#ColoniePoliceDepartment #Suicide #Colonie #JimFranco #SpotlightNews
COLONIE – A standoff ended in an apparent suicide on Roberts Drive, according to police.
According to Lt. Robert Winn, the man sent text messages to a relative and friend indicating he was going to harm himself.
Officers responded at around 2:15 pm on Thursday, May 24, and confirmed the male was at home and alone. Several attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
Officers were able to determine he had access to a handgun or a long gun and “there was mention of suicide by cop,” Winn said in a statement.
Roads surrounding the house – Roberts Drive, Devoe Drive and Francis Drive – were restricted to residents and police. Neighbors in close proximity were asked to shelter in place and South Colonie school buses were told to take alternate routes.
Police negotiators attempted to contact the resident by phone and by bull horn for several hours without any success.
The department utilized a SWAT team, a robot and a drone in efforts to contact the resident.
At around 7 p.m. the robot and SWAT located the man and Colonie EMS confirmed he was dead. Several reports indicate there was a weapon found near the body and Winn said there is no indication it was a criminal act and there was not any risk to public safety.
The man’s identity and exact address are not being released at this time.
