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Police: Man charged following Albany Med lockdown

Albany Medical Center
WAMC
/
Ashley Hupfl
File: Albany Medical Center

Albany Police say the man who caused a lockdown of Albany Medical Center Monday afternoon has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, kidnapping and menacing.

Around 2:40 p.m., police say, Dino Savoca threatened a worker at the hospital by pointing what appeared to be a handgun and what was later determined to be a BB gun at the worker. The 61-year-old from Colonie then refused to leave his mother’s hospital room and pushed furniture against the door. His 97-year-old mother was scheduled to be taken to another care facility. Shortly after 7 p.m., the Albany Police Department’s Emergency Services Team entered the room and took Savoca into custody. Monday night, police spokesperson Steve Smith said a flash bang device was used outside the hospital building.

The BB gun Albany Police say they found at Albany Medical Center March 27, 2023.
Albany Police Department
The BB gun Albany Police say they found at Albany Medical Center March 27, 2023.

In addition to the BB gun, a shotgun was also found in the hospital room. The man and his mother were medically evaluated and are in stable condition.

The shotgun Albany Police say they found at Albany Medical Center March 27, 2023.
Albany Police Department
The shotgun Albany Police say they found at Albany Medical Center March 27, 2023.

Albany detectives executed a search warrant on Savoca’s Colonie home and found the home filled with natural gas from a stove, with a burning candle and incense left nearby. Colonie Police and the Fuller Road Fire Department responded and evacuated nearby homes.

Savoca was arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court Tuesday morning.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org