Police say: Old man assaulted after not relinquishing his bike

Sunday, August 29, 2021 - 11:19

BETHLEHEM — A Delmar man was arrested on Friday after, police say, he pushed to the ground a 74-year-old man who wouldn’t relinquish his bicycle.

Keaton G. Lauricella,  23, was charged with felony counts of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

On the morning of Aug. 22, Lauricella had a verbal exchange with the victim, also a Delmar resident, at the rear of Delaware Plaza and threatened to steal his bike, according to a release from the Bethlehem Police; the man refused to give up his bicycle and Lauricella pushed him to the ground.

The septuagenarian continued on his way to Delaware Plaza and, as he was walking through the plaza, he encountered Lauricella a second time. This time, police say, Lauricella pushed the cyclist to the ground and stole his water bottle.

“During this second encounter, the victim was seriously injured from being pushed to the ground and had to be transported to the hospital for treatment,” the release said.

Lauricella was arraigned in Bethlehem Town Court and remanded to Albany County’s jail in lieu of $1,000 cash / $8,000 bond. A return date was set for Sept. 21.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

More Bethlehem News

  • Bethlehem renews Heath Farm lease as ambitious project continues

    The town executed a lease agreement at its March meeting that would charge Michael Stanton, of Stanton Farms, LLC,  $45 per acre for 216 tillable acres at the historic Heath Farm property. Stanton Farm, which had already farmed the land under an agreement with the previous property owner, was the only applicant for the lease.

  • Path construction continues

    BETHLEHEM — Work is underway on a path that will connect pedestrians and cyclists in neighborhood

  • Bethlehem completes Stangle-Nolan project under budget

    Using a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the town of Bethlehem purchased 68 acres from town residents Marilyn Stangle and Betty Nolan, who wanted to protect the land from solar developers. The town had previously approved around $50,000 of its own funds to cover extra expenses, but ended up using just half that. 

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.