Joseph Solomon, Chief of Police
Quinn Public Safety Building
90 Hampshire St.
Methuen, MA 01844
For Immediate Release
Monday, Sept. 10, 2018
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Methuen Police Charge Man with Breaking Into School
METHUEN — Mayor James Jajuga and Police Chief Joseph Solomon reports that the Methuen Police Department arrested a man and charged him with breaking into a school last week.
ERNST DORANTE JR., AGE 27, OF METHUEN was charged with:
- Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor
- Trespassing
- Assault and Battery on a Police Officer (Three Counts)
- Resisting Arrest
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, Methuen Police responded to the Collaborative for Regional Educational Services and Training (CREST) Merrimack Academy located at 476 Broadway after receiving a report of an alarm at the rear door of the building. The school is part of a consortium of several school districts serving students in the region.
Upon arrival officers saw a man, later identified as DORANTE, at the rear door of the school. DORANTE saw the officers and he ran further into the building up a flight of stairs.
The officers called for backup and multiple officers responded, including Massachusetts State Police troopers and K-9 units from the Salem, New Hampshire Police Department. A perimeter was established around the building to prevent DORANTE from escaping.
A maintenance worker for the building responded to allow the officers to gain access to the building. DORANTE was subsequently found hiding in a room on the second floor.
DORANTE was placed under arrest without incident and a loaded Airsoft pistol was seized from his waistband.
While being booked at the Methuen Police station, DORANTE was extremely combative and allegedly struck three police officers.
“This is a situation where the professionalism of municipal police officers was on full display, as officers responded quickly, brought in vital mutual aid from multiple jurisdictions, and successfully arrested a man who had a weapon tucked into his waistband,” Chief Solomon said.
“Police officers take extraordinary risks every day, and this is just another example of how properly trained, professional police officers can work to resolve a potentially dangerous situation,” Mayor Jajuga said.
DORANTE was held until arraignment in Lawrence District Court.
About CREST
The Collaborative for Regional Educational Services and Training (CREST) was first organized in July of 1974 under the name Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative. It is a consortium of the school districts of Amesbury, Andover, Dracut, Georgetown, Greater Lawrence Technical School, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lowell, Masconomet Regional, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover, Pentucket Regional, Triton, and Tritown School Union. CREST is a 501(c)(3) public entity under the jurisdiction of its member school committees, whose superintendents and school committee members comprise its governing board.
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