Arrest made in downtown Schenectady vandalism spree

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marc Schultz

Grafitti seen on rear side of Taj Mahal Restaurant at 142 Clinton St.

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SCHENECTADY — Police have made an arrest in connection with a spree of downtown vandalism.

City police arrested Daniel Shockley, 25, on Monday for allegedly spay-painting the Trustco Bank, charging him with fourth-degree criminal mischief

Trustco was just one of the locations tagged in a spree that has left politically-charged rhetoric, satanic imagery and calls for a “rent strike” at numerous locations, including the former Gazette press building, the Jay Street Walkway and the railway trestle behind Lady Liberty at the corner of Union Street and Erie Boulevard.

“Trump lies, COVID kills,” reads one message painted on a set of metal doors on the Clinton Street building that formerly housed the Taj Mahal.

“No bank bailout!!” another read.

Shockley hasn’t been charged in those incidents, but authorities say the handwriting is similar and the investigation is continuing, with damage to additional locations being reviewed.

Detectives believe the tags are related.

“The suspect knows he’s going to be charged with all of these and probably more,” said Sgt. Nick Mannix.

Officials were unable to provide an exact number of defaced locations, but said the spree appeared to be limited to downtown.

While it’s the responsibility of building owners to remove graffiti, the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) alerts owners and can assist them with clean-up if people are unable to do so.

“There are still eyes and ears downtown,” said DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo. “We can quickly alert people and squash that as soon as possible.”

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Schenectady Police Department at 518-630-0911.