Clifton Park man charged in SUV theft, crash

A 47-year-old Clifton Park man faces several felonies after he allegedly stole a vehicle and crashed it into a telephone pole on Route 50 Thursday night, police said.

Marc A. Abendschein was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and attempted robbery, plus numerous traffic violations, according to Glenville police.

Abendschein allegedly took a Lincoln Navigator that was parked with its engine running behind the Dunkin’ Donuts on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The owner of the vehicle, Jerry Burke, reported the SUV stolen at 5:09 p.m., according to Saratoga Springs police. Burke owns several Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in the area.

Abendschein was traveling south on Route 50 when he was spotted driving erratically by Glenville police Officer Tim Mell, according to police. He was driving on the right shoulder of the road at a high rate of speed to get around traffic, police said. At some point, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed it into a telephone pole, flipping the SUV over.

Police said Abendschein then attempted to commandeer a vehicle stopped in traffic near the accident. When that attempt failed, he allegedly ran into Antonio’s Hair Salon on Route 50 and accosted a woman inside the salon. He attempted to take her car keys but was fought off, police said.

As Abendschein left the salon, Officer Tim Mell and two citizens were able to tackle him, police said.

Police said he resisted arrest. Route 50 was closed for several hours following the incident.

Police said the car owner’s dog was in the vehicle at the time but survived the accident.

Categories: Schenectady County