Two arrested on series of charges following multiple Saratoga County thefts
Two people were arrested following a series of thefts that happened in Saratoga County within the last two months.
Olijajwuan W. Sheppard, 25, of Schenectady, and Johnson Gooden-Prunty, 29, of Schenectady were arrested on September 7 by New York State Police for involvement in these thefts.
On September 7 around 8:32 a.m., State Police responded to the area of Castle Pines Drive in Clifton Park for reports of two suspicious men. Troopers searched the area but could not locate the two people.
Shortly after, Troopers say they responded to reports of one man matching the description from the earlier complaint. The man was observed entering an unoccupied building without permission near Bruno Road in Clifton Park.
When police responded to the area, Gooden-Prunty was located and detained nearby. Police say he was later identified as the person who unlawfully entered the unoccupied building, and he was also in possession of stolen property when arrested.
Police say following Gooden-Prunty’s arrest, after an extensive search of the area and a lengthy foot pursuit of the area, Sheppard was also taken into custody near Glenbrook Court.
Sheppard was also in possession of stolen property, said State Police.
Authorities say both suspects allegedly worked together, entering multiple unsecured vehicle in the area, and stole items of monetary value from the vehicles.
During the investigation, police say Sheppard was also identified as the suspect in a burglary that happened overnight on August 6 into August 7 in Ballston Spa. He allegedly unlawfully entered a garage attached to an occupied home in Ballston Spa and stole items from the vehicles inside.
Sheppard was charged with the following:
- Second-degree burglary
- Second-degree obstructing governmental administration
- Fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property
- Fifth-degree conspiracy
Gooden-Prunty was charged with the following:
- Third-degree burglary
- Fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property
- Fifth-degree conspiracy
Authorities say Sheppard and Gooden-Prunty were taken to State Police of Clifton Park and processed for all charges. They were arraigned at Clifton Park Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.