BETHLEHEM — Bethlehem and Coeymans police are increasing patrol at potential target locations in Bethlehem amid concerns of looting and violent protesters.
“Being augmented by the Coeymans Police Department, we’ve had officers stationed at numerous potential locations and we did see some people come and driving away,” said Bethlehem Police Cmdr. Adam Hornick. “Walmart, strip malls and shopping plazas were mentioned as potential targets.”
Hornick said police learned about what potential target locations were from social media and gathering intelligence.
“There were no protests in Bethlehem yesterday and police patrol is still continuing today,” he added. “Violence is not the answer.”
He also said that some Bethlehem police officers were sent to help handle the violent protests at the south end of Albany last night. Access to Crossgates Mall was blocked last night too and multiple agencies including the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office and Watervliet Police Department were monitoring any suspicious traffic activity.
Protests and demonstrations continue throughout the country as a reaction to George Floyd’s death on Monday, May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Public outrage ensued after video footage showed police officer Derek Chauvin keeping his knee of Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes.
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