Dangerous Suspect Apprehended
After Manhunt In The Village
by Doug La Rocque
Hoosick Falls Village Police were called to a parking area behind the Sand Bar Restaurant on Saturday morning, November 28, and discovered a vehicle that had been stolen out of West Hoosick. Residents informed officers they had seen a man exit the vehicle carrying two rifles, and head down the railroad tracks toward the Village. Officers immediately called for back up from the NYS Police and Rensselaer County Sheriff’s office, as well as a K-9 unit from the Troy Police Department. According to Hoosick Falls Police Chief Bob Ashe, the dog quickly picked up the suspect’s scent and tracked him to a house on First Street.
There he was observed by law enforcement exiting the structure with what appeared to be a rifle bag, and driving off in a pickup truck with two other people. Police executed what is referred to as a “felony stop” on Hill Road before the suspect was able to reach NYS Route 7. There Nichola Leonard of First Street was arrested and two rifles were found in the vehicle. Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for his residence, where other stolen items were recovered.
Mr. Leonard was transported to the State Police substation in Brunswick, where, after further investigation, it was determined he was a suspect involving stolen vehicles from Hoosick Falls, Cambridge and Vermont. He faced a preliminary hearing on Tuesday evening, December 1, and was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail.
According to Chief Ashe, he is also on parole from the State of Vermont and is suspect in regard to other larcenies in Bennington County. Parole violation charges are expected, and other Rensselaer County charges are pending following a Grand Jury proceeding.
Chief Ashe praised the cooperation of the law enforcement agencies involved and area residents in the swift and safe apprehension of a suspect he said could be described as dangerous.