Teens found with loaded guns, arrested and released

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — As some Capital Region cities experience an uptick in youth violence, one municipality is having to release juvenile suspects to their parents or guardians because they have nowhere to put them. NEWS10 speaking to law enforcement officials in Rensselaer County to learn more about what is being done.

A recent traffic stop in Troy brought on the arrest of five teenage boys. Troy police officers found two loaded firearms in the vehicle. Yet, things got complicated when the juvenile detention facility was full and there was nowhere to house the boys. “When these persons are brought before the Court, there has, at times, been an inability to place those responsible into a secure detention facility due to a lack of available beds. This shortage of lodging for violent youth is a disservice to the community and poses a threat to our public safety,” said Troy City Mayor Carmella Mantello.

Mayor Mantello and Kyle Bourgault, the Rensselaer County Sheriff agree on what they think is adding to the problem. “I think a lot of different elements have contributed to this; Raise the Age has certainly been a big proponent of it. I say bail reform too because I think it falls right in line with Raise the Age,” Bourgault says they try everywhere they can to house the youthful offenders. “We would try to transport them, if it was Queensbury, it used to be. If it was Berkshire Farms, which was another option. If it were two or three hours away, we’d transport them there. But we just can’t find a bed to put them in.”

The Unity House in Troy has several programs aimed at keeping guns off the streets and out of the hands of kids. “Our biggest thing here is to educate the youth and let them know that we are here and there’s a safe place and they don’t have to be on the streets. They don’t have to be carrying guns, they don’t have to be in gangs,” said Program Director, Ashly Hart. She says the kids here want to get off the streets and into a safe program. “We have to provide the education and the prevention. If we don’t provide the education and prevention those things don’t matter to us. If we’re not educating our youth and telling them about the dangers and what is happening, they’re not going to see it. So, our biggest thing is to get out there and educate them and let them know that we are here to help them and that we are a safe place,” said Hart.

Mayor Mantello says the city has reached out to state leaders for help. “We have met with State Representatives regarding this very important issue, but there appears to be no rush to address this problem. If there is a plan, it hasn’t been shared with law enforcement or the city.”

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