to have a weapon, said Tedesco.
Comitale pursued Faison in a patrol vehicle and then followed him on foot as Faison, a convicted criminal known to police, started to run. At that time, Klein responded, turning onto 112th Street from 5th Avenue and was shot at close range, said Tedesco.
A total of at least 20 rounds were fired among the two officers and Faison. It is unclear, at this time, how many bullets hit Faison and from which weapon. Tedesco said Faison was shot multiple times and still had to be tasered and subdued by four officers. Police believe Faison might have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
Unconfirmed Facebook reports say that Faison may have been dead on arrival at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy. His time of death in relation to the series of events Saturday could not be given at a press conference at Troy City Hall Sunday morning.
A camera at the corner of 5th and 112th caught the incident on tape. The camera had been put in, officials said, using grant funding.
Faison, police officials said, had a "violent criminal past" with a "lengthy criminal history". Most recently, he was involved in a domestic incident in Troy, which is where his significant other lives. That incident took place a few weeks ago.
According to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Faison had served two stints in prison and had not had contact with the department since July 2010, after he fully served his last sentence. While serving his time, he had a disciplinary history that included damaged property, disorderly conduct, harassment, violent conduct, and fighting.
He served five years for fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance from 2005 to 2010. He was found to be a parole violator multiple times while serving time for that crime. Before that, he served four years for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to the DCCS.
There are no other suspects being sought in this case, said Tedesco.
Klein is a Gulf War veteran and a Patrol Officer. Comitale is an evidence technician and also a Patrol Officer, said Tedesco.
"These are two young, up-and-comers in the department," stated Tedesco.
Comitale, according to some at the hospital, is expecting a baby with his wife in the next two months.
Tedesco emphasized that both officers have the department's full support as the investigation continues and that information gathered, so far, shows that the two men were justified in their actions and were acting in self defense.
Tedesco said that getting the call about the injured officers was like an "out of body experience" but, he stated, "luckily, we did not lose an officer."
Both sustained non-life threatening injuries and are being treated at Albany Medical Center. Tedesco is hopeful they will both make full recoveries.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those involved," said Mayor Lou Rosamilia at the press conference Sunday.
Troy City Council President Rodney Wiltshire said the council wants to help secure more funds for public safety in the city budget.
Police officials said the car jacking, which ignited the shooting, was unusual. This was especially because Faison was robbing someone who was a stranger to him.
A multiple block area has been taped off as police review the scene. Tedesco said the area could be blocked for a couple of days.
As the investigation continues, police are talking with witnesses, reviewing the camera footage, and talking with the driver who was involved in the attempted car jacking. Troy Police are being assisted by Albany Police forensics and the Rensselaer County District Attorney.
Check back to troyrecord.com for updates as they become available. For a 25 minute recording of the audio from the police scanner Saturday, go to: https://www.facebook.com/sidewinderproductions .

(Thaddeus Faison, 39, of Albany died Saturday night after he was spotted by police matching a description of an attempted car jacker. Police say he shot at two officers, who returned fire.)

18-year-old Albany Man Charged in October 2014 Murder

ALBANY >> An 18-year-old Albany man arrested this week for handgun possession has also been charged in connection with a homicide that occurred last year on First Street, police said.
Ismael Ayala, 18, of Albany, was arrested following an investigation by the Albany Police Department.
On Wednesday at around 6:45 p.m., Ayala was taken into custody on Clinton Avenue near Lexington Avenue as a result of an unrelated investigation. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun, police said.

Through the investigation, Ayala was also charged in connection with a homicide that occurred last year. On Oct. 2, 2014 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Ayala allegedly shot Jorge Falu-Garcia, 25, of Albany, while on the 300 block of First Street. Falu-Garcia was transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, according to a statement from the police department.
Ayala has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
He was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany Court Jail, police said.

Cohoes Mayoral Candidates Release Plans If Elected

The Democratic Primary is in less than a month and the Spindle City's two mayoral candidates are talking about their plans for the city and city hall:

SHAWN MORSE

Shawn Morse, Democratic candidate for Mayor of the City of Cohoes, has released his plan for the future of Cohoes and how, in his leadership role in Albany County government, he has the tools and knowledge to make his plan a reality.

“Cohoes needs a Mayor that will make our City prosper financially without adding new taxes, creating redundant services, and making promises they can’t keep. I have kept my word to Albany County taxpayers, saving millions and preventing tax hikes, and I will bring that same approach to Cohoes City Hall,” said Morse.

Morse’s plan includes the following:

  Quality of Life. Cohoes must make its parks and recreation resources a priority. As Mayor, Morse will look to reorganize the city’s management of parks and recreation through consolidating park management resources. Through streamlining and rightsizing, Cohoes can offer additional youth and adult recreational activities. This will also allow for the city to handle more events, festivals, and concerts to keep residents in and to bring in visitors to Cohoes. Morse will also explore ways to use the riverfront and the Cohoes Falls.

  Public Safety. As a Cohoes city firefighter for more than 25 years, Morse knows the importance of public safety when it comes to keeping Cohoes streets safe. As a county legislator, Morse sponsored legislation (Albany County Resolution 13-246) that called for the Department of Public Works to evaluate the implementation of a Complete Streets policy that takes into account of all the users of the road (bicycles, vehicles, pedestrians, public transportation) and encourages reduced automobile use to prevent accidents. Morse will look to use twenty-first century solutions to solve modern challenges in order to additionally identify ways to support the Cohoes Police Department through increased data collection and analysis, including community policing strategies.

  Economic Development. Cohoes has an opportunity to harness its assets and infrastructure to attract development to downtown and the rest of our city. As Mayor, Morse will bring together a team of economic development professionals to craft a plan to revitalize the city’s core and use destinations such as the Cohoes Falls to attract investment to the city. As young professionals seek to live in historic urban centers such as Troy, Hudson, and other municipalities along the Hudson River, Cohoes can attract new residents by expanding retail opportunities and creating innovative office spaces. Cohoes will also seek ways to take advantage of the region’s nanotechnology sector by attracting startups to make their home in Cohoes.

For too long, Cohoes has allowed for its downtown to become a shell of its former self. As Mayor, Morse will be the city’s biggest advocate to bring in the investment the city deserves.

  Neighborhood Revitalization. In order for the City of Cohoes to attract meaningful economic development along the city’s commercial corridors, the City will utilize existing methods of combating blight, including the Albany County land bank that Morse helped create. The land bank, in which received nearly $3 million from Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office, will allow for Cohoes to acquire vacant and abandoned properties – many of which are historic to the city. This will allow for families and new residents to invest in not only themselves, but Cohoes as well.

  Fiscal Responsibility and Taxes. Morse, in his experience as Chair of the Albany County Legislature and Chair of the Legislature’s Audit and Finance Committee, has saved millions of taxpayer dollars through identifying innovative solutions. As Mayor, Morse will use this knowledge to tightly manage the city’s finances by looking at ways to reduce redundant city services while keeping the quality of service optimal. Morse’s experience negotiating contracts, as a county official and as a past president of the Cohoes uniformed firefighters union, will save Cohoes taxpayers money while boosting city employees’ morale.

Morse will not increase taxes or create new ways to continue to burden taxpayers with unnecessary tax increases; instead, Morse will find ways to bolster existing resources through shared partnerships to save Cohoes taxpayers money.

For more information about the Morse campaign, visit shawnmorse.com.

DIANNE NOLIN

Cohoes Mayoral Candidate Dianne Nolin announced this week: If elected, she will be a full time Mayor.

"I will be your full-time mayor,” said Dianne Nolin, Democratic candidate for Cohoes’s next mayor. “My focus and commitment will be to work each and every day inside City Hall and in our community.  I will be available to our residents and community stakeholders.  Our city is in dire need of leadership, and I am committed to leading our community while working side-by-side with our department heads to find solutions to move our city forward."

Nolin’s four point plan to revitalize and re-energize Cohoes tackles the city’s problems head on and promises change. She is focusing on:

·         Clean, safe and attractive neighborhoods

·         Economic development to attract and grow new business

·         Open, transparent and efficient government

·         Sound financial management and budgeting

“I grew up in Cohoes. My family and focus are here,” said Nolin. “We need a mayor whose full time focus will be the City. We need a Mayor who will not have any other priorities other than the lifting up of Cohoes and making it the best it can be.”

Nolin has released the first of four pieces focusing on her plan for the City. The first piece focuses on urban blight. (See attachment.)

“One of the main reasons I have decided to run for Mayor of Cohoes because of the decline we’ve seen in certain areas of the city. I get calls from residents and I have seen it as well—we can no longer be proud of what our City looks like. It is clear that urban blight is taking a strong hold on the community and we can stop it, if we work together,” said Nolin. “I’m proposing the establishment of a Codes Counsel position as well as a Code Court to keep landlords responsible. We’ll also be reinstituting the Landlord Workshops that were so popular and successful in providing clear guidance on how properties were to be maintained.”

Nolin is committed to working with the Albany County Land Bank that was established with the help of our local Assembly and Senate delegation to access available funding to help counter the decay that has been creeping into Cohoes.

                                                                                                                                               

“The first County Land Bank was not established properly,” said Nolin. “The Land Bank we have now can access state funding that was not available through the first one. We received funding here in Cohoes a year after other communities. A full-time Mayor will be able to stay on top of funding opportunities to tackle the tough problems we face.

“My goal is to work closely with Land Bank leadership and our local state delegation to leverage funds and clean up Cohoes.”

For more information on Nolin's campaign, visit http://www.nolinformayor.com/