Man arrested on child exploitation charges in Ravena

RAVENA, NY — A 40-year-old police officer was arrested April 16, 2026, on charges of promoting and possessing child sexual exploitation images.

Michael S. Patterson, of Colonie, was charged with Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class D felony, and Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class E felony.

State Police, assisted by the Troop G Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, made the arrest.

Patterson is accused of promoting and possessing images consistent with child sexual exploitation.

The investigation stemmed from a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

State Police executed a search warrant at Patterson’s residence in Colonie on April 16, 2026.

Patterson was arrested in Ravena and transported to State Police Latham for processing.

He was arraigned at Colonie Town Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility in lieu of $7,500 cash, $15,000 bond or a $25,000 partially secured bond.

Patterson is an officer with the Cohoes Police Department and the Coeymans Police Department.

The crimes are not connected to his employment.