RENSSELAER, NY — A man turned himself in to police after being identified through social media as the suspect who damaged a fountain statue.
Rensselaer Police Dispatch received a criminal mischief complaint at 199 Washington Avenue at approximately 6:58 a.m. on April 16.
The caller reported an unknown person knocked over and damaged a large fountain statue in front of the property.
Police secured video footage of the incident and posted a photo on the Rensselaer Police Department Facebook page requesting help identifying the suspect.
Multiple sources identified the individual pictured.
The video captured the incident at approximately 3:34 a.m. on April 16.
James F. Allen Jr., 54, of Rensselaer, turned himself in to Rensselaer Police at approximately 12:05 p.m. on April 16.
Further investigation revealed Allen committed a similar incident at the same location on Oct. 5, 2024.
Allen was arraigned in Rensselaer City Court on April 16 before the Honorable Heather Dukes and released to the supervision of Rensselaer County Probation.
He is scheduled to return to court on May 13.
Allen was charged with second-degree criminal mischief, a class D felony, for the April 16 incident; third-degree criminal trespass, a class B misdemeanor, for the April 16 incident; and second-degree criminal mischief, a class D felony, for the Oct. 5, 2024, incident.
