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PRESS RELEASE |
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POLICE ARREST PAROLE IN COMMERCIAL BURGLARYOctober 22, 2009 City of Middletown police have arrested a parolee living in the Town of Wallkill after he burglarized the Playtogs Super Store on Dolson Ave early Wednesday morning. Police have charged Lawrence Mendoza, 47, of Mud Mills Rd in the Town of Wallkill with Burglary 3rd degree, a Class D Felony. Mendoza has 50 previous arrests that resulted in 23 convictions. He is on parole for a burglary committed in Sullivan County in 2004. Middletown Police responded to an alarm at the Playtogs Super Store just before 1:00 am Wednesday and discovered the burglary. During the burglary the suspect disconnected the stores surveillance system but before it was off line it was able to capture the suspect’s picture. After viewing the picture, Middletown Police Crime Suppression Team officers Mike Ribeiro and Evan Colon recognized the suspect as Mendoza. Mendoza entered the store office and took cash. He also attempted to break into an ATM but was unsuccessful. Officer Chris Dolan saw Mendoza walking on Fulton Street at approximately 4:35 this morning. Dolan and Officer Patricia Doremus conducted a field interview at which time Mendoza agreed to accompany the officers to the police department. Mendoza gave a statement to Detective Greg Byrne after which he was charged with the burglary. Mendoza told officers that he hid in the carpet department of the store and waited until the store closed before breaking into the office. “I give the officers a lot of credit for making a quick identification and arrest, said Middletown Police Chief Matthew Byrne. “This arrest would not have been possible without the teamwork exhibited by our officers to get Mendoza off our streets. We are working with our crime analyst to strengthen our defense against parolees by cross referencing their pervious crimes against existing unsolved crimes. With the aid of crime mapping, we hope to be able to better protect Middletown from vulnerabilities created by parole recidivism.” Mendoza is being held awaiting arraignment in Middletown City Court. The City of Middletown Police Department, which is the second largest police department in Orange County, started serving the residents of Middletown in 1888.
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