Updated 03/11/2010 05:21 PM
Police: Robbery suspect stole truck, bit officer
GLENVILLE, N.Y. -- A Schenectady man is facing a slew of charges after Glenville police said he committed a strong-armed robbery, stole a truck that belonged to the Stratton Air National Guard, then bit a police officer who was trying to subdue him.
Glenville police said Billy Jack Batease, 29, is accused of forcibly stealing a cell phone by striking the victim in the face on Freeman's Bridge Road on Wednesday. When police arrived, they saw Batease running toward the Schenectady County Airport.
As authorities set up a perimeter, the airport tower reported that an unidentified vehicle was on the main runway. Police located a pickup truck being operated by Batease, who police said stole the vehicle moments earlier and drove through two walls of a structure on the base.
Batease eventually stopped the truck but refused to get out. When he finally exited, police said he charged at the officers forcing them to use a Taser on him. As the officers were taking him into custody, police said he bit one of them on the arm, breaking the skin. He was eventually subdued.
Batease is charged with one count of second-degree robbery, one count of second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of third-degree burglary, all felonies. He is also charged with several misdemeanors.
He was arraigned and sent to the Schenectady County Jail on $10,000 bail.