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Three Albany police officers were injured in a crash while pursuing a 15-year-old suspect early Thursday (July 17) morning. The incident began when officers attempted to stop a group of individuals on foot near the 200 block of Second Street in Albany. As the officers approached, the individuals fled, leading to a foot chase. The suspect, a 15-year-old male from Watervliet, was apprehended and found in possession of a loaded nine-millimeter handgun.
During the pursuit, two police vehicles collided at the intersection of Second Street and Lark Street, damaging two parked cars and a fire hydrant. The three officers involved sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital, but have since been released. The teen was charged with second-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. According to NEWS10, the suspect was previously involved in firearm incidents in Watervliet in June.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in Albany County Family Court. The Newport Dispatch reports that the teen's name has not been released due to his age. Lieutenant Brian Strock of the Watervliet Police Department emphasized the ongoing issue of youth gun violence, noting that five of six firearm-related incidents in Watervliet this year involved minors under 16.