News Staff

State Police of Clifton Park, with the assistance of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, arrested Penny L. Richards, 47, of Ballston Spa, for t Conspiracy and Trever M. Murphy, 42, of Ballston Spa for Grand larceny, Auto Stripping and Possession of Burglar’s Tool after multiple complaints in October 2022 of Catalytic Converters cut and stolen from vehicles parked at businesses in the Clifton Park, NY, and Halfmoon, NY area. With the assistance of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the investigation determined Murphy removed and stole the automobile parts with the aid of Richards. The damages caused during these crimes are estimated to be over $30,000.

Saratoga Springs city leaders say this weekend’s officer involved shooting has prompted them to propose policy changes to ensure more safety during the city’s nightlife hours. WRGB reports policies city leaders are looking into are requiring bars to wand patrons upon entering the bars and establishing a bar curfew; but city leaders say it won’t happen overnight.

The man shot by police in downtown Saratoga Springs early Sunday morning is a deputy with the Rutland County Sheriff’s Office. WNYT reports 24 year old Deputy Vito Caselnova IV is recovering at Albany Medical Center from 10 bullet wounds, some from his attackers and some from police who ordered him to drop his weapon. He was on a dinner date in Saratoga Springs, and was waiting for an Uber, when he was jumped by three men. Caselnova’s attorney, Greg Teresi, says Caselnova never heard police commands to drop his weapon.

Small Business Saturday is Nov. 26, and the village of Ballston Spa is already gearing up for the shopping season. According to WNYT, businesses and shops in the village will have sales, special door prizes and giveaways during the day to celebrate.
The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association will have a small business hub set up in Wiswall Park with free coffee and donuts and even gift certificate giveaways.

An off-duty police officer from Vermont was shot by police in Saratoga Springs. WNYT reports it happened near Wheatfields, a restaurant on Broadway near the intersection of Caroline Street, around 3 a.m. Sunday, when an off-duty sheriff’s deputy from Vermont got into a fight with some people from the Utica area, and gunshots were exchanged. They say they saw the off-duty deputy pointing the gun, and ordered him to drop it multiple times. However, that off-duty deputy made a motion towards the officers, and they fired about 10 or 11 shots. A total of three people were hurt in all the gunfire – the deputy, a guy from the Utica area, and a woman believed to be the deputy’s girlfriend – who was grazed by the bullet, say police. All are expected to survive.

Four Black construction workers are suing Redburn Property Services – accusing it of continuous and systemic discrimination. According to WNYT, in the lawsuit, four former workers accuse the company of “continuous and systematic discrimination,”
alleging that supervisors regularly called Black workers racial slurs, and passed them over for promotions or evaluations.

On the first weekend of December, an annual festival of trees is coming back to Saratoga Springs. The 27th annual Saratoga Festival of Trees is coming to the Saratoga Springs City Center. WTEN reports the festival will bring a swath of decorated Christmas trees to the city from Wednesday, Nov. 30, through to Sunday, Dec. 4. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission; $5 for seniors and kids 10-18; and free for kids under age 10, when accompanied by an adult. Special $5 admission will be offered on Thursday as part of the Victorian Streetwalk Weekend event downtown.

A Waterford man faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to attempted sex trafficking of a child. According to WNYT, Bradley Boisen copped to charges that in April 2021, he arranged to pay $60 to another person in order to have sex with a 14-year-old child. He also faces up to life in prison. Boisen is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

DEC announced the completion of a six-week gas station enforcement detail in the Capital Region and surrounding counties. Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) from DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, in coordination with DEC’s divisions of Environmental Remediation and Air Resources staff, conducted the detail to protect public health and the environment by inspecting gas stations in disadvantaged communities disproportionately burdened by pollution, as well as other locations in the region.

A Ballston Spa woman has pleaded guilty after she was accused of fatally striking a pedestrian. Adrianne Liedel, 20, pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree. WTEN reports back in March Liedel, while under the influence of pot, struck two pedestrians with her car while on Hop City Road in the town of Ballston Spa. Harold Townsend, 72, of Ballston, was pronounced dead at the scene. Janet Townsend, 71, of Ballston, was seriously injured in the crash.