Schenectady Police Threatened With Violence

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• published: 13 Jun 2015
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The man arrested, Shaquille Parker, 22, of Forest Road, has not filed a formal complaint regarding the incident. He was charged with felony second-degree assault, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and violation-level disorderly conduct and marijuana possession. “We’re doing an internal investigation,” Kilcullen said. “We require a use-of-force form to be completed with any officer who uses force. Mr. Parker has not made a complaint to us, though. In terms of his activity for which he was charged, that will be taken care of in court.” Kilcullen said Sgt. Dean DeMartino suffered minor injuries from the struggle with Parker, including a knee injury and a broken finger, resulting in Parker’s felony second-degree assault charge. Police have had an increased presence in the area of Main Avenue and Crane Street, where the incident occurred, after complaints of drug deals, Kilcullen said. “We have had, over time, many, many complaints of drug dealing and illicit activity going on there, where people there for legitimate purposes were being approached by drug dealers,” he said. “We increased our presence to deal with those constant complaints.” Kilcullen said the officer was walking his beat when he saw Parker jaywalking, disrupting traffic. The officer requested to search him, Parker said, but Parker refused. Parker said he then started to walk away and the officer followed. He said he was pepper-sprayed a short time later. Other officers converged and he was sprayed again and Tasered. Later portions of the incident were caught on video. “The actual charge was disorderly conduct where the individual disrupts traffic. That’s the underlying charge,” Kilcullen said. “Everything else came from that, like the resisting arrest.” After Parker was in custody, police searched him and discovered he was in possession of marijuana. Parker works at The Daily Gazette as a mailroom inserter. As part of the department’s internal investigation, Kilcullen said provided video along with surveillance cameras and police cars’ cameras would be reviewed. “The investigation is just beginning into the entire matter,” he said. “We have camera footage, much more camera footage than what’s on [The Daily Gazette’s] website that captures the incident.” “I have been pushing to enforce jaywalking but nothing has been done, and then one time they stop someone for jaywalking,” Clark said. “He had the right to say he didn’t want to be searched. The police stepped it up and took it to another level.” City Councilman Vince Riggi said the underlying issue is noncompliance, and that the incident sends a message that all laws, including jaywalking, are strictly enforced. “I was taught to comply with police and then let the courts determine if it was legal or not legal,” he said. “I think the key is compliance and that jaywalking is illegal, and probable cause for someone to be stopped. It’s not serious with all other crimes going on, but an officer has the right to approach you for that.” Kilcullen said the department’s community police officers have dual roles as zone officers responding to calls in their neighborhood and also getting involved in neighborhood activities. “They attend neighborhood association meetings and are involved in activities like cleanups,” he said. “The city has eight zones and we have one assigned officer to each zone.” McCarthy said the goal of community policing is to deter crime in neighborhoods and develop a rapport with residents and businesses. The city is set to receive $165,000 in federal funding on July 1 for community policing. Patricia Ann Smith, president of the Mont Pleasant Neighborhood Association, said she appreciates the police presence in Mont Pleasant and believes they are doing a good job. “They have been very accommodating and they still are,” she said. “There is a lot to deal with here. We’re trying to accentuate the positives in Mont Pleasant. Every neighborhood has their share of issues, but we appreciate their help to try and make it a safer place for residents to live.” Smith said she believes criminal activity is high in areas of Mont Pleasant