Man believed to be involved in many area incidents
DELMAR – A Troy man with a history of arrests for burglaries was identified while walking on Delaware Avenue in the early hours of Saturday, May 18 by Bethlehem police, which led to his arrest on drug, possessing burglary tools and other charges.
According to Bethlehem police, a patrol officer observed Michael Monge, 40, walking near 386 Delaware Avenue at approximately 2:51 a.m. and recognized him as a potential burglary suspect from law enforcement bulletins. The officer made contact with Monge and found that he was in possession of a variety of tools that could be used in burglaries.
He also had 2.5 grams of a white powdery substance in his possession. Detectives then linked Monge to an early morning burglary on May 15 at the laundromat at 365 Feura Bush Road in Glenmont. During that incident he allegedly damaged equipment trying to access money in machines, police said.
Monge was arrested in October with another Troy man for burglaries in Green Island that happened in the Village on October 2. He allegedly broke into a laundromat there and took over $2,000 and stole tools from a repair shop in another break in.
In the recent Glenmont case, Bethlehem police charged Monge with burglary – third degree and criminal mischief, both felonies, and petit larceny and possession of burglar tools, both misdemeanors. He was also charged with another count of possession of burglar tools and criminal possession of a controlled substance – cocaine, a felony, from the initial contact with police.
He was arraigned by Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby and sent to the Albany County jail in lieu of bail.
Police said that this is an ongoing investigation and Monge is believed to be involved in other cases under investigation by other law enforcement agencies.
Checking door handles, had warrant
GLENMONT – During a routine police patrol on Route 9W on Tuesday, May 14, Bethlehem police observed a man checking door handles of cars at the Comfort Inn.
According to reports, when officers asked Lyle Larose, 47, of Renssselaer what he was doing, he said initially that he was not trying to break into cars, but was not staying at the hotel, did not have a car in the lot, wanted to stay in the hotel, but had no money.
A check of his information found he had an arrest warrant from Niskayuna police and they said they would take him.
While he was being taken into custody, Larose said he needed medical attention. Delmar-Bethlehem EMS responded to the scene and transported him to Albany Memorial Hospital for an evaluation. He was later cleared and police transported Larose to meet officers from that department.
Bench warrant for 2017 felony DWI
DELMAR – An Oklahoma man turned himself in to Bethlehem police on Tuesday, May 21 after he did not return to court on a 2017 felony DWI and other charges.
According to reports, Alan Sandlin, 35, of Techumseh, Okla., was stopped on Elm Avenue on June 15, 2017 for traffic violations.
After an investigation and field tests, he was charged with felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation, a felony, and circumventing an interlock device, a misdemeanor, and ticketed for multiple traffic violations.
At that time, he was sent to the Albany County jail in lieu of $15,000 bail and due back for a preliminary hearing five days later.
A bench warrant was issued because he failed to appear on a later court date. The case was resolved in court on May 21.
Thruway Lanes Closed due to crash
ALBANY – A tractor trailer accident closed all northbound lanes of the Thruway on Thursday, May 23.The roadway was closed for many hours to determine the cause.
Police arrest Albany man for threats against St. Pius Church and School
LATHAM – On Sunday May 19 at approximately 8 pm, the Colonie police investigated a complaint of a voicemail stating that there were explosives placed at St. Pius Church, located at 75 Upper Loudon Rd.
Officers responded to and thoroughly searched both the church and the school which were free from any dangerous or suspicious items. School personnel were notified and an additional police presence was requested and placed at the school out of an abundance of caution.
A similar threat was made to the Planet Fitness located at 475 Albany Shaker Road with both calls originating from the same phone number. Planet Fitness was also searched and no explosives were found.
The Colonie police investigation, aided by our Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners was able to identify the responsible party, Joshua B. Campbell, 28 of Albany.
Campbell was arrested Monday, May 20 at approximately 3:15 pm with the assistance of the Albany Police Department.
A search was conducted on Mr. Campbell’s person and home and no bomb making materials or explosives of any type were found. No evidence was found to indicate that Campbell took any actions towards carrying out the threats that he made, police said. “The Colonie Police Department takes these types of threats very seriously, and are grateful to all of our community and law enforcement partners that helped bring this to a swift and peaceful resolution,” police said in a release.
Campbell was charged with two counts of making a terrorist threat, a felony. He was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and sent to the Albany County jail in lieu of $30,000 cash bail pending a preliminary hearing.
Police said that this is still an active and ongoing investigation.
