All Over Albany

Costs piling up for flood damage, four officers injured during chase, third Albany shooting in a week, hidden cam found in UAlbany bathroom

The state's estimated costs for damage from tropical storms Irene and Lee is now close to $100 million (that's just costs directly covered the by state). The state has $150 million set aside for emergency management costs and FEMA might cover some of that, too. [TU] [State of Politics]

The 13-year-old Wilton boy who accidentally shot and killed his friend last December has been sentenced to two years of probation. The family court judge in the case said a psychiatric report concluded the boy is a "loving son" who is not a danger to the community. Said the mother of Nicholas Naumkin, the boy was killed: "We're just hoping that going forward we could make a difference, and change some laws regarding gun ownership." [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [Fox23]

Colonie police say four officers were injured Wednesday morning while chasing a suspect by car and on foot from Latham to Albany (map). The officers got hurt while jumping over a retaining wall that led to a six-foot drop. The string of events began when the suspect allegedly showed up with a gun at the Latham house of a man who owns a music production company (the suspect is apparently one of the company's artists) (map). Says a Colonie police lieutenant of the recent rash of violent incidents in the town known for having a low crime rate: "It's definitely been an anomaly." [Troy Record] [Daily Gazette] [CBS6] [TU]

State comptroller Tom DiNapoli detailed how the former treasurer of the Charlton volunteer fire department in Saratoga County allegedly stole as much as $500k from the department over five years (map). A comptroller's office audit concluded the Charlton fire district "exercised virtually no oversight role" over the former treasurer. DiNapoli called the case "a classic fraud." The woman's attorney says his client is being scapegoated for the fire district's poor record keeping. [NYS OSC] [Saratogian] [TU]

Cohoes police say the driver at the wheel of the car struck by a train in August was blinded by the sun as he drove through the crossing. [WNYT]

UAlbany officials say hidden camera was found in a women's bathroom stall in one of the academic buildings on the downtown campus. [YNN]

Kirsten Gillibrand argued the case for federal disaster aid for flooded upstate areas to the floor of the Senate yesterday. [YouTube via State of Politics]

In Esperance, people are still looking for their houses. [Daily Gazette]

One apparent consequence of all the flooding: mosquitos. That's made bug repellant a popular donated item. [WTEN] [CBS6]

A flood control study of the Mohawk River won't be ready until 2013 because of a lack of federal funding. [TU]

Republican Troy mayoral candidate Carmella Mantello has appealed the decision allowing independent candidate Jack B. Cox Jr to run on the Revolutionary Party line. Mantello's campaign has alleged the petition signatures Cox gathered are not valid. [TU] [Troy Record]

Albany police say a man was shot Tuesday night in the South End (map). It's the third shooting in less than a week in the city. [APD press release below] [WNYT]

Albany police say DNA evidence from a man arrested last week links him to an unsolved allged 2008 rape in downtown Albany (map). [APD press release below]

Troy police say they found 50 pots plants and growing equipment in a house near the Poestenkill after firefighters responded to a car fire there (map). Troy's fire chief says the fire is "very suspicious." A neighbor says she's not surprised about what was allegedly found in the house: "Car would pull up, mostly men, and they would go in and be there for 5 or 10 minutes and then they would come back out." [TU] [Troy Record] [Fox23]

Saratoga Springs police say they've arrested a man for allegedly stealing more than $30k from the St. Clement's horse show over six years. [Saratogian]

Saratoga Springs police say the initial toxicology report on Alexander Grant, the colleges student who was found dead in a stream after a bizarre night this past March, included some unexpected results -- and they've sent it out again. [Saratogian]

A lack of buses and drivers has led to a "fiasco" for the Troy school district. In Rensselaer, people are upset about budget cutbacks that eliminated bus service for kids living within a mile of school. [WTEN] [Fox23]

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APD Press Release: 2nd Ave shooting

Albany police are investigating a shooting last night that left one man hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his lower back.

Police received a call for a shooting at 190 Second Avenue at 9:14 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene the victim had already been transported to Albany Medical Center by a bystander.

Sayquon Kearney, 28, underwent surgery last evening for internal bleeding. His injury is not considered life threatening.

Officers canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses and evidence.

A motive and suspect have not been identified at this time.

APD Press Release: DNA evidence

Albany detectives arrested a 46 year old city man in connection with a 2008 rape after DNA evidence connected him with the alleged crime.

Allen Johnson, of 202 Central Avenue, was arrested September 7, 2011 after being indicted for Rape 1st, Criminal Sex Act 1st, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd.

Johnson is alleged to have forced the victim at knife point into a unattended parked taxi near Colonie and Water Street on October 30, 2008 just after midnight. Johnson then sexually assaulted the victim inside the car. After the assault he pulled her out of the taxi and forced her to walk in the opposite direction while he fled on foot.

DNA evidence was collected at the crime scene by forensic detectives and matched to Johnson after he was arrested in March of this year for unlawful imprisonment. He was being held in Albany County Jail when the match came from the New York State Police Lab.

Johnson was arrested on the new charges and remanded back to the Albany County Jail.