Fifth Ward City Supervisor Karl Baia is facing a felony charge and a call for his resignation after his arrest late Friday night; he is accused of breaking into the Virginia Lane apartment of a woman and engaging in a physical altercation with her.
Baia, 28, was charged with second-degree burglary, a class C felony, after police received a 911 hang up call from 200 Virginia Lane, apartment G-10, Amsterdam police reported.
When officers responded, the woman told them that Baia broke in through the front door of her apartment, causing damage to the door. She said he then began yelling at her and refused to leave, the police statement said.
A physical alteration, most of which involved pushing, then took place between the two in front of a young child, police said. The woman was able to call 911 and Baia left, the report stated; she did not sustain any serious injuries, police said.
Police located and arrested Baia at his home at 48 St. Paul St. in Amsterdam at 11:11 p.m. He was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal mischief, two class A misdemeanors. Baia Saturday was being held in Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Quackenbush said if the allegations were true, Baia should step down from the position he has held for the past four years. Quackenbush, a fellow Republican, pointed out that Baia earlier this year called for the resignation of St. Johnsville town Supervisor Dominick Stagliano over an alleged breach of ethics.
“Supervisor Baia himself tried to set protocol earlier in the year by asking Supervisor Stagliano to resign,” Quackenbush said Saturday. “If we’re going by that protocol maybe Supervisor Baia should resign. He should resign if the allegations are true. And yes, he hasn’t had his day in court, but if they’re not true then she’s lying. Somebody’s not being honest, and do you want dishonest people in charge of making very important decisions in your county?”
Baia is running unopposed for a third two-year term as 5th Ward supervisor.
Categories: Schenectady County
