Saratoga Springs resident David Bronner, a longtime critic of Public Works Commissioner Thomas McTygue has been arrested for allegedly harassing and threatening McTygue’s brother, Peter.
According to court records, Bronner, a 63-year-old retired Army colonel, turned himself in on a warrant for allegedly screaming obscenities and making threats at Peter McTygue, 51, on Broadway on Saturday, May19.
There was no physical contact. Some words were exchanged Bronner gave him the middle finger and said, ‘This is your IQ,’` Lt. Gary Forward said.
Bronner pleaded not guilty to second-degree harassment in City Court on Wednesday.
Bronner allegedly approached Peter McTygue as he was entering his vehicle at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and threatened him, which caused Peter McTygue to become concerned for his safety, the court record stated.
Thomas McTygue has said at Saratoga Springs City Council meetings earlier this year that Bronner was `stalking` Department of Public Works employees. This assertion caused Bronner to allude to legal action on his part in following meetings.
Bronner has also contested McTygue’s residency, stating he lives on a horse farm in the town of Saratoga, not at the city address of 175 Clinton St., as is filed with the state Board of Elections. This would make McTygue ineligible to hold city office.
Bronner recently accused McTygue of having his department use city-owned land off Weibel Avenue for an illegal dumping site. Bronner took pictures of debris at the site and filmed a pump truck entering the area. McTygue acknowledged that both residents and his department dumped material at the site and said the dumping would stop.
A Department of Environmental Conservation and attorney general’s office investigation into a hydraulic fluid spill at a city garage led to the investigation of the land off Weibel Avenue for contaminated soil.
Bronner has hired attorney Mark Grosky to defend him when he returns to court on Tuesday, May 29, and has made no statement on the issue other than to say that he is innocent of the charges.
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