Suspect’s window breaks, injures Rotterdam officers

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A Schenectady man is accused of rolling his window up on the arm of policeman during a traffic stop, injuring him and a detective trying to assist, Rotterdam police said.

Both officers suffered cuts after the window shattered, police spokesman Lt. Michael Brown said, adding that it was unclear if the window broke from the force of closing on the officer’s arm or his attempts to get free.

Arrested was Adam D. Ortiz, 23, of Wing Avenue, Schenectady. He faces one count of second-degree assault, a felony, along with misdemeanor resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration and several traffic infractions.

Brown gave the following account:

The incident began early Sunday morning on Chrisler Avenue near Chapel Street in Rotterdam, when Officer Kyle Girard attempted to pull over Ortiz for crossing over the white shoulder line and the double yellow line. Instead of stopping, Ortiz continued driving, so Girard pursued him into Schenectady. (Officers are allowed to chase suspects outside their jurisdiction if the initial traffic stop is attempted within.)

Ortiz continued on Chrisler, passing through a red light at Altamont Avenue, then turned onto Pearl Street and Wing Avenue, where he finally stopped in the middle of the road.

Girard approached the car and repeatedly asked for Ortiz’s license but he repeatedly refused to give it. Girard then told Ortiz to step out of the vehicle, which he also refused to do.

Girard warned Ortiz if he didn’t step out, he would reach in the window — which was down a few inches — to unlock the door, open it and remove him.

By that time Rotterdam Detective Michael Alderdice had arrived on the scene. Girard reached in and Ortiz rolled up his window.

The window shattered and both Girard and Alderdice suffered cuts to their hands, but they were now able to unlock and open the car door and pull Ortiz out. He complied with instructions after that.

The incident was caught on Girard’s in-car camera and microphone, Brown said. He said he didn’t think either officer missed work due to their injuries.

Ortiz faces the assault charge and the misdemeanors in Schenectady City Court. The underlying traffic infractions, including driving without a license and failure to obey a police officer, are in Rotterdam Town Court.