Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced today that a Saratoga County Jury late on Friday, March 25, 2022 convicted Chalmers D. Davis, (DOB 9/11/1977), originally of Schenectady, NY, of Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree in connection with an August 2021 assault in the City of Saratoga Springs.
Defendant Davis nearly stabbed one man to death and came within inches of slashing another man’s throat following an alleged verbal dispute on August 10, 2021 on Caroline Street. The victim ultimately survived with the assistance of several Good Samaritans together with the quick response of the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
Upon arrival at the crime scene, law enforcement immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim’s slashed arm and EMS rushed him to the Albany Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery—saving his life. Medical testimony at the trial revealed that the victim would have almost certainly bled to death had law enforcement not responded as quickly and effectively as they did. Further, body camera footage taken by the responding officer showed the jury both the horrific injury itself together with the officer’s measured application of a tourniquet to the slashed veins and arteries.
The trial jury rejected Davis’ claim that he was acting in self-defense after an extensive review of the video evidence together with testimony from several eyewitness and members of law enforcement. Davis himself took the stand and ultimately conceded on cross-examination that he was carrying a knife, attacked both victims, and never observed either victim to be armed. He still, however, maintained that he did nothing wrong.
Davis faces up to forty (40) years in State Prison when he is sentenced on May 18, 2022.
District Attorney Heggen thanked the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the crime victims for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to ensuring that justice was done and Davis was held accountable.
“I have no doubt,” Heggen said “that without the quick response of the Saratoga Springs Police Department and their calm under pressure that this would have been a murder trial instead of an assault trial. We must thank both them and the Good Samaritans that night for the fact that both victims were able to walk into Court and take the stand at trial.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Joseph Frandino and Samuel Maxwell.