Right: Anthony Zaremski. Left: A Saratoga County Sheriff's Office vehicle.

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

No criminal charges will be filed against a New York deputy who fatally shot a Saratoga County man during a drug-related search in 2023.

A prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the deputy’s use of deadly force against Anthony Zaremski was justified under New York law, according to an Office Of Special Investigation (OSI) report released Friday, Dec. 12.

Members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team entered Zaremski’s Clifton Park apartment on May 23, 2023, to execute a federal search warrant as part of a DEA investigation.

Deputies found Zaremski in bed and ordered him to show his hands. As the team moved down the hallway, Zaremski allegedly raised a pistol and opened fire, discharging 12 rounds, according to the report.

One deputy was shot in the leg, another had a round graze his helmet, and a third was hit in the ballistic vest.

The lead deputy returned fire, striking Zaremski in the head and leg. Zaremski was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. The injured deputy underwent surgery and was released.

Under New York’s justification statute, officers may use deadly physical force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend against deadly force. Investigators concluded the deputy’s response met that threshold, noting Zaremski’s gunfire posed an immediate threat to the deputies’ lives.

While the shooting was deemed legally justified, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office issued a formal recommendation calling for significant policy changes at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.

The Special Operations Team (SOT) was not equipped with body-worn cameras, leaving investigators without critical footage from inside the apartment.

OSI urged the sheriff’s office to begin requiring SOT members to wear and activate cameras during all encounters with the public, allowing for audio deactivation only when necessary to protect confidential operations.

The office noted that while other deputies present were wearing cameras, none had footage from inside the bedroom where the gunfire occurred.