Crystal
03-06-2005, 11:36 AM
Assault suspect blames bad deal
Troy man tells police his accuser committed crime of selling low-grade crack
By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
First published: Saturday, March 5, 2005
TROY -- Gerard G. White told police he assaulted and robbed another man because the crack cocaine he was sold was "garbage."
"I work hard for my money, and when I buy crack cocaine I want my money's worth," he said in a statement given to Sgts. David Dean and Gary Gordon.
Officer Gianni Bove was parked in a lot in front of Troy Food Farms at 405 Fourth Ave. at 7:50 a.m. Thursday when James L. Prince, 31, pulled up next to him. As White got out of the passenger seat and walked away, Prince yelled to the officer, saying he had just been assaulted and robbed.
Bove chased and arrested White. The 42-year-old, who lives on the second floor of 544 First St., was charged with first-degree assault and robbery, both felonies, and possessing a noxious material and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
White told police he had waited for Prince behind Prince's Fifth Avenue home in Lansingburgh early Thursday morning, and he was carrying pepper spray to use on Prince if he needed to. According to the statement, White had bought $1,000 worth of crack cocaine from Prince two weeks earlier and was upset by its quality.
Prince told police he walked into his back yard. White hit him with a brick and demanded money, and Prince handed over $300, according to the police reports. After White said that wasn't enough, Prince said he had more money at his grandmother's house.
On the drive there, however, he saw the parked patrol car and made a detour. He pulled up next to the officer, leaped out and yelled, "He just robbed me, and he has a gun."
No weapon was recovered, according to the reports.
White was arraigned before City Court Judge Christopher Maier and ordered held without bail in Rensselaer County Jail. He is due back in court Tuesday.
Troy man tells police his accuser committed crime of selling low-grade crack
By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
First published: Saturday, March 5, 2005
TROY -- Gerard G. White told police he assaulted and robbed another man because the crack cocaine he was sold was "garbage."
"I work hard for my money, and when I buy crack cocaine I want my money's worth," he said in a statement given to Sgts. David Dean and Gary Gordon.
Officer Gianni Bove was parked in a lot in front of Troy Food Farms at 405 Fourth Ave. at 7:50 a.m. Thursday when James L. Prince, 31, pulled up next to him. As White got out of the passenger seat and walked away, Prince yelled to the officer, saying he had just been assaulted and robbed.
Bove chased and arrested White. The 42-year-old, who lives on the second floor of 544 First St., was charged with first-degree assault and robbery, both felonies, and possessing a noxious material and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
White told police he had waited for Prince behind Prince's Fifth Avenue home in Lansingburgh early Thursday morning, and he was carrying pepper spray to use on Prince if he needed to. According to the statement, White had bought $1,000 worth of crack cocaine from Prince two weeks earlier and was upset by its quality.
Prince told police he walked into his back yard. White hit him with a brick and demanded money, and Prince handed over $300, according to the police reports. After White said that wasn't enough, Prince said he had more money at his grandmother's house.
On the drive there, however, he saw the parked patrol car and made a detour. He pulled up next to the officer, leaped out and yelled, "He just robbed me, and he has a gun."
No weapon was recovered, according to the reports.
White was arraigned before City Court Judge Christopher Maier and ordered held without bail in Rensselaer County Jail. He is due back in court Tuesday.