SPECIAL REPORT! Schenectady Police Department and New York State Police obtain search warrants that allowed them to enter 2 dwellings in the Electric City. Each of these buildings were found to be heavily fortified with reinforced windows, doorways and access points to prevent entry.

What were these suspects trying to hide? What did law enforcement discover once inside these Capital Region buildings? This is what we know.

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On Wednesday April 2nd at approximately 5pm, according to a post on the Schenectady Police Department Facebook page, Schenectady Police Special Operations Squad (SOS) team up with New York State Police Special Operation Response Team (SORT) and Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in executing 2 search warrants.

Officers from each unit executed 2 search warrants, one at 1521 Devine Street and one at 542 Schenectady Street following an investigation into the sale of illicit cannabis at both addresses.

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Schenectady Police Department
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Police officers arrested 2 individuals during the operations and a significant amount of illicit cannabis was found inside both locations.
  • 29-year-old Eric M. Saunders of Schenectady
    • Charged with Criminal Possession of Cannabis 1st
  • 26-year-old James C. Newsome of Schenectady
    • Charged with Criminal Possession of Cannabis 2nd
518 News, Schenectady drug bust, New York State Police
Schenectady Police Department
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According to Schenectady Police, since the legalization of recreational marijuana, officers have focused on supporting safe, State-regulated, sales and consumption in the city.

518 News, Schenectady drug bust, New York State Police
Schenectady Police Department
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Houses such as these, which sell unregulated products that are often packaged to appeal to youth, are dangerous to the health of our community and those most vulnerable. - Chief Eric S. Clifford

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Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to recognizing and understanding when your child becomes involved with illegal drugs.

Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell

19 Of New York State's Most Wanted Criminals- April 2025

Below are individuals wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations who have been designated as its Most Wanted Fugitives. They should be considered armed and dangerous. This list is current as of 4/02/2025:

NEVER attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself. If you have information on the location of any of these fugitives, you can contact OSI 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to report it. All leads and tips are treated as confidential information.

If an immediate response is necessary, such as you see the wanted person at a location, please call “911” and report it to the police.

Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler

Have You Seen Them? 11 Kids Went Missing In New York State In February

The following list contains names and faces of 11 children reported missing in February 2025 across New York State. Do you have any information about them or have you seen them recently?

If so, please reach out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; a private, non-profit 501 corporation whose mission is finding children, reducing child sexual exploitation, and preventing child victimization.
NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

If you'd like to report information about a missing child to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's 24-hour hotline at 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678).

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany