Bethlehem Police: DNA match leads to arrest

BETHLEHEM — A man was arrested last week following a DNA match dating back to an incident in 2016.

Anthony Malatesta, 51, was arrested and now faces charges in connection with a 2016 burglary at a vehicle repair shop in Delmar.

“On Feb. 28, 2016, the Bethlehem Police Department responded to a reported burglary [at] a local vehicle repair shop in Delmar,” according to a statement from Bethlehem Police. “It was reported that overnight unknown persons forced entry to the business and stole multiple tools and equipment from the business.”

At the time, police secured evidence for DNA analysis, which was then sent to the New York State Police laboratory.

“As a result of the evidence seized, DNA was located by the State Police Lab and it resulted in a match of a known offender who was already on file with the DNA databank,” according to the statement.

At the time of his arrest by Bethlehem Police, Malatesta was in the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections in connection with unrelated previous burglaries.

He was charged with burglary in the third degree and grand larceny in the third degree.

Malatesta was remanded back to the custody of the Department of Corrections and is scheduled to return to Bethlehem Court on Dec. 18.

“The Bethlehem Police Department is continuing their investigation into this case,” the statement concluded, “and other burglaries that took place during that time period.”