A Richmondville man was arrested Thursday after Schoharie County Sheriff’s Deputies said he plowed into the Gilboa Post Office in a stolen car and then fled the scene.
Devon Saginario was charged with third degree burglary, petit larceny, and criminal trespass, and criminal mischief for the damage to the PO.
He was also issued several vehicle and traffic tickets. More charges are pending as the investigation continues.
According to Town of Gilboa officials, security video at the PO caught a Yukon SUV “flying” down 990V from the direction of the Gilboa school.
The driver of the SUV missed the curve at Flat Creek Road, they said, slammed into the front of the building, and then backed out, fleeing the scene.
It was shortly after that that Sheriff’s deputies received a complaint of a trespass in progress on State Route 30 in the Town of Gilboa.
As they were responding to the call, they were flagged down by a man who said his vehicle was broken down nearby.
Deputies identified the man as Mr. Saginario and determined he was likely responsible for the trespassing complaint.
The disabled vehicle was located nearby—with extensive front end damage, deputies said.
While investigating the trespass call, deputies received another call alerting them that the Gilboa Post Office had been struck by a vehicle sometime overnight and had extensive damage and it appeared that the vehicle Mr. Saginario had been driving was responsible.
Deputies were able to make contact with the vehicle’s owner and determined that the owner wasn’t familiar with Mr. Saginario and that the vehicle was stolen, possibly earlier the night before.
Mr. Saginario was arraigned in Town of Blenheim Court and released in his own recognizance to appear in Town of Gilboa Court at a later date.
Gilboa Supervisor Alicia Terry said there was extensive damage to the PO lobby.
The window was closed Thursday, she said, while the building was secured, but customers were able to get their mail.
“Stuff in the lobby was moved several feet,” Ms. Terry said. “I shudder to think what would have happened if the Post Office had been open.”