Albany man charged in at least 13 larcenies arrested again
By JOHN McINTYRE
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GLENMONT – A 33-year-old Albany man out on bail was arrested and charged for his 13th larceny incident in the past 12 months. These are just the ones from police agencies we cover.
Kamal Pickens, of Albany, was detained by Colonie police on Monday, February 26 near the Econo Lodge on Central Avenue at 10:10 a.m. after he fled after police tried to take him into custody for three outstanding arrest warrants from Bethlehem police. He was found a short distance away and officers transported him to meet Bethlehem police. More on that later.
Pickens was out of jail when he made bail after Colonie and State Police caught up to him on January 27 and charged him for eight incidents of larceny in Colonie and multiple bench warrants for the State Police for not showing up for court for larcenies in Saratoga County.
Pickens also had thefts investigated and charged by the State Police in August. He was released on an appearance ticket in that case, but did not show up for court for subsequent appearances and the Moreau Town Court issued a bench warrant. He was arraigned for that when he was transported from Colonie on Sunday, Jan. 28. In the January charges in Colonie and other municipalities, Pickens was arraigned in Albany County Court.
“He ended up in Albany County, I am not sure if it was based on our charges or on other agencies’ charges, but he has subsequently bonded out,” Colonie Deputy Police Chief Daniel Belles said in early February.
The most recent charges from Bethlehem were related to three incidents that took place in the town between October 11 and January 26, two of them were larcenies at Walmart.
According to Bethlehem police reports, Pickens allegedly stole $755 worth of electronics and an electric scooter from the store on October 11. After an investigation, detectives applied and received a warrant in that case on January 29. He was charged with petit larceny in that case.
While in the area of Walmart on December 16, Bethlehem police attempted to stop a Nissan Rogue that an investigation determined that Pickens was driving and owned by his mother. According to other agencies, the vehicle was used in other Capital District and Kingston area larcenies as well.
The car fled the scene and a pursuit into the City of Albany where Pickens and the other 3-4 occupants fled. The car was impounded and a search warrant was executed later. The car had $2,700 worth of stolen merchandise from a Colonie sporting goods store with the anti-theft tags still on them.
Pickens does not have a valid license, the car had fake plates, no registration and no inspection. He was charged with conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property, both felonies, fleeing a police officer, aggravated unlicensed operation and operating a motor vehicle when license is suspended, all misdemeanors, and 11 traffic violations.
On January 24, he allegedly returned to Walmart and allegedly stole Shark vacuums and air fryers totalling $2,013. He was charged in that incident with grand larceny, a felony. He was arraigned by Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby and released on his own recognizance because he had additional warrants from State Police in Kingston. Pickens was transported to meet Troopers at exit 21 of the Thruway. The details of that case or if bail was revoked are unknown.
Robbery at Macy’s
COLONIE – A Cohoes woman appeared in court on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and Colonie police upgraded charges in relation to an incident at Macy’s at Colonie Center.
Coleen Riley, 35, was charged with robbery in the second degree, a felony, and assault with intent to cause injury, a misdemeanor, for an incident that took place on January 26.
Riley was arraigned by Colonie Town Judge David Green and sent to the Albany County jail.
Grand larceny and warrant at Kohl’s
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to Kohl’s on Central Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 14 for a report of an active larceny at the store. According to reports, when officers arrived loss prevention employees observed Michael Duffney, 48, allegedly stealing $1,510 worth of merchandise. He was charged with grand larceny, a felony. He was sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee because he had an open bench warrant for not showing up for court. Duffney was also charged with an additional theft at the store on September 9. He was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor for allegedly taking merchandise worth $510.
DWI on Central Avenue
COLONIE – On Friday, Feb. 16 at 2:07 a.m. Colonie police observed a vehicle speeding and performed a traffic stop.
Officers observed the driver, a 37-year-old Colonie man, to have bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. The man was given and failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody.
He refused to submit to a breath test. The man was charged with DWI and ticketed for speeding, improper right turn, failing to stop at a stop sign and refusing to take a breath test.
Fight and warrant
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to a report of a fight between two females at a Wolf Road business on Friday, Feb. 16 at 9:41 a.m. and a man who was with the victim was found to be wanted in Rensselaer County.
Michael Coelho, 29, of Colonie, was transported to meet deputies from that department.
Warrant
COLONIE – On Friday, Feb. 16 at 2:43, Colonie police responded to the Crossings for a check-a-subject call. The subject of the call, John Batchelder, 46, who is homeless, was found to have an outstanding warrant from Mechanicville. He was transported to the County line to meet officers from that department.
DWI on Wolf Road
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to the parking lot of a Wolf Road restaurant on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4:17 a.m. for the report of a vehicle annoying call and found a 38-year-old Watervliet man drunk behind the wheel.
According to reports, officers observed the man to have bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He was given and failed field sobriety tests and taken into custody for DWI.
He was issued an appearance ticket for February 26 for Colonie Town Court.
Aggravated DWI
LATHAM – A 34-year-old Schenectady Woman was charged with aggravated DWI at a gas station on Troy Schenectady Road on Saturday, Feb. 17 at approximately 7:17 a.m.
The woman was released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on March 25, per the request of Judge David Green. The woman was charged with three felonies stemming from a domestic incident on October 30 that yielded seven total charges.
Warrant
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to a call at a Central Avenue store on Saturday, Feb. 17 and the subject of the call was found to be wanted by Guilderland police.
Nikki Robertson, 33, who is homeless, was detained and transported to meet officers from that department.
Robbery at Macy’s
COLONIE – Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputies turned over Eric Golden, 42, of Colonie to the Colonie police on Saturday, Feb. 17 because he had two outstanding arrest warrants in the town.
Golden was charged with burglary and grand larceny, both felonies, stemming from an incident on June 13 at Macy’s and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, from an incident at Price Chopper on Central Avenue on July 26. He was sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee.
Aggravated DWI
COLONIE – Police arrested a 32-year-old Schenectady man on Sunday, Feb. 18 for aggravated DWI after he was involved in a property damage accident on Wolf Road.
According to reports, at 5:59 p.m. officer observed the man to have a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and other signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. He was charged and released with an appearance ticket for Colonie Town Court on March 4.
Two warrants and larceny
COLONIE – A homeless man who was impaired by drugs was arrested for petit larceny at Target on Sunday, Feb 18 at 9:21 p.m. was also wanted for not showing up for court in January when he was arrested and released with an appearance ticket after an assault in the town.
At that time, Thomas Mccall also had two felony warrants from Saratoga county.
In this incident, he was charged with petit larceny and processed on the two Colonie warrants and sent to the Albany County jail as a pre-arraignment detainee.
Assault and felony warrants
COLONIE – Colonie police responded to the Travelodge on Wolf Road on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 11:30 for a report of an assault.
Officers arrested Thomas McCall, 35, who is homeless, and charged him with assault with intent to cause physical injury. Officers also found that McCall had two outstanding felony warrants from Saratoga County. He was arraigned by Colonie Judge David Green at 4 a.m. and transported to meet officers from that jurisdiction. He is scheduled to return to Colonie Town Court on January 24.