Merrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpre.net
Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Merrimac Police Arrest Man for Breaking and Entering, Schools Briefly Placed on Lockdown During Search for Suspect
MERRIMAC – Police Chief Eric M. Shears reports that the Merrimac Police Department, after a foot pursuit and K9 track, arrested a man this afternoon in connection with a breaking and entering in town.
JASON MORGAN, AGE 43, OF CONCORD, N.H. is charged with:
- Breaking and Entering During the Daytime for a Felony
- Larceny Over $250
- Malicious Destruction of Property Over $250
- Wanton Destruction of Property Under $250
MORGAN is also a fugitive from justice in New Hampshire.
Police received a report of suspicious activity on River Road at 11 a.m., after a resident called to say that a man, who claimed to be from Woburn, approached his back door and stated he was looking to give directions to a friend on how to get to town.
The resident was worried that the man, who also did not have a vehicle, might have been casing the neighborhood. Police began searching the area and located the man nearby. He took off running behind the house toward South Pleasant Street before he disappeared into the woods.
Merrimac Police called in assistance from the Amesbury Police Department and its K-9 unit to help track the suspect. West Newbury Police and the Massachusetts State Police also assisted in the operation. Out of an abundance of caution the Helen R. Donaghue and the Dr. Frederick N. Sweetsir schools were briefly placed on a lockdown secure and hold as the suspect had crossed Rt. 495 and was a block away from the Donaghue School.
Police located MORGAN around noontime on School Street near Locust Grove Avenue. During the investigation, police determined that a home on River Road had been burglarized earlier in the day, and the investigation quickly pointed to MORGAN.
Police also recovered a small amount of jewelry on MORGAN’S person. He was placed under arrest and will be held pending his arraignment at Newburyport District Court.
“The resident did the right thing and deserves credit for immediately contacting police when he noticed suspicious activity” Chief Shears said. “Thank you to our police counterparts who aided Merrimac officers in the operation. “Great job by all responders, especially K9 Achilles who tracked the suspect from the house to the area of his arrest and recovered evidence discarded by the suspect.”
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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