Chaos at Berkshire Travel Lodge: Man Charged After Knife Threats and Brawl

On September 27, 2025, at approximately 4:43 p.m., State Police from the New Lebanon barracks responded to the Berkshire Travel Lodge, located at 12703 Route 22 in Canaan, for a report of a physical altercation involving a subject armed with a knife.

The investigation, conducted by uniformed members and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, determined that Austin Bell, 32, of Canaan, confronted a 31-year-old male in the parking lot, brandished a pocketknife, and threatened to stab him. A physical altercation followed, during which two neighbors attempted to intervene. Bell then threatened to stab them as well.

Troopers arrived to find Bell with facial injuries sustained during the incident. He was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment. The altercation occurred in the presence of two children.

On September 28, 2025, Bell was arrested and charged with:

• Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (Class A misdemeanor)

• Three counts of Menacing 2nd (Class A misdemeanor)

• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A misdemeanor)

• One count of Aggravated Harassment 2nd (Class A misdemeanor)

Bell was arraigned in the Town of New Lebanon Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $4,000 cash bail or $8,000 bond.