MELROSE— Chief Michael Lyle reports that the Melrose Police Department arrested a man overnight in connection with attempted car break-ins.
STEVEN GOODRICH, AGE 29, OF LOWELL, was arrested and charged with:
- Disorderly Conduct
- Attempt to Commit a Crime
- Furnishing a False Name
- Possession of a False RMV Document
In addition, GOODRICH was wanted on multiple pre-existing warrants for his arrest out of Chelsea and Lowell.
At 3:45 a.m., Melrose Police were dispatched to the area near the intersection of Emerson Street and Orient Avenue for a report of a man walking down driveways and looking into the windows of parked cars.
Upon arrival, Officer Richard Cooney conducted a search along Emerson Street and Orient Avenue, Orient Park and Orient Place and observed fresh footprints in the snow on the sidewalks and driveways alongside the vehicles parked there. As the officer approached the dead end of Orient Place, he observed a vehicle parked with its lights on in a driveway, as well as a man matching the suspect’s description standing nearby.
Upon seeing Officer Cooney’s cruiser, the suspect — later identified as GOODRICH — fled through the backyard of 16 Orient Place and scaled a fence to continue fleeing. The officer first returned to his cruiser in order to try and locate the suspect but, after being unable to, returned to 16 Orient Place and followed the suspect’s footprints in the snow.
Officer Cooney tracked the footprints through multiple yards and along the sidewalk of Stratford Road onto Porter Street and Harding Road. He then followed the footprints down the driveway of 4 Harding Road until they came to an abrupt end, at which point the officer located GOODRICH hiding under a playset in the back yard.
GOODRICH allegedly provided multiple conflicting explanations for his presence in the area and, during a subsequent search, police located an identification that did not belong to him. Following an on-scene investigation, Melrose Police determined that two cars on Orient Place had been entered and searched, and GOODRICH was placed under arrest. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the identification found in GOODRICH’S possession had been stolen from a parked car in Wakefield.
During booking, GOODRICH allegedly provided a false name to police.
He was scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Malden District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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