A man wanted on a warrant for a rape charge was shot and wounded by East Greenbush police after a brief chase Monday afternoon.
State Police spotted Shane I. Harding, 19, of Troy, driving his blue Chevrolet pickup truck near the corner of Blooming Grove Drive and Route 4 around 4:15 pm; however, when they tried to pull him over, Harding allegedly refused and drove south on Route 4 for two miles, forcing several cars off the road and hitting at least one.
Harding attempted to make a U-turn in front of the W.F. Bruen Rescue Squad, where East Greenbush Police Officer Peter Partak slammed his police cruiser into the passenger’s side of Harding’s pickup in an attempt to stop the chase.
Harding, who police said was wearing a vest full of ammunition, then allegedly reached for a .410-gauge shotgun. An officer then drew a gun on Harding, the suspect was struck in the arm and dropped the gun. He surrendered to officers and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital on Monday night.
