Williamstown Police Nab Suspected Burglar
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Christopher Plante, 19, of West Main Street, North Adams, is being charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit felony, larceny from a building and possession of a burglarious instrument.
The chase began shortly after midnight when Officer Scott Skorupski noticed the lights on in Hot Tomato Pizza during a routine patrol down Water Street and saw a man inside.
Officer Craig Eichhammer joined Skorupski at the scene, where they found the side door unlocked and a back basement window broken.
Officers said they saw Plante fleeing the building and followed him on foot to the Green River, which runs behind the building. The teen allegedly entered the river despite the officers calls to halt. Skorupski followed him into the river while Eichhammer headed to Linear Park in an attempt to cut him off.
But the suspect crossed to the north side of the river and police lost sight of him. The Police Department's search dog, Blue, and her handler, Officer Michael Ziemba, were called to the scene; two North Adams Police officers also arrived to assist in the search.
The burglar, however, was able to make his way back across the river and to his vehicle, which was parked a short ways away in the municipal parking lot, the former site of the town garage. Officers converged on the suspect and he was taken into custody without further incident, according to the police report.
Plante had money taken from the pizzeria on his person, according to police. He was held on $2,500 bail in the police lockup.
Skorupski sustained minor injury to his knee when he fell on the rocks in the river during the foot pursuit. He did not require medical attention.
