Lachine man arrested after witness sees him checking apartment doors

By Isaac Olson

On February 8 at approximately 1 pm, a resident in a Sherbrooke St. apartment complex called 9-1-1 to report a man knocking on doors and listening, according to Station 11 constable Claire Parkinson.

The witness suspected the man may be casing apartments, checking to see if anybody was home. The citizen that called followed the suspect out of the apartment building, which is located west of Cavendish Blvd. The citizen watched as the suspect got onto a bus and gave all the relevant information to the dispatcher, Parkinson said.

“Officers knew the bus was traveling east on Sherbrooke St. and my colleagues, the community relations police officers, were out in an unmarked car when they heard the call come in,” she said. “They intercepted the bus they presumed was carrying the suspect.”

The suspect got off the bus but would not stop when the uniformed police officers identified themselves and told him to stop, said Parkinson. There was a short foot pursuit that ended on Sherbrook St., across the street from the Pharmaprix when the suspect tripped on a fence and fell to the ground.

“At the same time, several other squad cars were headed to the same call,” she said and many officers responded.

The suspect was handcuffed and searched, she said, and objects were found that were believed to be stolen. He also had a screwdriver in his possession. Once he was identified, police learned he had a warrant out for his arrest as well. By February 20, the investigation tied the suspect to at least two actual break-ins in an apartment near where he was seen.

In the end, his charges included possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, breaking and entering and outstanding warrant. The suspect is described as a 57-year-old Lachine resident.

Officers Claire Parkinson and Peter Mandelos, retired, in 2013. Photo: Isaac Olson