Armed Subject Who Caused Lockdown, Standoff at Albany Medical Center Hospital Monday Charged
Albany, NY
ALBANY, NY – A man who threatened an individual with a handgun and then barricaded himself in a hospital room causing the hospital to go on lockdown and a standoff with police is facing several charges.
On Monday, March 27, 2023 around 2:40 p.m., officers responded to Albany Medical Center Hospital, 43 New Scotland Avenue for reports that a man on the third floor had just threatened a transport employee by pointing what appeared to be a handgun at them. Upon arrival, officers determined that the suspect was contained to a single room on the third floor and began to investigate.
Through their investigation, officers learned that the suspect, Dino Savoca, 61, of Colonie, was inside the room with his 97-year-old mother who was scheduled to be transported to another facility for continued care. Officers were told that prior to the call, Savoca did not want to leave his mother and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at an individual who had arrived to the patient’s room to transport her to the different facility.
For several hours, members of the Albany Police Department attempted to speak with Savoca in an effort to get him to exit the room safely and also allow hospital personnel to assess and care for his mother. Savoca refused to exit the room or allow anyone inside, even pushing items, including the room’s reclining chair, up against the door to prevent entry.
Shortly after 7:00 p.m., members of the Albany Police Department’s Emergency Services Team, a highly skilled team that is trained to deal with armed and barricaded persons, safely executed a plan that resulted in the team entering the room and safely taking Savoca into custody.
A handgun, which was determined to be a BB gun, and a shotgun were both subsequently located inside the room during the investigation.
Savoca and his mother were both evaluated medically and are in stable condition.
In addition, as part of the investigation, Albany detectives executed a search warrant at Savoca’s Colonie home. During the warrant, detectives discovered that the home was filled with natural gas after Savoca had intentionally left the gas stove on. A burning candle and incense were also located nearby. The Colonie Police and Fuller Road Fire Department were notified and responded to assist in assessing the situation inside the home and evacuate nearby homes.
Savoca has been charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd, one count of Menacing 2nd and one count of Kidnapping 2nd.
He was arraigned Tuesday morning in Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.
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