TROY — Troy Police detectives have arrested and charged a 24-year-old man in connection with two separate recent assaults, including an attack on a 65-year-old victim.
Albino Zacarias-Garcia faces multiple charges including two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted escape in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
The first incident occurred on March 26 near railroad tracks in South Troy, where a 46-year-old victim was injured and treated at a local hospital.
On Monday, March 31, officers responded to a reported assault around 1 p.m. in an alleyway near 2nd Street and Harrison Street, where a 65-year-old victim reported being attacked with a sharp object.
The suspect fled the scene on foot, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Detectives gathered evidence from surveillance cameras and witness accounts, developing a suspect description.
On Wednesday, detectives observed a male matching the suspect description in the area of Vandeburgh Avenue and Lark Street in South Troy around 1:30 p.m.
When detectives attempted to interview him, the suspect fled into a nearby wooded area but was quickly apprehended.
During questioning, the suspect admitted to being involved in both assaults and told detectives he ran because he was in the United States illegally.
Police believe both victims’ injuries were caused by a knife belonging to the defendant, which has been recovered.
While in custody in an interview room, officers observed the suspect attempting to bypass a leg shackle lock using a paperclip.
Troy Police notified the Department of Homeland Security investigations about the arrest due to the suspect’s admissions regarding his immigration status.
Zacarias-Garcia was arraigned in Troy City Court on April 3 and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail.
