An alert dog, concerned citizen, and observant news reporter aided Yarmouth Police early Thursday morning in the arrest of two men accused of felony breaking and entering.
Yarmouth officers arrested Christopher Johnson, 19, of Commercial Street in South Yarmouth and Keean Laakso, 22, of Forest Rd in South Yarmouth following an investigation into break-ins at Daggett’s Liquors on Route 28, South Yarmouth and a homeowner’s shed on Locust Street.
Just before 4 a.m., officers were dispatched to Daggett’s for a silent burglar alarm. Once there, they discovered a broken window, requested a Yarmouth K9 and set up a perimeter.
While working that scene, a 911 call reported that his dog’s barking woke him up and he saw two people breaking into his shed and stealing his motor scooters. The man and his wife confronted the pair and after a brief scuffle, the suspects ran off down the road, one towards Run Pond Road, the other towards Route 28.
Shortly after 5 a.m., local news reporter Robert Bastille of Hyannis News alerted Yarmouth Police that a suspect matching the description was located at Brentwood Condos on Route 28. Responding officers identified the individual as Johnson and he was placed under arrest.
A follow-up visit to Johnson’s residence, about 30 minutes later, resulted in the arrest of Laakso, who was taken into custody after a ‘pat down’ search found him in possession of an airsoft gun in his waistband and bottles of liquor allegedly taken from Daggett’s in his backpack.
Both suspects held and transported to Barnstable District Court for arraignments. Among the charges they face are Felony B&E, Larceny, Unarmed Robbery, and Assault & Battery.