Man did not show up for court, found to have warrant during traffic stop
DELMAR – A 59-year-old Albany man finally had his day in court, but he was not in a hurry to do so.
According to reports, Mark Balthazar was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Bethlehem police on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and found to be wanted for not showing up to court in August 2023. Balthazar was arrested on a series of drug and traffic charges after a crash on Route 85 in Slingerlands.
On August 14, 2023 at approximately 10:59 p.m. after witnesses saw him driving erratically and onto a lawn on Maple Avenue, Bethlehem police took him into custody.
According to reports, police were called to the area for reports of a black 2012 Chrysler 300 that had stopped in the middle of New Scotland Road then proceeded to drive over a lawn and park sideways in a driveway on Maple Avenue.
Officers observed the suspect stumbling up the steps of a residence on Maple Avenue and requested him to exit the house.
The arrest report said Balthazar was unsteady on his feet, had slow and slurred speech, and had difficulty maintaining his balance.
He was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested negative for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device. He was taken into custody and at the police station was evaluated by a drug recognition expert and submitted to a blood draw, but EMS could not take a sample due to a large amount of scar tissue and poor veins in his arms. Police offered to transport Balthazar to Albany Medical Center Hospital for a blood draw, but he refused.
Because Balthazar did submit to a breath test, which was negative, at the police station, NY State reporting forms would not allow officers to report the refusal to take a blood test.
A search of Balthazar yielded a hypodermic syringe, two glass pipes and a bag of crack cocaine in his left front pocket, two syringes in his front right pocket and another in his back pocket. He also did not have a valid license.
He was charged with DWAI-Drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation and criminal possession of a controlled substance, all misdemeanors, and ticketed for multiple traffic violations.
Balthazar was given a bill of particulars and released on an appearance ticket for Bethlehem Town Court on September 5, 2023, but never showed up.
A warrant was issued by then Judge Ryan Donovan in July 2024.
When he was arrested on the warrant this time, Balthazar had two hypodermic needles and a glass pipe that was secured for destruction. Because all the offenses were not bail eligible, Bethlehem Town Judge Erin Lynch could not consider bail, even with the outstanding warrant. Balthazar was released with an appearance ticket for December 14.
John is the Publisher at Spotlight News. He is a journalist and photographer with 40 years of experience. He is a graduate of MCLA and Syracuse University.
John is the Publisher at Spotlight News. He is a journalist and photographer with 40 years of experience. He is a graduate of MCLA and Syracuse University.