Columbia County man charged in gun store burglary

COLONIE—A New Lebanon man was among four people arrested in connection with a burglary at a Colonie gun store last week.

Colonie Police received a burglar alarm from New York Shooter Supply at 1593 Central Avenue, November 14 at 2:03 a.m., according to a press release. Responding officers quickly determined that the business had been broken into and that multiple firearms had been stolen. No suspect was located on scene.

Colonie Police with assistance from various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked to identify and apprehend the suspects involved in this incident and recover the stolen firearms.

As of November 21 four arrests had been made in connection with the crime and seven of the 14 stolen guns were recovered.

The first to be arrested was Paul Gervasio, 37, of New Lebanon, who police say was allegedly the driver of the getaway vehicle. Others charged were: William Moses, 48, of Albany; Nicole January, 43, of Latham; and Dante Chisholm, 50, of Troy.

Mr. Gervasio and Mr. Moses face charges including criminal possession of a weapon, burglary, grand larceny and criminal mischief. Ms. January faces misdemeanor charges including possession of stolen property and endangering the welfare of a child and Mr. Chisholm was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor, according to a News Channel 6 report.

The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to search for the seven firearms still missing.

Anyone with information about the remaining firearms is urged to contact the Colonie Police Investigations Division at 518-783-2754 or Capital Region Crimestoppers at 1-833-ALB-TIPS, or go to capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.—Diane Valden

Police crackdown on unsafe drivers during Thanksgiving

GHENT—State Police will participate in a special traffic enforcement initiative to crack down on unsafe driving behaviors during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The special traffic enforcement period is now underway through Sunday, December 1.

“A common threat on our roads that we continually fight is impaired and drunk driving. Traffic enforcement is imperative to everyone’s well-being and the goal of making this holiday a safe one. The New York State Police proudly joins our law enforcement partners in the ongoing effort to discourage, detect, and apprehend impaired and drunk drivers,” State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said in a press release.

State Police will supplement regular patrols statewide, including fixed sobriety checkpoints, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Elevated traffic volumes typically occur during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It is also a time when alcohol consumption is widespread. During the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday period, troopers arrested 178 drivers for DWI, issued 4,349 speeding tickets, and 362 tickets for distracted driving.

Motorists are reminded that a “Have a Plan” mobile app, is available for Apple, Android and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi or rideshare service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and provides a way to report a suspected impaired driver.

Those who drive drunk or drugged, not only put their own lives and the lives of others at risk, they could face arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drinking and driving arrest costs up to $10,000.

State Police recommend these simple tips to prevent impaired driving: Plan a safe way home before the fun begins; before drinking, designate a sober driver; if you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation; if you suspect a driver is drunk or impaired on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement; if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.