Sokolowski faces Grand Larceny and misdemeanor charges, potentially more coming from Coeymans
GLENMONT – A Delmar woman was arrested Saturday, Oct. 18 after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Walmart on Route 9W and, in a separate incident, at a Market 32 store in Albany, according to the Bethlehem police. She was charged with a third incident at Market 32 in Glenmont for taking items from that store on October 14.
Two days later, she led Albany County Sheriff’s deputies, Bethlehem and State Police on a chase through Bethlehem after she retrieved her cell phone that was taken during the larceny arrest. She was wanted by Coeymans police for an incident there and refused to stop.
It all started when Bethlehem police responded to a report of a larceny in progress at the Walmart in Glenmont Saturday at 3:58 p.m. The suspect left the store in a 2012 Dodge Journey before officers arrived.
Shortly after, an Albany County Sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle in the Village of Ravena and initiated a traffic stop.
Bethlehem Police officers arrived at the scene and recovered merchandise stolen from the Glenmont Walmart, as well as additional merchandise stolen from the Market 32 in Albany.
Erin E. Sokolowski, 47, of Delmar, was arrested and charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, both felonies.
At that time Sokolowski was also charged with an October 14 incident at Market 32 on Route 9W where she allegedly took $287.17 worth of items from that store. She was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, in that case. Sokolowski was already in custody for the Walmart theft and processed at the same time.
Sokolowski was arraigned by Judge Erin Lynch and released under the supervision of the Albany County Probation Department. She is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 21.
Two days later on October 20, Coeymans police contacted Bethlehem police in an effort to locate Sokolowski for an additional larceny investigation there. She was at the Bethlehem police station getting her cell phone that was taken during the prior investigation.
Detectives talked to Sokolowski in the parking lot, but she refused to exit the vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Patrol units attempted to stop her with lights and sirens and she did stop at the intersection of Delaware and Elm Avenues.
When the officer approached the vehicle, Sokolowski took off again and allegedly passed cars on Elm Avenue in the other lane. Bethlehem discontinued the chase for safety reasons, but State Police and County Sheriff’s continued out of the jurisdiction.
Sheriff’s Deputies were able to stop Sokolowski and take her into custody. She was transported back to Bethlehem to face a slew of charges.
Sokolowski was charged with reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer, aggravated unlicensed operation and using a vehicle without an interlock device, all misdemeanors, and ticketed for improper passing on right, operating without a license and failure to use designated lane.
She was arraigned by Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby and released under the supervision of probation. She is due back in court on November 18.