‘He was just a really good guy’

Man struck by police vehicle recalled as friendly, generous

The man killed after being struck by a Cobleskill police SUV on Friday was headed back to Mcdonald’s to get a backpack he had left there.

Gerard Roldan III, 26, was an outgoing person who was willing to share his last dollar if it meant helping someone else, said Kayla Garo, a former girlfriend.

“He died before he had a chance to live a life,” she said. “It’s a shame, really. It’s a huge loss.”

Garo said Roldan had left a friend’s

house to go grab his bag when he was struck.

Police said that around 10 p.m. on Friday, two patrol officers in separate vehicles saw another vehicle speeding westward on East Main Street. The police began a pursuit after that vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Legion Drive and Main Street. The police SUV struck Roldan as he crossed the road near 682 E. Main St., only a few hundred feet from the Mcdonald’s, according to police.

Police did not say whether their SUV had its lights and sirens activated or at what speed it was traveling.

The officers stopped and administered first aid, police said.

Roldan was born in

New York City and was nicknamed “Brooklyn,” a nod to his roots.

When he was 14, he met Ashley Jacobs, who took in Roldan and his brothers during a rough time in their home life. After that, he bonded with her family and became like a son to her, Jacobs said.

“This hit so many people so hard,” she said Sunday.

Roldan was wellknown in the Cobleskill community as a person who walked the streets and moved from couch to couch. Several years ago, he briefly moved to Florida but came back to New York after a few months.

“He enjoyed going everywhere and seeing everyone,” Jacobs said. “He was just a really good guy.”

Both Jacobs and Garo described Roldan as someone who was quick

with a joke and great with children, and who enjoyed spending time with his friends above all else.

Roldan had worked a variety of odd jobs over the past few years and was working at Taco Bell when he died. A Gofundme account has been set up to help his family with funeral expenses.

Cobleskill Police Chief Richard Bialkowski and Mayor Linda Holmes could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

The officer who struck Roldan voluntarily submitted to alcohol and drug screening, and the alcohol screening came back negative, police said. He was placed on administrative leave. The department also asked the State Police to investigate the incident.

The Schoharie District Attorney’s office is also investigating.