Shortly after the drug bust, residents were seen on the stoop at 1513 Van Vranken Ave.
This past Tuesday, members of the Schenectady Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit and Special Operations Squad raided a house at 1513 Van Vranken Avenue.
The forces, along with the Capital District’s Drug Enforcement Agency, have been working for 18 months to conduct the search.
It is the third time within that same period that the house has been raided.
Only one arrest was made. Israel Torres, 47, was arrested immediately and charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, which is classified as a Class B Felony.
The search of the house resulted in the discovery of a rifle, narcotics, and some U.S. currency.
Although shots were fired, the only fatality was a dog belonging to the house’s occupants that was killed by gunfire.
Schenectady Sgt. Matt Dearing commented, “As for the proximity of Union College, it is fairly close, it’s right across the street there for you guys. Obviously it’s an address that has garnered our attention for quite some time now.”
In regards to the ongoing investigation, Dearing remarked, “In conjunction with the DEA task force, we’ve been working to curve whatever activities are going on over there.”
Campus Safety was contacted but was unavailable for comment.
A student who wished to remain anonymous noted, “This morning I was driving to Reamer and saw four huge black SUVs and 15 men in black coats that said DEA.”
Concordiensis staff photographer Rachel Steiner ’14 went to take pictures of the crime scene and was noticed by the residents, who approached her car outside of 1513 Van Vranken.
“They appeared angry. I felt very threatened,” Steiner said.
The Schenectady Police are keeping the investigation open and additional charges may be added in the future.
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Im glad they made a drug bust in Schenectday again, but why did the police have to shoot the dog? Was the dog selling drugs? Was the dog the ringleader? Every time I read a story like this and their is a dog involved, the dog always gets shot and killed. If the police are THAT SCARED of dogs there are other means to defend against an a potential attacke by a dog..What about mace..what about a taser..what about just using a little commone sense? The story says nothing about the dog actually attacking anyone. or what type of dog it was. .it just says the dog was killed. It seems like a mindless act and standard procedure by the police to shoot any dog they come into contact with..my bet is the dog didn’t pose a threat and the police shot it anyway..just because their superiors told them to do so..or it is a standard mindless no decision making procedure the police always invoke..regardless of the circumstances..