Press release – Structure fire/Hate crime investigation

On Sunday May 14, 2017 at around 11:40 PM, the Town of Schodack Police Department responded to 29 Cold Spring Road for a report of a structure fire. First responders on the scene report that a swastika and a racially offensive epithet had been spray-painted on the front of the detached garage at the residence and that garage was on fire. Fire companies from Nassau, East Schodack, South Schodack, Schodack Valley, and North Chatham responded to the scene to put out the fire. The fire was confined to garage. The Town of Schodack Fire Investigation Unit conducted a cause and origin examination. The Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office K9 unit responded as well. The K9 unit is specially trained for arson investigation. The New York State Police assisted with the investigation on the scene. Police are continuing the investigation of the incident throughout today. Police plan to speak to residents in the area and neighbors of the homeowner. This incident is under investigation as a hate crime. Help from the community is crucial in this investigation so Schodack Police urge anyone with any information about this incident to contact them at 518.477.8077.