Police dog helps catch cornered burglary suspect

Posted 3/24/16

WESTPORT — A liquor store robbery in Westport went awry when a man tripped the alarm but stuck around long enough for officers, and then a police dog, to arrive, police say.

At around 2:45 a.m. …

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Police dog helps catch cornered burglary suspect

Posted

WESTPORT — A liquor store robbery in Westport went awry when a man tripped the alarm but stuck around long enough for officers, and then a police dog, to arrive, police say.

At around 2:45 a.m. Westport Police with the assistance of Dartmouth Police, Fall River Police K-9 handler officer Jeff Richard and his dog Oro, responded to an alarm and break-in at Country Liquors, 233 Sanford Road.

When officers Jarrod Levesque and Matt Holden arrived they discovered the front door damaged and began to check the building. They spotted a man inside the store and quickly set up a perimeter. When additional officers arrived they called for the suspect exit the store but were unsuccessful.

When the Fall River K-9 team arrived, police announced that a dog would be entering the store. Police said the suspect tried to exit using a side door but he saw officers waiting and quickly went back inside.

K-9, Oro, along with his handler and Westport officers began to search the store and located Nicholas John Spano, 29, of 200 Main St., Somerset, hiding in the bathroom. He was taken into custody. Inside the store, officers said they located several burglary tools and an ATM machine that appeared to have been damaged by those tools.

Mr. Spano was attended to at the scene by paramedics for a bite mark on his arm and did not required additional treatment. The vehicle he was driving was found to contain ammunition but no weapon was located.

Mr. Spano was arraigned the same day in Fall River District Court for breaking and entering in the nighttime for a felony, possession of ammunition without a license, attempting to break into a depository, two counts of malicious destruction of property over $250, possession of burglary tools, and larceny from a building.

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