5 arrested in Schenectady long gun raids

PHOTOGRAPHER: Photo Provided

Clockwise from top left: Albert George, Dylan Longe, Christopher Smith and Jerome Gilmore.

SCHENECTADY — Sheriff’s investigators arrested a total of five people in connection with two raids this week, officials said Wednesday.

Investigators and city police raided residences at 36 Kelton Ave. and 938 Park Ave. Tuesday, after learning the homes might contain long guns stolen from a Columbia County home last weekend, Sheriff Dominic Dagostino said.

Investigators found a rifle at the Kelton Avenue address and 10 additional firearms in the Park Avenue house. All are believed to have been taken during the Columbia County burglary, Dagostino said.

Ellis R. Riker, 55, of 36 Kelton Ave., faces stolen property and weapons counts related to the Kelton Avenue raid. Investigators found 11 other people in that home at the time of the raid. They questioned them but did not charge anyone other than Riker, police said.

Four individuals were charged in connection with the Park Avenue raid, officials said. Albert George, 40, of 938 Park Ave., and Dylan Longe, 28, of 150 Spring Road, face weapons and stolen property counts.

Two others, Christopher Smith, 39, of 35 Kelton Ave., and Jerome Gilmore, 50, of 757 Eastern Ave., are being held on parole violations.

The Columbia County theft happened Friday in the Town of Kinderhook, according to Columbia County Sheriff’s Senior Investigator Kevin Skype. No arrests have been made, but investigators are hoping the Schenectady raids will help resolve the case.

The Schenectady County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit conducted the investigation with assistance from the city police Special Operations Squad. State parole officials also assisted.

The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are possible, officials said.