Berne man arrested for harassing flagger and bystander, police say

BERNE — Shawn M. Leno, 22, of Berne, was arrested on Wednesday, July 24, after fleeing police, according to state police.

On Friday, July 19, Leno was yelling obscenities at a flagger who was stopping traffic for road work on Thacher Park Road in Berne when an observer followed Leno’s car and called 9-1-1, according to a release from the state police. Leno and a 17-year-old then jumped out of their car and began threatening and throwing rocks at the caller’s vehicle, but ran into the woods before New York State Troopers arrived, the release says.

When police then checked a home Leno was known to frequent, Leno jumped out of a window in the back and ran to the woods; the 17-year-old was found at the home and arrested, the report says. Police searched the area but were unable to find Leno, who later turned himself in at the New Scotland police barracks the following Wednesday, July 24, the release says.

The 17-year-old was charged with third-degree menacing, a misdemeanor, and is due in Berne Town Court on Sept. 10. Police did not release his name. Leno was charged with third-degree menacing, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors. He was arraigned in Berne Town Court and is due back on July 30.

— H. Rose Schneider

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