ALBANY – Nine people were arrested in Albany Monday night after the second night of unrest there in three days, police said.
The nine were arrested at Quail and West Streets after an evening demonstration turned violent when someone fired what appeared to be a commercial grade firework at officers, police said.
Full details on those arrested were not yet available by midday Tuesday, but a police spokesman described four as from Albany, three from Schenectady and one each from Clifton Park and Rensselaer.
They face charges from second-degree riot and second-degree attempted assault to unlawful assembly, spokesman Officer Steve Smith said.
Two other individuals were also arrested for third-degree burglary and petit larceny, accused of looting the Family Dollar on Central Avenue, police said.
Police described a Monday night protest that turned violent as items and fireworks were thrown at officers at police headquarters.
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In a morning press conference with media and recorded by WTEN, Police Chief Eric Hawkins noted the earlier peaceful George Floyd protests in the city where he and police listened and engaged with them.
Many in the evening group “clearly had a different agenda,” Hawkins said.
He noted five of the nine arrested directly related to the ensuing riot were from outside of Albany.
“We’re still trying to sift through who these individuals were, why they were here and a lot of this is ongoing,” Hawkins said, “and also to figure out if there are any other threats as we proceed through our week.”
Monday night’s riot followed one Saturday night in Albany where an officer was sent to the hospital with a concussion after being hit in the head by a brick. A 21-year-old Delmar man has been arrested, accused of assaulting the officer. Two others were also arrested then related to the Saturday incident.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County, Your Niskayuna
