Albany City Court Shut Down by Cockroach Attack

According to a report by Sara Rizzo and Conall Smith of ABC News10, an Albany courthouse was shut down this week after hundreds of cockroaches were released inside the building.

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Reportedly, the incident occurred during court proceedings, when somebody stood up and began recording on their cell phone. When asked to stop recording, hundreds of cockroaches that had been snuck into the courtroom in plastic containers were released.

Believed to be a staged protest, court officers arrested a woman, Clyanna Lightbourn, for her alleged involvement in the incident, and noted that others could be charged as well as their investigation develops. Per a report by WRGB Albany, Lightbourn was employed as a regional coordinator for the New York State Senate, but was fired.

Lightbourn was also charged with one felony, tampering with physical evidence, and four misdemeanors, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, and second degree criminal contempt. She is due back in court on July 5th as a result of the incident.

Darrell Camp from the Albany County District Attorney's Office stated "There are a number of issues: there is a court proceeding that had to be upended and moved because of one's actions or it could be several people. Who knows at this point. But this is the kind of thing you don't want to set a precedent for people being able to do because that would embolden further people in the future."

The Albany courthouse had to be closed for the day for cleaning as a result of the incident, and has since been reopened after being fumigated.