A 48-year-old Hillsdale man, identified as James A. Delea, died in an officer-involved shooting that prompted an investigation by the New York State Police. The tragic incident occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 11, 2024, after law enforcement responded to a casualty who was at risk of self-harm.
Around 4:00 p.m., New York State Troopers were dispatched to search for DeLea, who reportedly threatened to harm himself. Authorities eventually tracked him down to a parking lot on the Albany-Saratoga Expressway off State Route 9 in the town of Malta, New York.
However, when officers approached DeLea, he refused to cooperate with their commands, the New York State Police said in a statement.
Upon arrival, officers asked DeLea to exit his vehicle, but he allegedly ignored their commands, prompting him to flee the scene in his vehicle.
A low-speed chase ensued, with troopers following him into Saratoga County. The chase ended when Delea pulled into the parking lot of Bethel Saratoga, located at 3246 State Route 9 in Saratoga Springs.
According to the police report, despite multiple attempts to de-escalate the situation, DeLea again refused to get out of the car, further escalating the tension. During the confrontation, police say DeLea used a firearm, escalating the situation and endangering officers.
