The Capital Region’s residents are accustomed to seeing films shot here, but what transpired in one nearby community was a sight straight out of a horror film. Before police detained a man brandishing an electric chainsaw while wearing a clown mask, one courageous bystander saved the day.
“We received a call on Thursday, May 1 at around 2:40 p.m. in the area of 120 Lancaster St. for a fight between two males,” said Cohoes Chief of Police Todd Waldin.
Children were returning home from school in the middle of the afternoon, but initially, anything that seemed strange didn’t seem dangerous to them.
“I was walking my mom out to the car. She was going to pick up my daughter from school, and I saw a dude in a blue sports jersey in a clown mask walking down the street. It was a little weird, but I kind of rolled my eyes and ignored it,” said neighbor Natalie Gwinn.
The man can be seen turning right on Lancaster Street after approaching Newark Street in a security footage that was provided to NEWS10. According to the police, things swiftly changed once a neighbour noticed him examining automobiles. Gwinn claimed to have heard a man continuously yell, “Call the cops.”
The neighbour is shown on camera holding the suspect down for a short while before the cops arrive. “It felt like a few seconds later there were cops coming down Lancaster.” Gwinn said.
The two males were surrounded by police, who subsequently arrested one of them. “This is something I have never seen before,” Waldin stated.
“Officers arrived and when they separated the two they were able to determine that there was an individual who was wearing a clown mask and had possession of an electric chainsaw,” he added.
Craig W. Wolcott of Albany was identified by the police as the individual wearing the clown mask. After being taken into custody, he was charged with three felonies at the Albany County Jail.
“Two different counts for possession of a weapon. One being the chainsaw. Another one being a metal knuckle knife that he had on his person. And then the third one being the fact that he menaced someone with that chainsaw, which is a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon,” explained the chief.
Some neighbours were apprehensive about the unexpected arrest. “This area is often quite calm. “Usually, it’s just kids playing in the streets,” Gwinn added.
The allegations against Wolcott are still pending, and it is unknown when he will appear in court.
