PRESS RELEASE (ARREST)
LOCATION OF ARREST: E. Main Street, Village of Fort Johnson
NAME AND ADDRESS OF ARRESTEE(S):
James C. Costanzo AGE: 43
Fultonville, New York 12072
NAME AND CLASSIFICATION OF CHARGES (F/M/V):
- Burglary in the 3rd Degree (D-FELONY)
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree (D-FELONY)
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree (A-Misdemeanor)
- Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree
(A-Misdemeanor)
- Resting Arrest (A-Misdemeanor)
- Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd Degree (A-Misdemeanor)
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 2nd Degree (A-Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (Unclassified- Misdemeanor)
ARRAIGNMENT/BAIL STATUS: James C. Costanzo was arraigned in Amsterdam City Court in front of the Honorable Judge Lisa W. Lorman and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
INCIDENT NARRATIVE: On May 8th, 2023 at approximately 8:07 A.M. an Amsterdam police patrol officer in a marked patrol car attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2009 ford ranger on state highway 5 in the City of Amsterdam for an operator using a mobile phone while driving. The operator proceeded to flee the traffic stop heading west into the Village of Fort Johnson. The operator fled into a residential area near Highland Road where he absconded from the vehicle on foot and was quickly apprehended by patrol who had setup a perimeter using personnel that included deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Troopers. The operator of the vehicle is identified as James C. Costanzo. Through the course of the investigation Costanzo was found to be in possession of proceeds from a burglary out of Hamilton County, NY. Costanzo was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance.
The City of Amsterdam Police Department would like to thank the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police for their assistance in his apprehension.
The Amsterdam Police Department was assisted by the office of the Montgomery County District Attorney Lorraine Diamond in this investigation, the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
While there was probable cause for this arrest, all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
