Woman Rescued From Motel 6 After Kidnapping, Beating In Colonie: Police

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A Schenectady man is accused of kidnapping and assaulting a woman who was rescued from a Motel 6 room in Colonie after a multi-agency police response.

The incident unfolded around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, when Colonie Police were called to the Motel 6 at 2700 Curry Road to assist Schenectady Police in checking the welfare of a woman whose family had reported her missing.

Relatives grew concerned after seeing a troubling social media post from the woman and losing contact with her for several hours, according to Colonie Police.

Investigators eventually determined she was inside a motel room with 34-year-old Rafael Gonzalez, police said.

Colonie’s Special Services Team responded to the scene and safely detained Gonzalez, who police said was found with brass knuckles. The investigation later revealed that Gonzalez had allegedly held the victim against her will and physically assaulted her multiple times, police said.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld for her privacy, was treated at a hospital for her injuries and later released. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Gonzalez was charged with second-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and tampering with physical evidence — all felonies.

He was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility.

Colonie Police credited the Schenectady Police Department, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and Motel 6 staff for their cooperation.