http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/st ... yID=806519Suspect acted like cop in 1992
Police say Cohoes man, partner posed as police in kidnapping Tuesday
By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer
First published in print: Thursday, June 4, 2009
TROY -- One time, Carlos Maldonado pretended to be a police officer and stopped a crime. On Tuesday, he allegedly pretended to be a police officer and committed a crime.
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Maldonado was one of two security guards arrested for abducting and threatening two men by impersonating a cop, police said. Maldonado, 49, of Cohoes, and David B. Venture, 44, of Albany, were arraigned in Troy City Court on Wednesday for using fake badges and a starter's pistol in the crime. The two victims offended the relative of a friend of Maldonado and Ventura, Sgt. David Dean said.
Those charged also are being investigated for similar incidents in Albany and Schenectady, police said.
But in October 1992, Maldonado rushed to the aid of a woman at a Lark Street video store who was robbed at knifepoint and sexually assaulted.
Maldonado said at the time he was driving by when he saw the woman leave the store. He then saw the suspect leave the store.
"I ran behind him and made believe I was a cop," Maldonado said in an Oct. 3, 1992 Times Union story. "I shouted 'Freeze, or I'll blow your head off."
It worked. The suspect stopped and Maldonado, who worked for the former Pagliacci's Restaurant as a security guard at the time, and another man held him until police arrived.
"I've been watching too much '911,'" Maldonado said then. "I saw someone needing help and I did not hesitate."
Maldonado also owned the Liquid Lounge at 519 Central Ave., also known as Club Aquatica in 2004, when five people either were stabbed or shot during a New Year's Eve brawl that took a dozen officers to break up, public records and officials confirmed. The previous July, a fight that started at the club erupted again later at the Ida Yarbrough apartments in Arbor Hill, where one person was shot to death.
Authorities moved to shutter the bar, which no longer is in operation.
In the recent case, the 18- and 19-year-old victims told detectives they were handcuffed, threatened, slapped, placed in a dark-colored SUV and driven around the area for about 10 minutes before being released Tuesday, Dean said.
At his arraignment Wednesday, Maldonado told City Judge Chris Maier that he worked for a bail bondsman as an enforcer and bounty hunter.
When Ventura came before the judge, he said he was in training with Maldonado the night of the incident.
Dean said outside of court that neither man is a registered bounty hunter.
Maldonado was charged with first-degree kidnapping and criminal impersonation, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing and harassment.
Ventura was charged with first-degree kidnapping and criminal impersonation.
Both pleaded not guilty and were sent to the Rensselaer County jail without bail, pending a bail hearing on Monday.
Times Union Research Director Sarah Hinman contributed to this story. Bob Gardinier can be reached at 454-5696 or by e-mail at
bgardinier@timesunion.com.
