Steve Thurston
Protestors block traffic during a July 14, 2021 Black Lives Matter protest that poured onto Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Police say that arrests on Sept. 7 stem from this event.
[Editor's note: more charges and detail from Saratoga Springs Police Department. See the full press release at the bottom of this story. The mother in previous stories, Gabrielle Elliot, was charged with endangering a child, among other charges. Lexis Figureo charged with disrupting a city council meeting. Correction: in a paraphrase below, we mischaracterized what Commissioner Robin Dalton said. It is corrected, and we apologize for the error.]
Molly Dunn, a social justice activist in Saratoga Springs, has been charged with a Second Degree misdemeanor for “Unlawful Imprisonment” in the events of the July 14 protest that blocked Broadway, according to Saratoga Springs City Court. She was arrested last night outside the Saratoga Springs City Hall.
Also arrested were Lexis Figuereo, Samira Sangare, and Chandler Hickenbottom. Those three were arraigned and charged with violations of Disorderly Conduct and Obstructing Traffic for their activity on July 14. Violations are not criminal arrests.
Arraigned before Judge Francine Vero of the Saratoga Springs City Court, all four are set to appear at 10 a.m. Oct. 5, a court clerk said today.
The fifth person who was detained by police yesterday evening, Gabriele Eliot, was released last night on an appearance ticket. Thus far, that ticket has not been processed through the courts, but it should be in the system by this afternoon, said Lt. Robert Jillson a spokesperson with the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
Asked if the unlawful imprisonment meant that Dunn stood before a car and did not let it move, Jillson said he did not know the exact nature of the event, but something like that may have happened.
As to the charge, he said, “It’s what we believe we can prove.”
He said last night that the police have been reviewing online videos and social media postings in order to determine who should be arrested. The police department plans to issue a press release regarding last night’s arrests later this afternoon. More arrests are coming, he said.
Just hours after the arrests, the Saratoga Springs City Council, approved a $22,340 budget item to contract with Dynamic Communication Training on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs to lead mediation talks between the city and Black Lives Matter Saratoga. Lexis Figuereo is the nominal head of the loosely-organized group.
Commissioner of Public Safety, Robin Dalton, said today that she does not get involved in the day-to-day decisions of arrests and timing of the police department. That the arrests came just as the council was preparing to move forward with mediation did not concern her too much.
She has been skeptical of the willingness of Figuereo and others to come to the table, she said.
“He says that to the media,” that he wants to talk, Dalton said, but she said he does not follow through.
Figuereo has made no secret of his distrust of Dalton in the past and part of why he said he wanted the mediation was to bring other people, besides Dalton, into the process. [For more on that, read here.]
Dalton said that the city may need to mediate with other leaders.
On the night of the protest in July, Lexis Figuereo went to each car stopped in the driving lane of southbound Broadway and could be heard thanking each driver for their patience while another person spoke on a bullhorn.
Press Release From the Saratoga Springs Police Dept. Sept. 8, 2:30 p.m.
On July 14th 2021, a protest started in Congress Park. The protestors eventually took to the streets, interfered with traffic, and surrounded innocent civilians stuck inside their vehicles. This included one motorist who suffered from a heart condition, which was openly shared with protestors blocking his vehicle in.
After learning of these added details regarding this protest, Chief Shane Crooks ordered that an investigation be conducted and that those identified be charged and held accountable where appropriate. The results of that investigation led to the identification of multiple individuals who participated in unlawful acts during the protest and charges have been filed for those individuals.
Arrest warrants were obtained on August 31, 2021. Those arrested on September 7th, based on warrants stemming from July 14, 2021, are below.
Arrested:
- Samira K. Sangare, age 23, Halfmoon, NY. Offense: PL 240.20 (05) Disorderly Conduct: Obstructing Traffic Arrested;
- Chandler M. Hickenbottom, age 25, Ballston Spa, NY. Offense: PL 240.20 (05) Disorderly Conduct: Obstructing Traffic. Arrested;
- Molly B. Dunn, age 44, Saratoga Springs Offenses: PL 240.20 (05) Disorderly Conduct: Obstructing Traffic. PL 135.05 Unlawful Imprisonment-2nd Degree- misd Arrested;
- Alexis A. Figuereo, age 34, Saratoga Springs Offense: PL 240.20 (05) Disorderly Conduct: Obstructing Traffic.
- Figuereo was additionally charged with 2 counts of PL 195.05 Obstructing Governmental Administration-2nd Degree- misd.
These allegations stem from Figuereo’s disruption of Saratoga Springs City Council meetings on both July 6th and July 20th of this year. The allegations from July 14th are that the protestors not only obstructed traffic, but by doing so they prohibited the movements of those on Broadway by Phila Street for many minutes. One of these people was the individual with the medical condition noted above.
Also arrested last night was Gabrielle C. Elliot, age 27, of Ballston Spa.
Offenses: PL 120.00 (01) Attempted Assault 3rd- misd PL 205.30 Resisting Arrest- misd PL 260.10 (01) Endangering the Welfare of a Child- misd.
The allegations with Elliot are that, while officers were affecting warrant arrests on other individuals last evening, Elliot threw a full water bottle at a uniformed officer involved in those arrests and struck him with it.
When informed she was under arrest, she refused to comply and pulled away from officers. In turn, she grabbed onto the stroller where her small child was seated until she was taken into custody.
The child was fine and sent with another family member at the scene. This investigation into the July 14th event is still ongoing and additional arrests are likely.
Anyone with information that can identify others involved in the unlawful acts committed during the protest is asked to contact the Saratoga Springs Police Department at 518-584-1800 or 518-584-TIPS.
Video from July 14th will be posted on the department’s Facebook page.
Chief Crooks stated ”The Saratoga Springs Police Department recognizes the right to peacefully and lawfully protest but many of the acts committed on July 14th are not only unlawful acts, but they placed the protestors and the public in harm’s way”.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department has been assisted by other law enforcement agencies, such as the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police, on a regular basis with most of these events. Their assistance is greatly appreciated.
Editor's note: a number of small typos, mostly surrounding the numbers of people arrested and arraigned, have been fixed. We apologize for the confusion.