WSSV News

State Police of Clifton Park arrested 28 year old Frank P. Dibenedetto Jr., 28, of Clifton Park, NY, for Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Menacing, and Reckless Endangerment. Police say Dibenedetto Jr. wielded a bat while confronting multiple people at a residence and attempted to strike a victim with the bat and his vehicle before fleeing the location. He was gone before the Troopers arrived. Dibenedetto Jr. was located and arrested in Malta.

A woman who claims she was struck by a bullet in an officer involved shooting in Saraotga late last year is filing suit. Cali Brown of Glens Falls has put the city and police on notice that her suit contends police were negligent in the use and discharge of guns, weren’t properly trained and failed to recognize Brown was an innocent bystander. She says she suffered both physical and psychological damages from the incident.

Saratoga County restaurant week will return from March 22nd though the 30th. WNYT reports you can either dine in or take out, and rather than setting a fixed price menu, restaurants will be setting their own prices and menus this year.
This year, the event will include a gift card sweepstakes where three lucky winners will receive prize packages of ten $100 gift cards to restaurants throughout the county.

State Police in Wilton arrested Nicholas M. Benson, 38, of Wilton, NY, for Criminal Contempt and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. On February 12, 2023, at about 6:07 p.m., Troopers responded to a home in Wilton, NY, for the report of a child struck with a projectile from a BB gun. The investigation determined on the day reported, Benson intentionally shot and struck a child under the age of ten with a pellet from a BB rifle while at the location. He was arraigned at the Milton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or a $50,000 partially secured bond.

An accused intoxicated driver – who is also accused of murder – was in Saratoga County Court Tuesday morning. WNYT reports Justin Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to killing Alex Bleickhardt last September while driving under the influence of drugs, and also had a loaded gun in his possession. The DA says the grand jury found that Justin Rodriguez acted with such wanton disregard for human life that a murder charge was warranted.

The Saratoga Springs Police Officers involved in the shooting that left an off-duty Vermont sheriff deputy fighting for his life last year will soon be returning to work. WRGB reports according to the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Public Safety Commissioner, the three officers are finishing up the final stages of departmental evaluations to return to duty.

Broadway’s Audra McDonald, who stars in HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” is coming to Saratoga Springs on August 10. WTEN reports the set list is slated to include favorites from Rodgber and Hammerstein, George Gershwin, and Stephen Sondheim. Tickets for the show, where doors open at 7:30 p.m., go onsale to the public on Thursday, February 23.

Keeping kids safe while at school is the goal of a conference in Saratoga Springs this week. WNYT reports it’s put on by the Committee for Policing and Safeguarding Schools. Police from all over the state are gathering to learn best practices for preventing and responding to school shootings.

A Colonie man is charged with felony grand larceny, accused of stealing from an estate while acting as the attorney for that estate. WRGB reports State Police arrested 55 year old Roy K Nestler of Colonie, charging him with Grand Larceny.
An investigation determined Nestler stole in excess of $500,000 from the estate of a deceased person while acting as the attorney for that estate. Nestler was arraigned in the Town of Colonie Court and released on his own recognizance. The case has been waived to the Albany County Court.

A Greenfield man was sentenced for an attempted rape charge in Saratoga County Court on Friday, February 17. Jonathan M. Aronson, 52, will serve 3.5 years incarcerated followed up by 15 years on parole. WTEN reports Aronson was arrested after a year-long investigation on Jan. 5, 2022. Prosecutors said he drugged and molested an 11-year-old girl on New Year’s Day, 2021.