COLONIE, N.Y. — Three construction workers from West Virginia could face up to 20 years in prison each after allegedly assaulting and holding another man against his will earlier this month in upstate New York.
Mark Skaggs, 33, of Ansted; Michael Grimmett, 32, of Ansted; Shane McCallister, 29, of Mount Lookout; and Dallas Fox, 43, of Hickory, N.C., all working construction jobs for Georgia-based Carlyle Construction, allegedly held the victim captive for an unknown number of hours.
During the course of the captivity, they stabbed, bit, punched, and kicked the victim, also from West Virginia. The length of the captivity is unknown, but is believed to be for a “number of hours” on June 5.
Police in Colonie received a call from the desk clerk at the Days Inn Motel–who had received calls from the victim’s girlfriend–with a concern that a man was being held against his will in one of the rooms.
After Colonie Police rescued the victim, they were able to arrest their first suspect. Over the course of June 5 and 6, all four suspects were taken into custody and charged with 2nd degree assault–a felony.
The victim suffered lacerations to his head, torso, and back with a knife; bite wounds all over his body including his groin; and a broken, wrist, ankle, and facial bones.
Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, police were unable to interview him until June 8. The interview resulted in new charges of gang assault against the suspects.
Lt. Robert Winn with the Colonie Police Department said the attack qualifies as gang assault, which he describes as a “fairly serious charge” that does not require one to be affiliated with a gang.
Gang Assault is the penal law charge covering an incident when 3 or more people, acting together, intend to cause serious physical injury to a victim and in fact cause that serious physical injury.
Lt. Winn believes the motive stemmed from an escalation of allegations made by the suspects and the victim to friends and family back in West Virginia regarding the work ethic of the victim. The suspects complained to the victim’s girlfriend about his work ethic. Before the attack, the victim apparently had called family members of the suspects to complain about them in retaliation.
All four suspects and the victim were stone workers helping to build a mausoleum at a local cemetery.
The victim is still in Albany Medical Center Hospital, but is considered stable and recovering.
The Albany County District Attorney will handle the prosecution.
The four suspects are currently in Albany County Correctional Facility, which is just across the street from the Days Inn where the crime was allegedly committed. No bail has been set for the four suspects.