Clifton Park, NY
Schools
12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School 12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School
12-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening 'Mass Harm' At Capital Region School A 12-year-old boy is accused of making threats against a middle school in the region. Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputies were called just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, after a social media threat was discovered against O’Rourke Middle School in Burnt Hills. Deputies did not elaborate on the nature of the threat but determined that it was not credible. There was no disruption to school activities. The 12-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor. “Once again, the partnerships we’ve developed with the schools and the students led to a qui…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of Callers Posing As Capital Region Sheriff's Office Don’t fall for it. Authorities are warning residents of phone scammers who are posing as members of a local sheriff’s office. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office learned about a fraudulent phone call that was made to a resident on Tuesday, May 28, the agency announced on Facebook. During the call, the scammer instructed the resident to call the sheriff’s office at 518-714-1875, not the agency’s actual phone number, 518-885-6761. When the victim called the phony number, they were greeted by a computer-generated voice indicating they had reached the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and off…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
Fatal Crash, Car Fire: Woman ID'd As Victim In Single-Vehicle Capital Region Wreck Fatal Crash, Car Fire: Woman ID'd As Victim In Single-Vehicle Capital Region Wreck
Fatal Crash, Car Fire: Woman ID'd As Victim In Single-Vehicle Capital Region Wreck Authorities have identified a woman who died in a single-vehicle crash and car fire in the region. The Saratoga County wreck happened at around 10:20 a.m. Friday, May 17, in Clifton Park. Sheriff’s officials said emergency crews were called about a single-vehicle crash and subsequent car fire that occurred on North Parkwood Drive near State Route 9. The female driver and sole occupant of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. No other cars were involved and nobody else was injured. On Monday, May 20, deputies publicly identified the victim as Deborah Bushey, age 60, of C…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
Burglar Found In Closet Threatens Capital Region Homeowner With Liquor Bottle, Police Say Burglar Found In Closet Threatens Capital Region Homeowner With Liquor Bottle, Police Say
Burglar Found In Closet Threatens Capital Region Homeowner With Liquor Bottle, Police Say A man broke into a stranger’s home in the region before threatening to harm the victim with a liquor bottle, police said. The Saratoga County incident happened just before 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, in the town of Halfmoon. Sheriff’s officials said a woman called 911 saying she had found a burglar hiding in her closet after she arrived at her residence on Hudson River Road. The man threatened her with a liquor bottle before slapping her phone from her hand to stop her from calling the police, she told investigators. He allegedly then stole alcohol before fleeing the home. The woman, who has …

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast 'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast
'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast An ex-cop turned podcaster is hoping to breathe new life into the cold case killings of two young women whose remains were discovered in upstate New York. On a recent episode of his true crime podcast, APB Cold Case, retired Costa Mesa, California police chief Mark Spawn discussed the murders of 18-year-old Jennifer Hammond and 19-year-old Christina White. The women disappeared in August 2003 and June 2005, respectively, and were last seen near mobile home parks in the Saratoga County town of Milton. According to New York State Police, Hammond, a native of Littleton, Colorado, was last see…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
Police & Fire
Man Driving Stolen Car Rams Deputy's Patrol Vehicle On Capital Region Highway, Police Say Man Driving Stolen Car Rams Deputy's Patrol Vehicle On Capital Region Highway, Police Say
Man Driving Stolen Car Rams Deputy's Patrol Vehicle On Capital Region Highway, Police Say An attempted traffic stop on a highway in the region ended with a deputy’s patrol car rammed and the alleged culprit in handcuffs. The Saratoga County incident happened at around 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, on I-87 in Clifton Park. According to sheriff’s officials, a deputy attempted to stop the vehicle in the northbound lanes near Exit 10 after learning that it had been stolen from outside a Stewart’s Shops on Route 146. The driver, identified as 37-year-old Jacob Hayner, reportedly ignored the lights and sirens and refused to stop. At one point, he intentionally rammed the deputy’s patrol c…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
New Details: Elvis Impersonator Died At Capital Region Home In 'Consensual' Encounter: Report New Details: Elvis Impersonator Died At Capital Region Home In 'Consensual' Encounter: Report
New Details: Elvis Impersonator Died At Capital Region Home In 'Consensual' Encounter: Report This story has been updated. Tributes are pouring in after a popular Elvis and “Star Trek” impersonator was found dead at a home in the region days after going missing. Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials said Thomas Krider, age 40, of Ticonderoga in Essex County, was found dead at a residence in Milton on Middle Line Road on Tuesday, April 9. Krider, who performed as an Elvis tribute artist under the stage name TJ Greene, had last been seen on Friday, April 5, and was officially reported missing the following day. An investigation determined that 69-year-old Ronald Rayher, of Milton, “r…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
Police & Fire
Duo's Storage Unit Theft Spree In Capital Region Foiled By Vigilant Passerby, Police Say Duo's Storage Unit Theft Spree In Capital Region Foiled By Vigilant Passerby, Police Say
Duo's Storage Unit Theft Spree In Capital Region Foiled By Vigilant Passerby, Police Say Two suspected storage unit thieves are facing charges thanks to a tip from a vigilant passerby. Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputies were called at around 3 p.m. Friday, March 15, for a suspicious vehicle at the Extra Space Storage in Clifton Park. When they arrived, deputies encountered found 40-year-old Michael DeMartino, of Stillwater, and 41-year-old Kristin Frisch, of Gloversville. An investigation determined they had stolen numerous items from various storage units. DeMartino and Frisch were arrested on suspicion of burglary, criminal possession of stolen property, and petit larceny. …

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
Inmate Found Dead In Capital Region Jail Cell Days After Arrest Inmate Found Dead In Capital Region Jail Cell Days After Arrest
Inmate Found Dead In Capital Region Jail Cell Days After Arrest An inmate was found dead at a jail in the region days after his arrest. Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials said Derek Labutta, age 43, of Schenectady, was found unresponsive in his cell at the county jail in Ballston Spa on Monday evening, March 18. Labutta, who was alone in the cell at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. His death came just two days after Saratoga Springs Police arrested him in a public parking garage on Woodlawn Avenue on Saturday morning, March 16. Police said patrol officers spotted Labutta and another individual entering a vestibule and smoking an illegal su…

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by Michael Mashburn
Albany, NY
Police & Fire
Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say
Fence Builder Ghosts Several Capital Region Homeowners After Taking Thousands, Police Say The owner of a fence building company is accused of taking thousands of dollars from area homeowners for jobs that were never completed. Schenectady County resident James Butler, age 30, of Glenville, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 23 on a felony charge of grand larceny. Glenville Police said Butler, who owns and operates “Trust a Fence,” accepted over $7,000 from a Glenville homeowner to purchase fencing material. However, the job was never finished. An investigation found several similar claims that are being investigated by the Scotia, Colonie, Guilderland, and Niskayuna police department…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
16-Year-Old Stabbed Multiple Times In Capital Region Neighborhood; Police Seeking Tips 16-Year-Old Stabbed Multiple Times In Capital Region Neighborhood; Police Seeking Tips
16-Year-Old Stabbed Multiple Times In Capital Region Neighborhood; Police Seeking Tips A teenager is recovering after being stabbed numerous times in a residential neighborhood in the region. The Saratoga County attack happened at around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the town of Clifton Park on Redfield Park. Sheriff’s officials said deputies found a 16-year-old boy suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper body and leg. He was taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Center. His condition was not immediately available. No suspects had been arrested as of Wednesday evening, Feb. 21. Investigators did not say whether the attack was random or if the victim and culprit k…

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by Michael Mashburn
Clifton Park, NY
News
Bomb Threat Evacuates Casino, Hotel In Capital Region Bomb Threat Evacuates Casino, Hotel In Capital Region
Bomb Threat Evacuates Casino, Hotel In Capital Region Slot machines and blackjack games came to an abrupt halt after a bomb threat was made against a casino in the region. The Saratoga County incident happened at around 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at the Saratoga Casino Hotel located in Saratoga Springs. Police said guests and employees were evacuated after a bomb threat was made against the property. Members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office swept the building using explosive detection dogs and determined the building was safe. It was not immediately clear how employees first learned of the threat. …

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by Michael Mashburn