Little Compton man charged in seafood store break-in

Posted 2/19/19

SEEKONK — A Little Compton man’s attempt to flee the scene of a break-in was foiled by a police dog that tracked him into the nearby woods, Seekonk Police say.

Captain Matthew Jardine said …

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Little Compton man charged in seafood store break-in

Posted

SEEKONK — A Little Compton man’s attempt to flee the scene of a break-in was foiled by a police dog that tracked him into the nearby woods, Seekonk Police say.

Captain Matthew Jardine said that Seekonk officers have charged Luther Parente, 35, as being one of two men accused of breaking into Tony’s Seafood, 1365 Fall River Avenue, on Monday, Feb. 11.

During the early morning hours, a commercial alarm sounded at the seafood store, prompting a response from multiple police units.

The first to arrive discovered that the business had been broken into — a rear door was damaged and a cinder block had been thrown through the front window.

Inside, investigators discovered that “the cash register was compromised,” the captain said.

“A witness stated that he heard what sounded like individuals running through the nearby woods just before police arrived,” Capt. Jardine said.

Seekonk police brought in K9 officer Adam Laprade and his dog Mattis. Together they followed a track that led to the rear of Mary’s Motor Lodge, 1159 Fall River Avenue.

Surveillance footage there “confirmed that two suspects had fled to the motel after the break.

Officers entered the suspects’ room but found nobody inside. Detectives searched the room and found “multiple forms of evidence.”

A couple of hours later, Capt. Jardine said, Detectives Mello and Gardner were conducting surveillance of Mary’s Motor Lodge in an unmarked car “when they observed a suspicious male … Upon seeing the detectives, the male fled on foot into the wooded area behind the motel.

A number of officers, led by KP Officer Laprade and search dog Mattis, “were able to flush the suspect out of the woods” and place him under arrest without further incident.

Seekonk Police say that Mr. Parente was arrested as a fugitive from Rhode Island for second degree robbery.

In connection with the Tony’s Seafood Break, he was also charged with breaking and entering to commit a felony, malicious destruction of property, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

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