Two adults and three teenagers were arrested after two New York State Thruway rest area employees were attacked Wednesday at a rest area in Montgomery County, according to New York State Police.
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T. Germain, 21, and Jermaine B. Alterma Jr., 19, both of Schenectady, were arrested Aug. 5 and charged with first-degree gang assault, a felony.
Three Schenectady teenagers also were charged in connection with the attack.
Employees attacked at Pattersonville rest area
State police said a 17-year-old girl was driving a 2017 Subaru sedan with five passengers when they traveled to the Pattersonville Rest Area on the New York State Thruway in the town of Florida.
The group located two rest area employees who were outside on a break. One of the employees and several people in the vehicle were known to each other, police said.
The five passengers allegedly attacked the two employees. A 16-year-old boy allegedly cut one of the employees with a utility knife before the group left the rest area.
The injured employee, a 22-year-old Amsterdam man, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam with significant but non-life-threatening injuries. The second employee was not injured.
Police locate suspects in Schenectady
A witness description led police to issue a statewide be-on-the-lookout alert for the vehicle, according to state police.
Schenectady police located the Subaru in the city and conducted a traffic stop. Troopers responded and found the weapon allegedly used in the assault inside the vehicle.
All six occupants were taken to the State Police barracks in Princetown.
Three teens also charged
In addition to the two adults, state police charged:
- A 17-year-old Schenectady boy with first-degree gang assault, a felony.
- A 16-year-old Schenectady boy with first-degree gang assault and second-degree assault, both felonies, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.
- A 15-year-old Schenectady boy with first-degree gang assault, a felony.
The 15-year-old was released to his parents' supervision. The 16- and 17-year-olds were expected to be arraigned in Youth Part of County Court.
Germain and Alterma were arraigned in Florida Town Court.
The 17-year-old driver was not charged.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY Thruway rest area employees attacked; 5 charged with gang assault
