Joseph Solomon, Chief of Police
Quinn Public Safety Building
90 Hampshire St.
Methuen, MA 01844
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Methuen Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Burglarizing Local Mosque
Suspect Located After He Was Robbed at Gunpoint by Two Other Men
METHUEN — Chief Joseph Solomon reports that the Methuen Police Department arrested a man who allegedly broke into a local mosque and stole a donation box, two computers, and other assorted electronics. The investigation was aided by the fact that the suspect was, himself, a victim of an armed robbery after two men saw him, in broad daylight in a parking lot, allegedly trying to fish money out of a stolen metal donation box.
WILLIAM ORTIZ, AGE 38, OF METHUEN was arrested and charged with:
- Breaking and Entering During the Nighttime to Commit a Felony
- Larceny of Property over $250
On Friday, June 3, police responded to The Selimiye Mosque, located on Oakland Avenue for a reported breaking and entering. Speaking with the imam, detectives learned that someone had broken in either late Thursday evening or early Friday morning and stolen several items, including the donation box, a computer, a laptop, a network router and a video camera.
Later that day, detectives responded to an address on Railroad Street after a reported armed robbery. Detectives learned that two men had robbed ORTIZ after watching him in the parking lot try to pull money out of a large metal box using a coat hanger.
After an interview with ORTIZ, he was arrested and police were able to recover the stolen property and return it to the mosque.
Police believe that drug money may have been the motive behind the burglary.
As a result of an aggressive Methuen Police Department investigation into the armed robbery of ORTIZ, Methuen detectives identified and arrested JOSUE MARRERO, AGE 29, OF LAWRENCE and JULIO MEDINA PIMENTAL, AGE 32, OF LAWRENCE. Upon serving a warrant at a residence in Lawrence, police officers also located more than 54 grams of heroin and a stolen, loaded handgun. The suspects were charged with:
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
- Receiving Stolen Property over $250
- Trafficking a Class A Substance (Heroin)
- Armed Robbery
MARRERO also had multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
“This is a very unfortunate situation that resulted in two criminal incidents and three people arrested,” Chief Solomon said. “Thankfully, our Methuen Police detectives conducted an aggressive investigation and were able to quickly solve these incidents without further disruption to our community.”
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