16-year-old collared for attempted robbery at Crossgates

Eric Hines

GUILDERLAND — Two men attempted to rob a cab driver at gunpoint in the Crossgates Mall parking lot on Tuesday, police say.

On Feb. 17 at 8:40 p.m., a Capitaland Taxi was driving two men to the mall, and, when it reached the parking lot of the Café Court, the men pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the driver and demanded money, according to a press release from the Guilderland Police Department.

One of the men, described as young, black, and wearing all black clothing, fled the scene on foot with the handgun, police say. An extensive search of the area was conducted, but the suspect was not found.

The other suspect, Eric N. Hines, 16, of Albany, was arrested by officers that responded to the scene, and is being charged with second-degree attempted robbery and fourth-degree criminal mischief; he was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court on Wednesday morning, the release said.

The cab driver was not injured during the incident.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the crime is asked to contact the Guilderland Police Department by calling 356-1501.

— Anne Hayden Harwood

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