Police: Man stole truck, drove through building onto runway, bit officer

GLENVILLE -- Police are releasing details of an arrest they recently made at Schenectady County Airport.

Investigators said the ordeal began when Billy Jack Batease, 29, of Barrett Street in Schenectady, punched the driver of a car who had stopped along Freeman’s Bridge Road to avoid hitting him. Batease then stole that victim’s cell phone, police said.

When officers arrived on scene, they saw Batease run behind Envy Salon toward the Schenectady County Airport.

He then stole a pickup truck, which belonged to the Stratton Air National Guard and drove it through two walls of a building on the base, investigators said, then drove it down the main runway.

Glenville Police officers -- with help from the Scotia Police Department and a K-9 team from Schenectady County -- set up a perimeter and were soon alerted to the vehicle's whereabouts by the airport tower.

Batease eventually stopped the truck at the end of the runway, but refused to get out at first. When he did, officers said he charged at them and one used a Taser.

Before he was subdued, Batease bit one of the officers on the left arm.

Batease is now facing various charges of Robbery, Assault, Criminal Mischief, Burglary and Criminal Trespass.

Batease was remanded to Schenectady County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.