'Vliet Police Chief warning public of "serial intoxicated driver", criticizes bail reform
A Watervliet man with a history of DWI convictions is facing a list of charges after a series of recent arrests in the city.
According to the Watervliet Police Chief, 41-year-old, Brandon McKinley has an arrest record that includes 7 DWI convictions since 2008.
“This offender is a serial intoxicated driver. The danger that he and every impaired operator pose to our roadways is not in dispute. McKinley’s actions indicate an obvious need for assistance, which has unfortunately gone unanswered,” said Watervliet Police Chief Joseph Centanni
McKinley was arrested on May 3rd after police responded at around 2:20 PM for a disturbance at a Stewart's on Second Avenue. Police say they found that McKinley had driven under the influence of alcohol with a revoked license. He was arraigned and remanded to the Albany County Jail, where he paid bail days later.
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Six weeks later, on June 19th , just before 10:30, Police say McKinley was pulled over found to be under the influence and in possession of crack cocaine. In that case he was released on an appearance ticket.
On July 7th, at around 12:15 PM, according to police, McKinley was again pulled over and found to be under the influence. Police say he also failed to have a court ordered Interlock Device on the vehicles during each incident.
Just like in May, he was remanded to the Albany County Jail and released on bail days later.
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Police say he's facing DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, circumventing an interlock device and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle.
"The purpose of this news release is to encourage the community to use caution if they observe Brandon L. McKinley of Watervliet, NY operating a motor vehicle" said Chief Centanni.
He also criticizes bail reform law saying, "The single reason this defendant continues to place our community at risk is because he cannot be remanded due to an absurd provision in New York’s bail reform law."
