Assault charges against Skidmore student dismissed
John P. Capitani, a former student of Skidmore College, had several charges against him dismissed in court last Tuesday, including one charge of second-degree assault after he allegedly attacked a police officer.
John P. Capitani, a former student of Skidmore College, had several charges against him dismissed in court last Tuesday, including one charge of second-degree assault after he allegedly attacked a police officer.
Initially, reports indicated that Capitani, who was seen at a drinking
party at 169 Union Ave. last September, punched Patrolman Edward Braim
in the face, sending both men over a porch railing and breaking one of
Braim's ribs.
However, six sworn statements produced by the defense from witnesses at the party claim that Braim was the initial aggressor, approaching Capitani from behind, without warning, and slamming his face into the side of the house. Braim was apparently responding to an offensive remark made by Capitani regarding police officers. Witness statements indicate that Capitani was unaware at the time that Braim was approaching.
In the ensuing struggle, Capitani fell over the porch railing and Braim was subsequently injured as he tried to pursue.
In light of the witness statements, the assault charge was reduced to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct, to which Capitani pleaded guilty. All other charges, including resisting arrest, harassment, underage possession of alcohol and possession of an open container were dismissed or merged.
Owner of Saratoga Winners arrested on arson charges
Akiva D. Abraham, 43, of 316 Miller Road, was arrested by Colonie Police in connection to the fire that destroyed Saratoga Winners, a local music venue that burned to the ground during the early morning hours of April 30. Abraham, the current owner of the venue, has been charged with felony arson and insurance fraud.
Police indicated that an investigation of the site uncovered the use of an accelerant spread inside and outside the building to help burn the venue to the ground quicker. It was also discovered that Abraham purchased an insurance policy based on a falsified mortgage loan to insure the building for $475,000.
Abraham was arraigned in the Town of Colonie Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility. He is being held without bail pending a return to court.
Fourth Skidmore student charged in assault incident
Joesph Forstbauer, 22, of 86 Woodlawn Ave. was arrested on Thursday, May 14, on charges of first-degree burglary after he and three other students from Skidmore College allegedly broke into a fellow student's home and assaulted him in an incident that occurred on Sunday, April 28.
The others arrested for the incident include Christopher Crowley, 22, of South Weymouth, Massachusetts; Steven Keady, 22 of Boston, Massachusetts; and Timothy Welsh, 22, of Manchester, Vermont. All four students were seniors at Skidmore, and were either current or former members on the college's ice hockey team.
According to witness statements and Michael Thorpe, the victim, the group of students allegedly broke into Thorpe's home in the early hours of the morning through a first floor window, broke down Thorpe's bedroom door and assaulted him, leaving him with a concussion and multiple lacerations.
All four suspects have been arraigned and are expected to appear in Saratoga County Court regarding felony charges.
Skidmore sells old dormitory
On Monday, May 11, Skidmore College proceeded with a sale long in the works with NorStar Development, to which Skidmore sold its former dormitory, Moore Hall, for $1,125,000. Known popularly as "The Pink Palace," the six-story residential hall constructed in 1957 was designed to house 160 Skidmore students and feed 400 in the dining hall. The last building from Skidmore's former downtown campus was used through 2006 before Skidmore began pursuing a deal with NorStar.
Originally, NorStar had planned to begin construction on a series of luxury residential condominiums in the summer of 2007 before the purchase of the site was delayed. As of press time, the company's Web site is still advertising plans for eight condominium townhouses, ranging from $600,000 to $1.5 million in price for homes sized between 2,500 to 4,000 square-feet.
New principal appointed to Ballston Spa Middle School
Michael Selkis was appointed to replace Dr. Helen Stuetzel as the new principal for the Ballston Spa Middle School by the Ballston Spa Board of Education on Wednesday, in anticipation of Stuetzel's retirement at the end of this school year.
Selkis, who has served as the Wood Road Elementary School principal since July of 2005, was selected from a wide pool of candidates by representatives from the middle school and the district's selection team.
Selkis holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from St. Michael's College and a Master's Degree in Teaching from Quinnipiac University. He also holds an additional Master's Degree in School Leadership from Harvard University, and is currently enrolled to complete his doctorate in Educational Administration with New York's Columbia University.
However, six sworn statements produced by the defense from witnesses at the party claim that Braim was the initial aggressor, approaching Capitani from behind, without warning, and slamming his face into the side of the house. Braim was apparently responding to an offensive remark made by Capitani regarding police officers. Witness statements indicate that Capitani was unaware at the time that Braim was approaching.
In the ensuing struggle, Capitani fell over the porch railing and Braim was subsequently injured as he tried to pursue.
In light of the witness statements, the assault charge was reduced to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct, to which Capitani pleaded guilty. All other charges, including resisting arrest, harassment, underage possession of alcohol and possession of an open container were dismissed or merged.
Owner of Saratoga Winners arrested on arson charges
Akiva D. Abraham, 43, of 316 Miller Road, was arrested by Colonie Police in connection to the fire that destroyed Saratoga Winners, a local music venue that burned to the ground during the early morning hours of April 30. Abraham, the current owner of the venue, has been charged with felony arson and insurance fraud.
Police indicated that an investigation of the site uncovered the use of an accelerant spread inside and outside the building to help burn the venue to the ground quicker. It was also discovered that Abraham purchased an insurance policy based on a falsified mortgage loan to insure the building for $475,000.
Abraham was arraigned in the Town of Colonie Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility. He is being held without bail pending a return to court.
Fourth Skidmore student charged in assault incident
Joesph Forstbauer, 22, of 86 Woodlawn Ave. was arrested on Thursday, May 14, on charges of first-degree burglary after he and three other students from Skidmore College allegedly broke into a fellow student's home and assaulted him in an incident that occurred on Sunday, April 28.
The others arrested for the incident include Christopher Crowley, 22, of South Weymouth, Massachusetts; Steven Keady, 22 of Boston, Massachusetts; and Timothy Welsh, 22, of Manchester, Vermont. All four students were seniors at Skidmore, and were either current or former members on the college's ice hockey team.
According to witness statements and Michael Thorpe, the victim, the group of students allegedly broke into Thorpe's home in the early hours of the morning through a first floor window, broke down Thorpe's bedroom door and assaulted him, leaving him with a concussion and multiple lacerations.
All four suspects have been arraigned and are expected to appear in Saratoga County Court regarding felony charges.
Skidmore sells old dormitory
On Monday, May 11, Skidmore College proceeded with a sale long in the works with NorStar Development, to which Skidmore sold its former dormitory, Moore Hall, for $1,125,000. Known popularly as "The Pink Palace," the six-story residential hall constructed in 1957 was designed to house 160 Skidmore students and feed 400 in the dining hall. The last building from Skidmore's former downtown campus was used through 2006 before Skidmore began pursuing a deal with NorStar.
Originally, NorStar had planned to begin construction on a series of luxury residential condominiums in the summer of 2007 before the purchase of the site was delayed. As of press time, the company's Web site is still advertising plans for eight condominium townhouses, ranging from $600,000 to $1.5 million in price for homes sized between 2,500 to 4,000 square-feet.
New principal appointed to Ballston Spa Middle School
Michael Selkis was appointed to replace Dr. Helen Stuetzel as the new principal for the Ballston Spa Middle School by the Ballston Spa Board of Education on Wednesday, in anticipation of Stuetzel's retirement at the end of this school year.
Selkis, who has served as the Wood Road Elementary School principal since July of 2005, was selected from a wide pool of candidates by representatives from the middle school and the district's selection team.
Selkis holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from St. Michael's College and a Master's Degree in Teaching from Quinnipiac University. He also holds an additional Master's Degree in School Leadership from Harvard University, and is currently enrolled to complete his doctorate in Educational Administration with New York's Columbia University.
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Officer Braim is a rogue cop and a bully...That student must've had a really good lawyer because Braim has been going around harrassing and bullying young citizens and getting away with it for awhile now. His luck is going to run out...