Colonie Police Department

The Colonie Police are attempting to ascertain the identity of the 2 subjects below in regard to a larceny investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8404.

NEWS RELEASE 2/9/2021 Traffic stop leads to weapon and drug arrests On Saturday, February 6th, just after midnight, Officer Christopher Hooks conducted a traffic stop on Sand Creek Road, after observing a driver commit multiple violations of the Vehicle & Traffic Law. A license check of the driver, Dorrel Williams, revealed he had an active warrant out of the City of Schenectady. Further investigation revealed that he was in possession of a quantity of ecstasy pills. A sea...rch of the vehicle revealed a quantity of cocaine, Xanax pills, additional ecstasy pills, marihuana, drug paraphernalia, and an unloaded .22 caliber High Standard Model 107 handgun. The handgun had been intentionally defaced to make the serial number illegible. Williams, and the passenger in his vehicle, Shaimeek Collins, were both taken into custody and charged with the below crimes. Defendants: mug shots sent via email along with this release Dorrel O. Williams age 29 Schenectady, NY Shaimeek J. Collins age 22 Rensselaer, NY Charges: Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd (felony) Criminal Possession of a Firearm (felony) Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 5th 2 counts (felonies) Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 7th (misdemeanor) Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd (misdemeanor) Williams was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana (violation) and various Vehicle & Traffic violations. Both defendants were arraigned in the Town of Colonie Justice Court. Williams was released under the supervision of Albany County Probation. Collins was released on his own recognizance.

2 Vehicle Crash on Central Avenue in Colonie 2/8/21 Incident 21-007349 The Colonie Police Department Traffic Division is investigating a collision which occurred at 6:13 this morning between a Price Chopper tractor-trailer and an on-duty Albany County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy. Both vehicles were travelling eastbound on Central Avenue (State Route 5) when the tractor-trailer attempted to turn right into 1892 Central Avenue, the Colonie Price Chopper. The truck turned in ...front of the Sheriff’s SUV which struck the trailer and become stuck underneath it. The deputy was extricated by fire department personnel and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital with severe injuries. The truck driver was not injured in the crash and is cooperating with police. The K-9 was also extricated from the vehicle and appeared uninjured but was taken to a local veterinarian to be sure. Both directions of Central Avenue were shut down for approximately an hour, when the westbound lanes were reopened. The eastbound lanes remained closed until approximately 2PM while the crash was being investigated. The Colonie Fire Company, Stanford Heights, Fuller Road and Niskayuna Fire Departments were all on scene and handled the extrication. Colonie EMS transported the deputy to the hospital. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Colonie Police Traffic Division at 518 782-2600. Tractor-Trailer Driver: Gregory Discipio, 25, of Rotterdam ACSO Officer: Deputy Joseph Iachetta, 30, of Schenectady Press questions can be directed to Lt. Robert Donnelly at 518 857-5731.

***TRAFFIC ACCIDENT*** Central Ave from Rt.155 to Waterman Ave is closed due to a traffic accident. Please find alternate routes.

PUBLIC AWARENESS BULLETIN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FRAUD 2/5/2021 Over the past few weeks, the Colonie Police Department has received a large number of unemployment benefits fraud reports. In most cases, the victims have received notification via mail that they were approved to receive unemployment benefits, which they never applied for, and the letter often times included a debit card containing their payments. In some cases, the victims later received follow-up phone calls ...from individuals trying to obtain the debit card number for their benefits card, likely in an attempt to steal those funds. If you receive any suspicious letters from the Department of Labor or other government entities, which you suspect are a result of fraud, do not discard them. Call the Department of Labor, the Colonie Police Department, or the local police agency where you live, and report the fraud. All information and documents will be turned over to the Department of Labor for investigation. It is important that you not ignore these notifications, and that you remain alert for other indicators of identity theft. The perpetrators of these frauds likely have your personal information, and could use that information to commit other types of fraud. Colonie Police Department non-emergency report line: 518-783-2744 NYS Department of Labor report line: 1-888-598-2077 https://webapps.labor.ny.gov/dews/ui/fraud/report-fraud.shtm

The Colonie Police would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Please enjoy the day and be safe. Celebrating with our version of the Elf on the Shelf.

The Colonie Police are attempting to ascertain the identity of the subject below in regard to a larceny investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8420.

NEWS RELEASE 12-24-2020 Call from Georgia leads to 26th arrest for an illegal loaded handgun of 2020 On 12-23-2020 at 7:19pm the Colonie Police Department received a call from a resident of Statesboro, Georgia informing us that she had previously reported a firearm stolen by an acquaintance and believed that the suspect and stolen firearm were now in Colonie. The victim in Georgia developed this information through the suspects social media use and tracked him to the Cour...tyard Marriot at 227 Wolf Road. The suspect was registered at the hotel, but was not in his room and his whereabouts were unknown. Members of the Patrol and Investigations Divisions maintained surveillance on the motel, applied for and were granted a search warrant for his room and his car, and began efforts to locate the suspect. The suspect returned to the motel at 11:20pm and he was stopped and detained without incident. The suspect had the stolen/loaded (8 rounds) Beretta Nano 9mm in a holster in his waistband and a quantity of concentrated cannabis. The suspect was also found to be a Registered Sex Offender and have warrants issued by the Schenectady PD for Felony Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Misdemeanor Unlawful Imprisonment and Menacing and by the Rotterdam PD for Misdemeanor Aggravated Harassment. The suspect does not have a NYS pistol permit and further can’t legally possess a handgun in NYS due to 5 previous felony convictions and active orders of protection against him. A photo of the firearm is included via email along with this release. Defendant: mug shot sent via email along with this release Nicholas A. Cole age 34 Fort Myers, Florida Charges: Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd and 3rd (felonies) Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th (felony) Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 7th (misdemeanor) Criminal Contempt 2nd (Misdemeanor) Cole was sent to the Albany County Correctional Facility as pre-arraignment detainee and is expected to be arraigned later today. Further media inquiries can be directed to Lieutenant Robert Winn at 518-783-2754.

Central Avenue to be Closed for Crash Reconstruction-UPDATE 10/29/20 The Colonie Police Traffic Division, in conjunction with the New York State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, will be conducting crash reconstruction procedures on Central Avenue the weekend of Halloween. The roadway will be entirely shutdown in both directions while police work. There will be a marked detour in place around the closed section but police are... asking motorists to use alternate routes if possible to avoid the area. The closure will be between Tennessee Avenue and Dunning Avenue. The closure will begin at 8:00AM and hopefully will be concluded by early afternoon. This event is set for Saturday, October 31st. This reconstruction is for the ongoing investigation into the July 17, 2020 crash that took the lives of Naquain Key and Najee Parks on Central near Lombard Street when their car was struck by a vehicle driven by Shanjanie Foskey-Gause. Foskey-Gause had two passengers in her car, both of whom suffered numerous injuries. (Incident 20-042587) Press questions can be directed to Lt. Robert Donnelly at 518 782-2611.

The Colonie Police are attempting to ascertain the identity of the subjects below in regard to a larceny investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8410.

NEWS RELEASE 10-28-2020 Halloween 2020 The Colonie Police Department has been working with the North and South Colonie District to ensure that Halloween 2020 is as safe as possible for the Town of Colonie residents. A letter from Chief Jonathan M. Teale was distributed to both school districts for distribution to all students and their families. The letter is attached via email along with this release. This collaboration between the school districts and the police departm...Continue reading

The Colonie Police are attempting to ascertain the identity of the subjects below in regard to a stolen vehicle investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8420.

Central Avenue to be Closed for Crash Reconstruction The Colonie Police Traffic Division, in conjunction with the New York State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, will be conducting crash reconstruction procedures on Central Avenue the weekend of Halloween. The roadway will be entirely shutdown in both directions while police work. There will be marked detours in place around the closed section but police are asking motorists... to use alternate routes if possible to avoid the area. The closures will be between Michigan Avenue and Lansing Road with different parts of Central Avenue closed at different times. The closures will begin at 8:00AM and hopefully will be concluded by early afternoon. This event is set for Saturday, October 31st. with Sunday, November 1st as the rain date (a second release will follow confirming the day). This reconstruction is for the ongoing investigation into the July 17, 2020 crash that took the lives of Naquain Key and Najee Parks on Central near Lombard Street when their car was struck by a vehicle driven by Shanjanie Foskey-Gause. Foskey-Gause had two passengers in her car, both of whom suffered numerous injuries. (Incident 20-042587) Press questions can be directed to Lt. Robert Donnelly at 518 782-2611.

The Colonie Police are attempting to ascertain the identity of the subject below in regard to a counterfeit currency investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8410.

Colonie Police Employment Opportunity The Colonie Police are looking hire a person to perform crossing guard duties at the Forts Ferry Elementary School at afternoon dismissal. Crossing guards work outside in all kinds of weather and any day school is in session Monday through Friday. Hours: 1:40PM to 2:10PM during the week Pay Rate: $15.54 per hour with a minimum reimbursement of 5 HOURS per week A high visibility traffic safety vest and handheld stop sign are provided.... There is no uniform but wet and cold weather gear will be provided by the police department if requested. ****** Please contact Lt. Donnelly in the Traffic Division at the Colonie Police Department at 518 782-2611 or [email protected] with any questions or to apply. ******

The Colonie Police Department will once again be hosting a National Take Back Day focused on removing potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets. On this day, residents will have the opportunity to surrender expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and over the counter medication to law enforcement officers for destruction. The collection will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. in the Main Courtroom of the Public Safety Center located at 312 Wolf Road in Latham. For more information, visit DEATakeBack.com.

NEWS RELEASE 10-19-2020 Loaded Sawed-off Shotgun arrest On 10-17-2020 at 3:51pm the Colonie Police Department received a call from the Motel 6 at 1600 Central Avenue reporting that two people were found inside an unrented room. The people fled the property heading westbound on Central Avenue and were located in the lot of the Howard Johnson’s Motel 1614 Central Avenue by Colonie Police Department Patrol Officers Ardit Potka and William Guthrie. ... While being interviewed by the officers, defendant VAZQUEZ, lied about his name to prevent the discovery of a warrant out of Amsterdam PD for a misdemeanor traffic charge. While being taken into custody, for the warrant and lying about his identity, he was found to possess a loaded sawed-off shotgun in his backpack. The weapon is a Stroger 12-gauge shotgun that was loaded with 2 12-gauge shotgun shells and had its barrel length altered making it illegal to possess. The origin of the weapon is still being investigated and a photo of the shotgun is included via email along with this release. The motel declined to pursue charges for trespassing in the room and Amsterdam PD was advised that the defendant was being sent to Albany County Correctional Facility. The second subject was not charged and was released at the scene. Defendant: mug shot sent via email along with this release Juan A. VAZQUEZ age 21 - Amsterdam, NY Charges: Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd and 3rd (felonies), Criminal Impersonation 2nd (misdemeanor) VAZQUEZ was sent to the Albany County Correctional Facility as a pre-arraignment detainee. After a check with the Colonie Justice Court there is no further info available about his bail or next court date. Colonie Justice Court can be reached at 518-783-2714 or 518-783-2737. Further media inquiries can be directed to Lieutenant Robert Winn at 518-783-2754.

The Colonie Police are inquiring if anyone may be familiar with the design / logo on the rear of the sweatshirt in this surveillance photo. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8420.

The creator of Mia’s Cookie Jar, Mia Villa, 3 years old, delivered the most delicious homemade cookies and dog treats to the police department this morning! On behalf of the whole department we are very thankful for this special treat!

The Colonie Police is attempting to ascertain the identity of the subjects shown below in regard to a larceny investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8410.

The Colonie Police is attempting to ascertain the identity of the subject below in regard to a larceny investigation. If you have any information, please call (518) 783-2754 Ext 8414.

The Colonie Police Department is investigating the theft of a City of Albany Fire Truck that was taken from the Colonie Municipal Training Building on Wade Road this past Sunday October 11, 2020 and recovered in the 1500 block of State Street in the City of Schenectady on Monday October 12, 2020. If you saw or heard this vehicle during that time frame, please contact the Colonie Police at (518) 783-2754 Ext. 8420.