A former Assembly candidate and Albany firefighter was arrested for robbery, according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Department.

Kenneth W. Preston was arrested by Bethlehem police at his Slingerlands home on Dec. 29.

Town police have not revealed details of the crime. They say an investigation is ongoing and further charges may be possible.

Bethlehem police discovered firefighting gear in Preston’s home and returned it to the Albany department, Chief Robert Forezzi said. In 2001, Preston was fired from the Albany Fire Department, Forezzi said, where he once was hospitalized with hip injuries while fighting a fire.

Preston did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Preston was sent to the Albany County Correctional Facility on $15,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond on second-degree robbery charges, according to Albany County Sheriff’s Deputies. He posted bail and was released the same day, a prison official said.

Preston ran for the 108th Assembly District seat in 2006. He came in second in a field of four in the Democratic primary and garnered 468 votes. The seat eventually was won by Tim Gordon, a member of the Independence Party.

Preston most recently worked as a railroad conductor for CSX.

Source: Times Union