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Disabled Person Left To Die On Christmas Eve 2025 In Saratoga County, Woman Arrested: Police
A physically disabled person was left to die on Christmas Eve 2025, and a Capital Region resident has been charged in their death, police said.
McKayla L. Irish, 30, of Glens Falls, was charged with first-degree endangering a incompetent or physically disabled person, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said Monday, Aug. 10.
Irish was assigned to care for a person on Ruggles Road in Wilton on Christmas Eve, investigators said. But instead of monitoring the person’s temperature every four hours, as she’d been instructed, she ignored her duty, according to the sheriff’s office.
The person I…
Raw Oysters At Steakhouse Left Firefighter With Permanent Brain Damage, Lawsuit Says
A father, ex-Marine, and firefighter suffered cardiac arrest and a permanent brain injury after eating raw oysters at a popular Chicago steakhouse chain, according to a newly filed lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Joe Belgio on Monday, Aug. 10, in Cook County Circuit Court, IL, against Gibsons Steakhouse - Oak Brook, LLC, GRG Holdings, Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, Taylor Shellfish Company, and other defendants.
Belgio ate at Gibsons Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago, on June 30, 2025, where he ordered and ate raw oysters, according to the complaint. The lawsuit says he ate n…
Pickup Truck Used As Weapon In Saratoga County Crash, Suspect Also Facing Threat Case: Cops
An angry Capital Region man intentionally crashed into another person’s parked vehicle on Sunday, Aug. 9, police said.
Gerald Ovitt Jr., 54, of Porter Corners in Greenfield, used his pickup truck as a weapon against the victim’s Chevrolet Tahoe, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The victim was near their Tahoe but not inside at the time of the 7:40 p.m. crash, cops said. The vehicle was parked on the victim’s property on Ormsbee Road in Greenfield, authorities said.
Ovitt was previously arrested earlier this year and accused of sending death threats to an unidenti…
Drunk Driving Saratoga County Visitor Crashes, Refuses Breathalyzer: Police
A drunk driving Capital Region visitor caused a car crash on Saturday, Aug. 8, police said.
Joseph Bloecker, 59, of Silverhill, AL, was traveling eastbound on Route 146 through Clifton Park in a 2008 Mercury around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
As Bloecker approached the intersection with Clifton Country Road, he rear-ended a 2025 Toyota that had slowed due to traffic, investigators said.
Bloecker and the two people in the Toyota were not injured in the collision, but Bloecker was arrested on suspicion of DWI, authorities said. However, he refused a chemica…
Two Hospitalized In Drunken Wrong-Way Wreck In Stillwater, Driver Arrested: Police
A wrong-way car crash in the Capital Region sent two people to the hospital, and a Massachusetts man has been arrested for drunk driving, police said.
Dillon R. Gariepy, 42, of Westfield, was traveling westbound on Lake Road through Stillwater around 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
Gariepy then crossed into oncoming traffic near the intersection with Whitney Road and struck a vehicle head-on, investigators said. Two people in the other vehicle were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, one in Saratoga and one in Albany, according to authorities…
Convicted Murderer, Mom Break 4-Year-Old Boy's Bones, Burn Him: Affidavit
A convicted murderer and the mother of a 4-year-old boy are accused in a disturbing child abuse case that left the child with broken bones, burns, bruises, and injuries doctors ultimately categorized as "torture," according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Raheem Akbar Shabazz Floyd, 38, who was on parole for a North Carolina murder conviction, and the boy's mother, Brianna Nichole Nolte-Maple, 32, were arrested in Harrisburg following an investigation into the child's extensive injuries on Friday, Aug. 7, according to the affidavit.
The investigation began af…
by
Daily Voice Staff
Fake Youth Basketball Operator Scams Saratoga County Parents Out Of $1K, Cops Say
A New York man created a fake youth basketball team and scammed parents out of more than $1,000, authorities said Monday, Aug. 10.
Norbert A. Sygdziak, 44, of Milton, collected money from several parents for their children to join a basketball team, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
With no basketball games occurring, the parents filed a series of complaints, leading to Sygdziak’s arrest on Tuesday, July 21, authorities said. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first- and second-degree scheme to defraud, and five counts of petit larceny.
Sygdziak carried out his schem…
Blazing Outbuilding In Capital Region Leads To Neighbor’s Arrest: Police
A residential fire that torched an outbuilding in the Capital Region was deliberately set by a neighbor, police said Monday, Aug. 10.
James R. Young, 44, of Hoosick, intentionally torched a pile of debris on his property on State Route 67 on Wednesday, Aug. 5, New York State Police said.
The fire then spread to a neighboring property, where it reached an outbuilding that caught fire and was destroyed, investigators said. A plethora of local fire crews arrived around 7 p.m. to extinguish the flames.
Young was arrested at the scene, according to state police. He was arraigned in Schaghticoke…
Software Glitch Can Disable Turn Signals, Forcing Recall Of 500K Toyota Cars
More than 500,000 Toyota cars are being recalled because of a dashboard software problem that can disable turn signals, hazard lights, and safety warnings.
Toyota is recalling about 508,354 Camry Hybrid vehicles in the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Thursday, Aug. 6. The Camrys are from the 2025 and 2026 model years.
The 7-inch instrument cluster display can go blank when the vehicle starts because of a software error. The problem can also deactivate the turn signals, hazard lights, seat belt reminders, and smart key warning.
The …
Child Porn Tip Leads Troopers To Capital Region Home, Suspect Arrested: Police
Child porn was found in a Capital Region man’s home, leading to his arrest, according to state police.
Thomas Nastars, 50, of East Greenbush, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 5 following an investigation and a search of his home, New York State Police said Monday, Aug. 10.
Authorities got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and began investigating Nastars, according to state police. That eventually led to the search and discovery of “images consistent with child sexual exploitation,” authorities said.
Nastars was booked at state police barracks in Schodack, then r…
NY Among 15 Best States To Live In US, New Study Says: Here's Why
From strong schools and health care to high incomes and low crime, several Northeast states are among the best places to live, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2026 Best States to Live In list on Monday, Aug. 10. The study ranked all 50 states using 51 measures of livability, from housing affordability and income growth to education, health, quality of life, and safety.
Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said it's important to look beyond just economic reasons.
"When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing price…
Malta School Bus Driver Tried To Kiss Child Under 17 In Capital Region: Police
A Capital Region school bus driver tried to kiss a child he met through his job, state police said Monday, Aug. 10.
Donald Barnes Jr., 49, of Malta, was charged Friday, Aug. 7 with child endangerment, New York State Police said.
Barnes met the child, who is under age 17, while working as a bus driver with Shenendehowa Central School District, investigators said. On Friday, troopers received a report about Barnes attempting to kiss the child on the mouth, authorities said.
The incident occurred in Malta but did not happen on Shenendehowa Central School District property, according to state …
Angry NY Driver Intentionally Crashes In Police Lot, Flees With Child: Authorities
A New York man intentionally crashed another person’s car in a police parking lot, fled with a child in his car, then crashed again near the same police station, authorities said Monday, Aug. 10.
Shawn Latham, 30, of Schodack, was left facing a long list of charges following his eventual arrest, New York State Police said.
The trouble began around 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, when a person alerted police that Latham was sending them threatening messages, which also included mentions of self-harm, according to authorities.
Then at 6:42 p.m. the person called 911, stating Latham had just tried to …
Smoke Break-In: Saratoga County Woman Burglarized Home For Cigarettes, Police Say
A Capital Region woman broke into a house to steal cigarettes, a lighter, and clothing, police said.
Amy N. Bradway, 42, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested just before 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 inside a home on Canal Street in Schuylerville, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said.
Cops responded to the home for a disturbance call and located Bradway inside the residence, authorities said. She was arrested and initially refused to provide information to police, according to the sheriff’s office.
Bradway was charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree obstructing government admini…
Saratoga County Driver Lands In Ditch With Nearly Twice-Legal BAC: Cops
A drunk Capital Region driver crashed his car into a ditch and was arrested early Thursday, Aug. 6, police said.
Connor D. Casale, 33, of Glenville, was traveling eastbound on Charlton Road around 3:40 a.m., the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office said Monday, Aug. 10.
Casale left the road and his car came to rest in a ditch, authorities said. After the wreck, his BAC was measured at 0.15, according to the sheriff’s office. No other people or vehicles were involved in the incident, and Casale was not injured.
However, he was still charged with two DWI counts, unlicensed operation of a vehicle…
Capital Region Woman Plunges Car Into Hudson To Escape Brother’s Murder Attempt: Police
A New York man attempted to strangle his sister, then drown her in the Hudson River when that failed, police said.
Ahmed H. Hemedan, 20, of Albany, was arrested Sunday afternoon, Aug. 9, as cops pulled him off his sister while he was trying to drown her, the Albany Police Department said.
Officers responded around 3 p.m. to reports that a car had driven into the Hudson River from the Corning Preserve Boat Launch in Albany, authorities said.
Investigators determined the woman drove the vehicle into the river as Hemedan was strangling her, police said. After the car hit the water, Hemedan pu…
