For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 23, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Andover Police Arrest Three for Home Invasion

Teens from Andover, Haverhill and Saugus Charged

ANDOVER —  Chief Patrick Keefe reports that the Andover Police Department arrested three individuals in connection with a home invasion.

TYLER C. RUNGE,  AGE 18, OF ANDOVER, LUCAS C. HILL, AGE 18, OF HAVERHILL and ASHLEY J. FREDA, AGE 18, OF SAUGUS are charged with:

• Home Invasion
• Armed Robbery While Masked
• Malicious Destruction of Property Over $250
• Larceny Over $250
• Carrying a Dangerous Weapon
• Possession of An Electric Stun Gun

On Thursday, Feb. 22, at approximately 3:35 a.m., the Andover Police Department received a 911 hang up call from a home on Regency Ridge. Dispatchers attempted to call back, but the line was abruptly disconnected.

Police were immediately dispatched to the home to investigate the 911 hang up. Upon approaching the residence, the first responding officer observed taillights heading away from the house toward the end of the road’s cul-de-sac.

After making contact with the homeowners, who were visibly shaken, Andover Police learned that the male and female victims had been robbed at gunpoint.

The victims reported that they were awoken by loud banging noises downstairs, and when the male resident went to investigate, he was confronted by one of the suspects, who held him at gunpoint and demanded money. The man also observed another suspect standing nearby in the garage.

The suspects then the led the male victim back upstairs, where they located the female victim, who had attempted to dial 911. The suspects led both victims back downstairs, where they located the man’s wallet, removed all the cash it contained and fled the home.

The suspects were described as two younger males wearing sweatshirts, ski masks, gloves and carrying firearms.

Police located the suspects’ vehicle in the area, which was operated by HILL. Also in the car was RUNGE and FREDA. Following an on scene investigation, police located and seized two knives, a mask and two guns — an air soft gun and what appeared to be a machine pistol — from inside the vehicle. The pistol will be sent to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab for testing.

Through the investigation it was also determined that FREDA was inside the residence at the time of the home invasion, although went unseen by the victims.

The three suspects were placed under arrest, booked and held at the Andover Police Department on $500,000 bail. They were scheduled to be arraigned today at Lawrence District Court.

“We want community members to rest assured that they are not in danger,” Chief Keefe said. “This appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. I want to commend the investigating officers for their quick response in apprehending these suspects. They did a fantastic job stopping this criminal activity.”

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

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