4 more charged in graffi ti incident ROTTERDAM — Four more Schalmont seniors have been charged with spray-painting graffi ti on the high school building. Adam Alteri, 18, of Donald Drive, Nicholas Bonitatibus, 18 of Masullo Parkway, Joseph Lontrato, 17, of Horizon Boulevard and Christopher Longo, 17, of Maria Court all surrendered themselves to Rotterdam Police last week in connection with the June 10 incident. Police said the four students were among a group of six that vandalized an outside wall of the school. Schalmont seniors Frank Costanza and Jack Macejka were both arrested on identical charges last week. The four students arrested Thursday were ordered held overnight in Schenectady County Jail and released to the custody of their parents Friday. Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said last week the vandalism wasn't extensive and was easily remedied. Kelsey also declined to discuss any disciplinary action taken against the students. Rotterdam Police said the investigation into the incident is complete and no further arrests are anticipated.
This is probably one of those situations where it should not have even been put in the newspaper. Nothing was going to be done about it anyways and folks would just assume it was because of political privelege, whether it was or not.
The political priveledge is Kelsey's. In fact, I was told a while ago that she was going to contact me regarding an issue I brought to the board. Still haven't got the phone call. I forgot the date of Steve Tommasone's fundraiser, but that is when I was told that she was supposed to call me.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
You see BK, you just didn't have the right last name or born in the right family so you could be of privelege too. And if I remember correctly, your conversation with Ms.Kelsy would have possibly been about school neglect. So you can bet that conversation is at the bottom of the corrospondence list.
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
Mistrial in DA impersonation case BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net.
Prosecutors say a Rotterdam man impersonated a district attorney’s office official while conducting his own investigation into a burglary last summer. The man’s defense attorney says he never impersonated anyone and was simply someone trying to do the right thing. A Schenectady City Court jury said they couldn’t decide. The jury, which heard the case over three days last week, came back deadlocked Monday. A mistrial was declared. Gustavo Kaplan, 31, had faced jail time, accused of telling a woman Aug. 11 that he was working with the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office on a burglary investigation. The woman, however, questioned that and called police. He was charged with criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor. Prosecutor Erin Brownell tried the case over three days last week. She said she did not believe Kaplan had malicious intent. She noted that Kaplan has a master’s degree in criminal justice. Nonetheless, she said, they can’t have people saying they are with the district attorney’s office when they’re not. “It takes away the trust people have in the criminal justice system,” she said. “I don’t think he was trying to hurt anybody, but I do think he was trying to put himself into an investigation.” At the center of the case was a burglary in the city. Kaplan heard information about a burglary involving a disabled victim and he wanted to help. When he talked to the woman, he was trying to fi nd out where the victim lived. Kaplan defense attorney Adam Parisi said Kaplan asked questions, but never said he was with the district attorney’s offi ce. The information he found also turned out to be correct, Parisi said. “He wants to do the right thing,” Parisi said. “The dispute was when the nurse says she heard one thing and Gustavo said another.” Kaplan, who does tutoring and did work with a local attorney prior to this case, said the prosecution should make anyone rethink helping out in the future. “There’s no incentive for people to come forward with information,” he said. “They could get charged themselves.”
By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer Thursday, June 21, 2007
ROTTERDAM Town police say they are searching for five or six men who entered a home late last night wielding guns and demanding money.
The home invasion occurred around midnight at 342 Gardenier St. The suspects forced three residents into the basement while searching the home. Two male residents suffered minor injuries when they forced to the ground and struck in the head with a gun. A female resident was threatened but not harmed.
One of the residents escaped the house and had a neighbor call police, police said.
The suspects did not take any money or belongings from the home. They were last seen fleeing on foot toward Route 5S.
Police described the suspects as black males between the ages of 18 and 20 who were of small to medium buildings. They were wearing black, hooded sweatshirts with bandannas over their faces.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotterdam police detectives at 355-7397.
Police looking for suspects in home invasion Updated: 6/21/2007 By: Web Staff
Several suspects are on the loose after a home invasion in Rotterdam Junction.
Police said five to six men stormed into a house on Gardenier Street late Wednesday night.
Two men and a woman were inside at the time. The men were forced into the basement at gunpoint, while the woman hid somewhere else.
One of the men later escaped and managed to go next door for help.
Residents said this is usually a quiet and safe neighborhood.
Neighbor Carl Ramundo said, "You just you have to be a little more on your toes I suppose. You know, it's just very unsuspecting so I guess it could just happen anywhere."
Investigators said the suspects didn't take anything.
Anyone with information is asked to call Rotterdam police.
ROTTERDAM JUNCTION Masked men invade home 2 residents hit in head with guns BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
A Gardenier Street home was invaded around midnight Wednesday by a group of masked men demanding money, police said. The men barged into 342 Gardenier St. and ordered the three residents to the floor. Two of the residents were struck in the head with guns, but no one was hurt seriously, according to police. The men fled empty-handed after a resident escaped and summoned police. None of the occupants said they recognized the attackers, police said, and they gave only vague descriptions of the group. The attackers were between the ages of 18 and 20, of small to medium build, wearing black hoodies over their heads and bandanas across their faces. Rotterdam Police Department spokesman Lt. Jason Murphy said the attack happened in an isolated area just off Mabie Lane near Route 5S by the Schenectady International plant. Gardenier Street was quiet enough Thursday afternoon for a friendly-looking white dog to wander freely to greet visitors. “It’s a quiet neighborhood,” Murphy said. “A call of that nature is uncommon.” The house itself is a two-story gray structure with a pool in the backyard. Sitting at a picnic table outside Thursday afternoon was a man who said he was one of the occupants. He declined to give his name. He said he was on the couch in the front room just before midnight when the group barged in, though not all at once. The front door was open, he said. “You don’t have to lock your doors around here.” His first reaction, he said, was that it was a joke. That quickly evaporated as he was forced to the floor. He said his sister’s boyfriend escaped to a neighbor’s house, ending the brief ordeal. He said he didn’t know what the men were looking for. He speculated they had bad information. He said he got a bump on his head and was shaken up, but was otherwise fine. As he spoke, he finished an ice cream cone. “This is the first thing I’ve eaten all day,” he said.
ROTTERDAM POLICE DEPARTMENT Patrick Pardi, 36, of Guilderland Avenue, was charged May 22 with disorderly conduct. Maria Rivera, 32, of Hamburg Street, Schenectady, was charged May 24 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. William Waterson, 17, of Kenmore Avenue, was charged May 25 with unlawful possession of marijuana. Marcel Jacobs, 42, of Grant Avenue, Schenectady, was charged May 26 with petty larceny. Lisa Maynard, 43, of Ninth Avenue, Watervliet, was charged May 26 with driving while intoxicated, a felony. Christopher Andrako, 28, of South Ferry Street, Schenectady, was charged May 26 with fourthdegree grand larceny. Richard Anthony, 19, of Wellington Avenue, was charged May 27 with petty larceny. Mary Littleton, 46, of Bridle Pathway, Schenectady, was charged May 28 with aggravated driving while intoxicated. Michael Lafountain, 24, of Lafountain Lane, Granville, was charged May 28 with driving with ability impaired by drugs and thirddegree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Daniel Noreen, 27, of Kellar Avenue, was charged May 29 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration. Rodney Murphy, 37, of Division Street, Schenectady, was charged May 29 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Markita Hall, 29, of Webster Street, Schenectady, was charged May 29 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Aaron Willman, 43, of Delamont Avenue, Schenectady, was charged May 29 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Shontia Santiago, 26, of Bradley Street, Schenectady, was charged May 30 with second-degree harassment. Christopher Russo, 18, of Eastern Parkway, Schenectady, was charged May 30 with second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and petty larceny. Joel Ward, 28, of Chrisler Avenue, Schenectady, was charged May 30 with second-degree harassment. Robert Hall, 20, of Maplewood Avenue, Schenectady, was charged May 31 with two counts of seconddegree harassment, third-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Natalya Aliyeva, 36, of Troy, was charged May 31 with petty larceny. Jennifer Bacon, 27, of James Street, Schenectady, was charged May 31 with second-degree harassment. Leonid Dumsky, 42, of Sixth Avenue B, Troy, was charged May 31 with petty larceny. Jason Galietta, 29, of Hamburg Street, Schenectady, was charged June 1 with second-degree criminal contempt. Keith Oconnor, 19, of Cox Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 2 with operating a motor vehicle with a restriction and unlawful possession of marijuana. Gustavo Kaplan, 31, of Morning Glory Way, Schenectady, was charged June 2 with second-degree imprisonment. Kathleen Lanoux, 46, of Webster Street, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with endangering the welfare of a child. Angel Leone, 20, of Seventh Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with third-degree bail jumping. Lakema Keller, 28, of Division Street, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with second-degree harassment. Ashley Parker, 16, of East Campbell Road, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with third-degree assault. Heidi Schmelzlen, 18, of Woodbridge Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with third-degree criminal trespassing. Kevin Sheroka, 19, of Granville Avenue, was charged June 4 with second-degree aggravated harassment. Ryan Stem, 17, of Becker Street, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with petty larceny. Danielle Daniels, 37, of Avenue H, Schenectady, was charged June 4 with second-degree criminal contempt. Eduardo Oquendo, 30, of Northampton Road, Amsterdam, was charged June 5 with petty larceny. Shauntia Lockett, 16, of Summit Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 5 with petty larceny. William Shippey, 35, of Fourth Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 5 with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Joseph Scepkowski, 20, of Wabash Avenue, Schenectady, was charged June 6 with second-degree criminal contempt, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree harassment and petty larceny.
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