VOORHEESVILLE — Early on Wednesday morning in Salem Hills, the Albany County Sheriff’s Department says, a deputy was attacked by a 45-year-old village resident when officers tried to arrest him. Peter Foster tried to barricade himself into his home at 164 Fairfield Court, the department says, and then he became combative.

Foster struck Deputy Paul Williams in the face with his hand, breaking the officer’s tooth, cutting his lip, and causing swelling on his face, said Senior Investigator Michael Montelleone on Wednesday afternoon. Foster was under the influence of a narcotic drug at the time, Montelleone told The Enterprise.

Police responded to the Fairfield residence where Foster lives with his mother and stepfather, Patricia and Samuel Fallek. Mrs. Fallek had called the police after she and her husband were being attacked by Foster, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Foster is charged with second-degree assault, and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, both felonies; two counts of third-degree assault, and resisting arrest and obstructing government administration, all misdemeanors.

The parents told the police that they didn’t know what the reason was for their son’s attack, Montelleone said. Foster had been at the house all night and his mother was the first to be assaulted, Montelleone said. The violence started with pushing and shoving, Montelleone said.

Mr. Fallek responded to his wife’s cries and came into the room and was then attacked as well, said Montelleone. This is when Mrs. Fallek escaped to a phone and called 911, he said.

She told the dispatcher that her son was high on drugs and attacking them, police said. Both parents sustained bruising and abrasions to their arms and face, and Mrs. Fallek has a possible sprain in her arm, Montelleone said. The couple were transported to St. Peter’s Hospital where they were treated.

Mrs. Fallek declined comment to The Enterprise.

Montelleone said that both parents fled the house and were outside of the building when a sheriff’s patrol arrived. Luckily, Montelleone said, the patrol was nearby when the call came in, and only a short period of time elapsed from when the attack began, the 911 call was made, and the police arrived on the scene.

A sergeant and two patrol officers arrived at the house together and additional support was requested, but the three apprehended the suspect before another patrol arrived, Montelleone said.
"Mr. Foster is known to the department," Montelleone said; there was a pervious incident where the sheriff’s department had dealt with him at the residence.
This Wednesday, the officers "upon arrival quickly appraised the situation and identified Foster," said Montelleone, and then they entered the house, attempting to take him into custody.
"Mr. Foster immediately was combative," Montelleone said, and "was violently resisting arrest."

Foster also attempted to barricade himself in by locking doors, Montelleone said.
Unfortunately in this situation the suspect "reacted violently and a deputy was injured," Montelleone said. "It brings to mind the training we received for officer safety," he said. It’s "unfortunate whenever anyone is injured," he said. Montelleone added that the department is pleased that the suspect was not injured during the arrest.
Foster "was contained with a minimum amount of force applied," Montelleone said, which is one of the department’s objectives.

After attacking the deputy, Foster was pepper-sprayed and restrained without further incident, police say.

Upon his arrest, Foster was searched; and no drugs were found on him, Montelleone said. The sheriff’s officers secured the scene and then focused on getting everyone the medical attention that they needed; a search of the house was not conducted at the time of the arrest, Montelleone said. There are currently no drug charges as of yet, he said.

While Foster sustained no injuries during the arrest, he did have some lacerations from the fight with his stepfather, said Montelleone. Foster was transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital and treated.

Foster was arraigned at the sheriff’s patrol station in Voorheesville by New Scotland Judge Thomas Dolin, and remanded to Albany County jail without bail.