Homeless man arrested for at least 10 incidents in the area
COLONIE – Colonie police arrested a homeless man who is known to police for incidents at businesses and residences near Wolf Road again on Thursday, April 11 for three separate incidents.
According to reports, at 6:38 officers responded to DeNooyer Chevrolet on Wolf Road for a report that Benjamin Leonce, 50, was at the business and annoying people there. Leonce was trespassed from the business for earlier incidents at the auto dealer. He was charged with trespassing, a violation for that incident.
While police were investigating that, they also discovered that Leonce damaged the front door of a residence prior to riding a CDTA bus to Wolf Road. He was also not allowed on CDTA vehicles or properties after an incident in November where he damaged a bus.
He was charged with criminal mischief, a felony, for damaging the door and trespassing, a violation, for being on a CDTA bus.
Leonce was also charged with criminal contempt four times in September and October at Motel 6 and, at that time, had prior convictions for that.
This time, he was sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee. He was arraigned the next morning by Colonie Town Judge Norman Massry.
Grand larceny
COLONIE – A 74-year-old Schenectady Woman turned herself in to Colonie police on Saturday, April 13 in relation to an incident at Boscov’s on Central Avenue.
According to reports, Diana Seda was involved in a larceny at the store on February 16. She was charged with grand larceny, a felony, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor.
Seda was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on April 24.
No license and felony aggravated DWI
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to the intersection of Fuller Road and Central Avenue on Saturday, April 13 at 1:53 p.m. for a personal injury accident and found a Schenectady man intoxicated.
According to reports, when interviewing the driver of the vehicle, Robert Fino, 34, officers observed him to have glassy eyes, poor coordination, slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.
He was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device.
At the police station, he provided a breath sample that was above .18 percent BAC. Fino also had a prior conviction for an alcohol-related offense within 10 years. He also did not have a valid driver’s license.
Fino was charged with aggravated DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, and DWI -prior conviction, all felonies, and DWI, a misdemeanor, and ticketed for drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle and following too closely.
He was arraigned and is scheduled to appear back in Colonie Town Court on May 1.
Outside warrant
COLONIE – A 40-year-old Albany woman was taken into custody by Colonie police after a traffic stop on Central Avenue on Saturday, April 13 at 9:53 a.m. because she had an outstanding warrant.
According to reports, Kristen Dayter, was wanted by Albany City police and was transported to South Station in Albany and turned over to officers from that department.
Asleep and DWI
LATHAM – Colonie police responded to the corner of Hemlock Street and Watervliet Shaker Road at 2:21 a.m. on Sunday, April 14 and found a car stopped in the roadway still running and the driver asleep behind the wheel.
According to reports, officers found John Spohn, 65, of Providence, RI, in the driver’s seat. He was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device.
He was taken into custody and charged with DWI and ticketed for stopping on a highway. Spohn was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on April 29.
DWI on Albany Shaker Road
LOUDONVILLE – A 35-year-old Albany man was stopped for speeding on Albany Shaker Road near the intersection of Williams Park Road on Sunday, April 14 at 2:05 p.m.
According to reports, while interviewing the driver, officers observed the man to have watery eyes, slurred speech and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He was given and failed field sobriety tests, tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device and taken into custody.
He was charged with DWI and ticketed for speeding, failing to stay in a single lane and failing to keep right.
He was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on April 26.
No lights but got DWI
COLONIE – Colonie police observed a vehicle on Central Avenue driving without lights on at 2:53 a.m. on Monday, April 15.
According to reports, the driver, a 65-year-old Scotia man, showed signs of intoxication and was taken into custody for DWI.
He was charged and also ticketed for not having adequate lights.
The man was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on April 29.
Warrant
COLONIE – A 33-year-old man was brought from the Schenectady County jail on Monday, April 15 on an outstanding warrant.
Elijah Gholson, of Schenectady, failed to appear in Colonie Town Court in February. He was processed and arraigned by Colonie Town Judge David Green.
Warrant
COLONIE – Louis Nadal, 46, who is homeless was brought from the Albany County jail on Monday, April 15 because he had an outstanding warrant from Colonie.
Nadal failed to appear in Colonie Town Court in January. He was arraigned by Colonie Judge David Green.
Grand larceny
COHOES – Cohoes police detained a Poestenkill man because he had an outstanding arrest warrant in Colonie on Tuesday, April 16.
Dylan Thomas, 31, was taken to the Colonie police station and charged with grand larceny, a felony, for an incident at Dick’s in Latham Farms on February 10.
Thomas was processed and arraigned in Colonie Town Court.
Felony warrant
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to the Red Roof Inn on Wolf Road on Wednesday, April 17 at 1:32 a.m. for a check-a-subject call at the hotel.
According to reports, the subject, Tamara Ellis, 28, of Newburgh, had an outstanding arrest warrant for robbery from Newburgh police. She was turned over to officers from that department later in the morning.
No license, no insurance, but got DWI
COLONIE – A 26-year-old Watervliet man was involved in a motor vehicle property damage accident on Central Avenue on Wednesday, April 17 at 4:38 a.m.
According to reports, when Colonie police officers interviewed the man, they observed him to have poor motor coordination and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device. He had a suspended license and the vehicle had no insurance.
The man was charged with DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation, both misdemeanors, and ticketed for operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
He was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on April 22.
Murder investigation in Menands: Walker attacked on bike trail, incident ruled a homicide
MENANDS– On April 18 at about 3:55 p.m., EMS, Fire, and Menands Police Department responded to the Mohawk Hudson Bike Trail in Menands for the report of an injured walker who was unresponsive.
The victim was identified as 76-year-old Daniel Frament of Troy. Life-saving measures were taken, but Frament succumbed to his injuries on the scene. Due to the nature of his injuries, State Police were called to assist and have taken the lead on the investigation with the support of the Menands Police Department.
On April 19, an autopsy of the victim was conducted at Ellis Hospital. The victim was positively identified. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be severe head trauma, and Pathologist Doctor Bernard Ng has ruled the manner of death a homicide.
The investigation is ongoing. State Police is asking anyone with information related to this investigation to call 518-457-9528.
