Bethlehem Area Police Weekly Blotter, May 22: Florida Scammer Arrested in Bethlehem After Cashing Cards

Man arrested after cashing $8,500 in Lowes gift cards in Glenmont

DELMAR – On Tuesday, May 14, Bethlehem Police detectives arrested Ming Shan Zhu, 33, of Albany for his involvement in a gift card scam that occurred in Lake County, Florida.

Detectives from the Lake County Sheriff's Office contacted Bethlehem Police to assist with a scam that occurred in their jurisdiction in Florida.

According to detectives, the victim in Florida was contacted by phone by a person who said they were from Microsoft and needed $8,500 in Lowes gift cards to repair the victim's computer. The victim went to Lowes and purchased 17 $500 gift cards and provided the numbers to the person over the phone. The Lake County Sheriff's Office traced the gift card transaction to Lowes – 241 Rt 9W in Glenmont. Bethlehem detectives were able to trace the transaction that occurred at Lowes in Glenmont back to Zhu.

Zhu was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony. He was arraigned by Town of Bethlehem Judge Ryan Donovan and released. He is due back in court on June 4.

No license, no interlock, but there was beer, kids in the back seat and a warrant

DELMAR – On Sunday, May 12, Bethlehem Police responded to the CVS on Delaware Avenue for a report of a man drinking Keystone beer who was leaving the store parking lot with children in the back seat.

According to reports, officers located the vehicle on Delaware Avenue in Albany and conducted a traffic stop. After questioning the driver, William Haizlip, 56, of Albany, did not have a valid license. He passed field sobriety tests and consented to officers searching his car for alcoholic beverages. Officers did not find any drinks in the vehicle, but a CVS witness, who is a state police officer, saw Haizlip put a 24-ounce can of Keystone beer in a paper bag under the front car to leave.

Haizlip was required to use an interlock device in any vehicle he used due to a previous conviction, in addition to 21 suspensions of his license. He also had an outstanding warrant for parole violation from Albany County.

Officers observed three children of the passenger in the car in the back seat.

Haizlip was charged with circumventing an interlock device, two counts of aggravated driving without a license, all misdemeanors, and received a citation for operating a vehicle without a license.

He was ticketed to appear in Bethlehem Municipal Court on May 21 and turned over to Albany County Sheriff's deputies for the outstanding arrest warrant.

Term from 2022

DELMAR – A homeless man accused of harassment in December 2022 was arrested again by State Police on Thursday, May 9 for an open arrest warrant because he failed to appear in court.

According to reports, the initial incident took place on September 5, 2022 at the Price Chopper in Slingerlands, where Paul McMahon, 58, allegedly punched a CDTA bus driver. Police had to seek a warrant in the case and McMahon was arrested at the Albany VA Hospital on Dec. 7 by police.

He was issued a summons to appear in court at that time, but did not appear in court. McMahon also had an outstanding arrest warrant from the Albany Police Department at that time, but they advised Bethlehem to tell McMahon to turn himself in.

During his most recent arrest, he was issued another appearance ticket and released because the charge did not allow him to be released on bail. McMahon is due back in Bethlehem Municipal Court on June 4.

Responders pull missing woman alive from Hudson River

SELKIRK – On Tuesday, May 14 at approximately 9:14 a.m., Bethlehem Police responded to Henry Hudson Park, 162 Lyons Road, after a report of a missing person.

Officers responding to the incident located the vehicle belonging to a missing 55-year-old woman and it is believed she entered the Hudson River earlier in the morning, police said.

A search of the Hudson River was conducted with assistance from the State Police Air Unit, the Albany County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, the Selkirk Fire Department, the Department Coeymans and ENCON fire brigade.

Several hours after the search began, the State Police Air Unit located the missing person in the Hudson River, just north of Henry Hudson Park. She was pulled from the river by members of the Albany County Sheriff's Office and returned to shore.

The woman was conscious and talking when she came ashore. She was treated by Albany County Sheriff's Office paramedics and then transported by Delmar-Bethlehem EMS to Albany Medical Center Hospital for further evaluation.