Saratoga County Shooting: Zaremski Gunfight Deemed Justified

CLIFTON PARK, NY – A pre-dawn raid turned deadly on May 23, 2023, when Anthony Zaremski opened fire on Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office deputies executing a federal search warrant. The incident, detailed in a newly released report from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI), has been ruled legally justified, meaning no criminal charges will be filed against the officers involved. The shootout left one deputy wounded and Zaremski dead.

According to the OSI report, members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) special operations team (SOT) were assisting the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with a narcotics investigation. They arrived at Zaremski’s Clifton Park apartment in the early morning hours to secure the location for a search. Critically, the SOT team was not equipped with body-worn cameras (BWCs). This lack of recording equipment has drawn sharp criticism from the OSI.

Upon entering the apartment, deputies found Zaremski in bed. They instructed him to show his hands, but he allegedly ignored their commands and immediately began firing a pistol. The OSI report states Zaremski discharged 12 rounds, striking the lead deputy in the leg, grazing the helmet of a second deputy, and impacting the ballistic vest of a third. The lead deputy returned fire, hitting Zaremski in the head and leg. Despite immediate medical attention, Zaremski was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The lead deputy underwent surgery and has since been released.

The OSI’s investigation centered on whether the deputy’s use of deadly force was justified under New York law. Given that Zaremski initiated the gunfire, seriously injuring one officer and posing an immediate threat to others, the OSI concluded that a prosecutor would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting was unlawful. New York’s justification law allows officers to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it’s necessary to defend against such a threat.

However, the OSI report doesn’t let the SCSO off scot-free. Investigators strongly recommend that the SOT team be equipped with BWCs during all encounters with the public. While other deputies were wearing BWCs, the footage was limited to areas outside the apartment, offering no visual record of the initial encounter and exchange of gunfire. “If the SOT team had been equipped with BWCs, there would have been video footage confirming that they announced their presence upon entering Mr. Zaremski’s apartment and provided more details on the exchange of gunfire,” the report states.

The OSI suggests a protocol where BWCs remain active with video recording, but audio can be deactivated in situations requiring confidentiality, under the direction of an on-site commander. This incident underscores the growing demand for transparency and accountability in law enforcement, even – and perhaps especially – in deadly encounters. The full OSI report is available to the public, adding another layer of scrutiny to a case that highlights the volatile intersection of drug investigations and lethal force.