All Over Albany

Big fire in Saratoga Springs, officer testifies that Nelligan was trying revive grandson, Cherry Hill saved by donations

Five Victorian-style row houses in downtown Saratoga Springs (map) were destroyed Sunday morning in a massive fire that drew 15 fire trucks and almost 100 firefighters. It took five hours from the first call to get the fire declared under control. Thirty-two people lived in the homes -- police say 15 were home at the time and everyone there got out safely. Some of the row houses dated back to the 1800s.[Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [News10] [Saratoga Wire] [WNYT] [YNN] [TU]

The death of Gary Carpenter III, caused by injuries committed by his mother's boyfriend, has prompted the Warren County DA to call for an investigation of the state's child abuse reporting hotline. [TU]

The state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities says it's planning to close the O.D. Heck residential facility in Niskayuna in 2015. (Related: Who the heck was O.D. Heck?) [TU] [Daily Gazette]

In separate closure round announcement, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced Friday that Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility in Wilton is slated to be closed. DOCCS reports that the number of inmates in state prisons is down 24 percent since a record high in 1999. [Daily Gazette] [NYSNYS/Saratogian]

The Hudson River near Albany continues to have high levels of microbial counts related to sewage discharges, according to Riverkeeper. [AP/Troy Record]

Jeffrey Steele has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of his mother in Scotia earlier this month. [TU]

A police officer testified at a pre-trial hearing that Gloria Nelligan was performing chest compressions on Sha'hiim Nelligan when paramedics arrived on the scene in Schenectady in February. The officer also testified that Nelligan told him Sha'hiim had hit his head on the bathtub during an outburst. Nelligan is accused of beating her eight-year-old grandson repeatedly, causing his death. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Troy police say the Albany Crime Analysis Center helped them find the guy accused of reaching out to touch a woman from his car while he had his pants down last Thursday. [TPD]

Scotia police are looking for the person who shot three people with a BB gun at a playground Thursday. [TU]

State Police say they arrested a woman at Upstate Concert Hall on a forcible touching charge. [NYSP]

The Albany County legislature voted not to renew the appointment of the county's Department of Children, Youth and Families commissioner amid contested allegations that the commissioner had a "bullying" leadership style. [TU]

Two elementary schools -- one in Albany, the other in Schenectady -- are each getting state "school improvement" grants of more than $4 million, awarded to at-risk schools. [TU]

A re-cap of much of the petition challenging and finger pointing involved in narrowing the filed for Albany's Common Council primaries. [TU]

TWC is raising internet service rates. [TU]

A group of six Papa John's locations closed over the weekend with little explanation. [TU]

Other, non-Lyme tick-borne diseases are emerging in this area. [Daily Gazette]

Flooding -- and cat hoarding -- have set back plans for a new, and it sounds like much-needed, Schoharie County animal shelter. [TU]

The historic Cherry Hill mansion in Albany has raised enough money from donors to avoid closure. [TU]

A former drug "kingpin" is now working as a property (re)developer in Albany's West Hill neighborhood. [TU]

A flotilla left the Rensselaer Boat Launch Sunday afternoon on the start of a trip down the Hudson to promote renewal of the 400-year-old (and sometimes disputed) Two Row Wampum treaty. [Troy Record] [TU]

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TPD: Arrest made in indecent exposure case.

An arrest has been made relative to an exposure incident which occurred yesterday afternoon (June 25) at 12:15 pm in the alley next to #1 103rd Street in Troy.

At that time an adult female was approached by a male driving a black Toyota Camry. The driver reached out to touch the female and as he did so the witness was able to see that the male's pants were down and his genitals were fully exposed. The suspect fled the area prior to police arrival and Troy Detectives have been diligently working the case.

With the invaluable assistance of the Albany Crime Analysis Center, Detectives have been able to follow leads specific to the suspect vehicle and his physical appearance. Using the LAWMAN System technology provided by ACAC, a database of thousands of vehicles and potential suspects was whittled down to one. Detectives located the suspect and the arrest was made shortly thereafter. Initial concerns of an attempt by the suspect to abduct the victim appear to be unfounded.

Arrested and charged with Public Lewdness and Harassment in the 2nd degree was Jeffery Ruszkowski, age 27 of Latham, NY. The defendant was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Monday, August 1st at 0900 am.