Albany police officer Luke Deer pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault, resigns
Prosecutor cites weakness with evidence as authorities reach plea deal that lets Deer avoid felony conviction
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2of3Police body camera footage shows Albany Police Officer Luke Deer taking down Armando Sanchez during a March 16, 2019, altercation on First Street. Officer Deer was charged with felony assault and a misdemeanor count of official misconduct. (Albany Police) Show MoreShow Less
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ALBANY – City Police Officer Luke Deer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to resign Wednesday as part of a plea deal for his conduct in an incident in which officers were accused of pummeling Black men at a First Street home in 2019.
Arbitrator s exoneration of Albany officer draws Sheehan s ire
Mayor writes letter criticizing racially biased conclusions in First St. case
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Police body camera footage shows Officer Matthew Seeber asking to enter the home at 523 First Street before kicking in the door on March 16, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (Albany Police Department)
ALBANY An independent arbitrator exonerated city police officer Matthew Seeber of all charges last week for his role in an incident on March 2019 on First Street.
In response, Mayor Kathy Sheehan wrote a letter to the state board that handles police arbitration, criticizing the arbitrator’s “racially biased conclusions,” and asking the board to stop using him.
Decision in Albany case from arbitrator, a Syracuse professor, draws mayor’s ire
Updated Mar 17, 2021;
By Steve Hughes | Times Union, Albany
Albany, N.Y. An independent arbitrator exonerated city police officer Matthew Seeber of all charges last week for his role in an incident on March 2019 on First Street.
In response, Mayor Kathy Sheehan wrote a letter to the state board that handles police arbitration, criticizing the arbitrator’s “racially biased conclusions,” and asking the board to stop using him.
The ruling came nearly two years to the day that Seeber and other officers responded to 523 First St. for calls of a loud party. Three men Lee Childs, Mario Gorostiza and Armando Sanchez were arrested only to have their charges dropped after cell phone video of officers kicking Gorostiza was forwarded to police department leaders, sparking an investigation.
Albany settles 2 lawsuits from First Street police response
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Police body camera footage shows Albany Police Officer Luke Deer taking down Armando Sanchez during a March 16, 2019, altercation on First Street. Officer Deer was charged with felony assault and a misdemeanor count of official misconduct. (Albany Police)
ALBANY – The city quietly settled lawsuits over the summer with two men seen in videos being struck by police officers responding to calls for a loud party on First Street in March 2019.
The settlements were approved at the July 21, 2020 Board of Estimate and Apportionment meeting. There was almost no discussion on the matter. The city did not admit any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlements, according to the meeting agenda. The Times Union discovered the settlements while researching another story on the city’s website.