Schenectady man dies in New Scotland crash
NEW SCOTLAND – On Sunday, July 23, at about 3:32 p.m. State Police of New Scotland responded to a single-car crash near the intersection of Upper Flat Rock Road and Delaware Turnpike in New Scotland.
Onesquethaw and Slingerland fire departments and EMS crews also responded for a man trapped in a black Subaru after it hit a tree.
The driver, who was identified as David J. Loucks, 25, of Schenectady was the sole occupant of the vehicle and after trying to save him, was declared deceased on the scene, according to State Police.
Upper Flat Rock Road was closed for approximately one hour for the investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the crash.
DWAI and warrant
NEW SCOTLAND – On Thursday, July 20, an Albany County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff was on routine patrol in the Town of New Scotland where they witnessed a driver who was unconscious in his vehicle in a business parking lot.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined the operator of the vehicle, Dana Higginbotham, 36, of Coxsackie had been operating the vehicle impaired by drugs. He had a quantity of Fentanyl as well as other drug paraphernalia.
Higginbotham was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of DWAI-Drugs and traffic citations. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant.
Higginbotham was processed and issued an appearance ticket for the Town of New Scotland. Higginbotham was turned over to Greene County Sheriff’s Office on an active arrest warrant.
2021 larceny
DELMAR – A 57-year-old Troy man turned himself in on an active warrant for a 2021 larceny at Walmart. It was the third time he was arrested for this incident.
Bethlehem police originally arrested Randy Johnson on June 12, 2021 for petit larceny at the store and he was released with an appearance ticket. On February 14, 2022, Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby signed an arrest warrant for Johnson and he was arrested four days later in Troy and transported back to Bethlehem Town Court.
He was released on his own recognizance after arraignment on the charge, which is not bail eligible.
Johnson was arrested again on Sunday, July 16 at approximately 5:13 p.m. for another outstanding warrant.
Taking money, scrapping car
DELMAR – On March 22, a man had his vehicle towed to a local garage to be repaired. Instead of contacting the business directly, he contacted Michael Schissler, 40, of Albany, who the victim knew previously worked at the garage.
According to reports, Schissler told the man that he needed to order parts for the 2004 Lincoln Town Car and it would cost $450. On April 7, Schissler then allegedly picked the victim up at his hotel where he was staying and drove him to the bank where he withdrew the money and gave it to Schissler. Schissler texted the victim and told him that the car was beyond repair and had to be scrapped. The victim asked for the license plates and money back for the parts. Schissler returned the plates to the hotel desk, but not the money and stopped communicating with the victim.
Near the end of April, the victim’s grandson contacted the owner of the garage and was advised that Schissler no longer worked there, that the vehicle was not there and there was no work order on file for the Car. The owner said the car was most likely scrapped.
The victim did not have a vehicle to travel to Bethlehem police to file a report until June 19.
Schissler turned himself in on Tuesday, July 18 and was charged with grand larceny, a felony, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor. He was processed and released on an appearance ticket. He is scheduled to return to Bethlehem Town Court on August 15.
This story appeared on page 12 of the July 26, 2023 print edition of the Spotlight
