Two men accused in connection with a March downtown incident that resulted in shots being fired have been indicted.
Ramell Steward, 29, of Steinmetz Homes, appeared in Schenectady County Court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the incident.
He faces two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, felonies.
A second man, Ronald Diggs, 25, of Grant Avenue, appeared in court earlier and pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony.Both Steward and Diggs are out on bond.
The incident happened just before 2:30 a.m. March 27 in the parking lot of the Citizens Bank, 501 State St.
No one was hurt, but one of the shots is believed to have gone through a window at the then-empty office of attorney John Della Ratta.
Police responded to a fight nearby and then responded to a fight in the bank lot. Police said both Diggs and Steward pulled handguns and began shooting at a third party. None of the charges filed at the time of the incident, or in the new indictment, however, specifically accuse the pair of firing.
Police accused Steward of pointing a handgun at Damien Bethea, 24, of Rotterdam, according to court documents filed at the time.
Police arrested Steward after a short foot chase. Police arrested Diggs nearby without incident.
Diggs is accused of possessing a loaded 9mm handgun and Steward with possessing a loaded .22-caliber handgun, authorities said. Police took possession of both handguns.
Steward and Diggs each face up to 15 years in state prison on the weapons possession counts, if convicted.
Steward appeared in court Tuesday with his attorney, Sven Paul. Paul asked for and won an order from Judge Louise Sira keeping bond set at $30,000, which Steward has posted. Prosecutors sought to increase that amount.
Kyle Petit is prosecuting for the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutor John Carson appeared in court Tuesday.
Diggs has also been released on bond.
Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122, [email protected] or @ByStevenCook on Twitter.
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Categories: News, Schenectady County
