Troy cop to be arraigned again

Attorney: Initial complaint didn’t establish intent

The Troy police officer who was charged after a physical altercation with a Twin Town Little League official will be arraigned on the same charge again on Tuesday evening.

Dominick Comitale’s attorney, William Roberts, said the initial complaint of harassment filed in North Greenbush Town Court did not establish intent and that a new complaint on the same charge had been filed. The charge is a violation, the lowest level of a criminal complaint.

Comitale was arrested on Sept. 8 for allegedly elbowing a man in the face during a dispute at the league’s field complex.

Roberts said that the dispute over field cleanup was between one of the league’s vice presidents, Darren Ayotte, and a team manager. Roberts said Ayotte and the man were face to face yelling at each other, and witnesses called for Comitale to intervene as he walked to his car with his family.

When Comitale got between the two men, Ayotte and Comitale began to argue, Roberts said. At some point Comitale pulled out his badge and Ayotte knocked it from his hand, the lawyer said. When Comitale went to get his badge back, he came in to contact with Ayotte, he said.

Roberts said he also expects an order of protection will be filed against Comitale on Tuesday as well.

Comitale is currently on disability from his job at the Troy Police Department with a shoulder injury.

Ayotte is the director of personnel for the state Department of Corrections.

A spokeswoman for the league said the board was supporting Ayotte.

“He has been a longtime baseball coach and manager, and on the day in question acted swiftly and appropriately in his board duties,” she said in a statement.