During the months of November, December and early January, District 4 experienced an an increase in the number of B&E’s (breaking and entering).  Detectives theorized that someone recently released from the Department of Corrections (DOC) could be responsible for such a spike.

 Detectives contacted the DOC and requested a list of recently released individuals.  One individual, who had been released in October, stood out with his Board of Probation record showing 95% of his entries dealing with B&E.  In addition, since his release he had been charged with Kidnapping and Armed Robbery, and a warrant for a Parole violation was issued against him.  Given this background, the detectives felt strongly that he was responsible for this new crime wave.

 Ellis Thorton, a Detective assigned to D-4 has developed relationships with the staff of various homeless shelters on the district over the years.  On March 8^th, Detective Thorton was performing a paid detail at the Woods Mullen Shelter.  Detective Thorton observed a man he believed to be the suspected individual.  He had altered his appearance wearing a pair of sunglasses and upon seeing Detective Thorton turned his head away. 

 Since the suspect has a history of assaulting police officers, Detective Thorton called and waited for backup, and he was arrested without incident.  At the time of his arrest he had on the same clothing described by a witness in a recent B&E.  The suspect was subsequently interviewed by detectives and admitted to several recent B&E’s.  “I can’t recall them all, there were too many,” he told detectives.

 For his dedicated efforts, Detective Thorton was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation on March 18, 2010. 

During the months of November, December and early January, District 4 experienced an an increase in the number of B&E’s (breaking and entering).  Detectives theorized that someone recently released from the Department of Corrections (DOC) could be responsible for such a spike.

 Detectives contacted the DOC and requested a list of recently released individuals.  One individual, who had been released in October, stood out with his Board of Probation record showing 95% of his entries dealing with B&E.  In addition, since his release he had been charged with Kidnapping and Armed Robbery, and a warrant for a Parole violation was issued against him.  Given this background, the detectives felt strongly that he was responsible for this new crime wave.

 Ellis Thorton, a Detective assigned to D-4 has developed relationships with the staff of various homeless shelters on the district over the years.  On March 8^th, Detective Thorton was performing a paid detail at the Woods Mullen Shelter.  Detective Thorton observed a man he believed to be the suspected individual.  He had altered his appearance wearing a pair of sunglasses and upon seeing Detective Thorton turned his head away. 

 Since the suspect has a history of assaulting police officers, Detective Thorton called and waited for backup, and he was arrested without incident.  At the time of his arrest he had on the same clothing described by a witness in a recent B&E.  The suspect was subsequently interviewed by detectives and admitted to several recent B&E’s.  “I can’t recall them all, there were too many,” he told detectives.

 For his dedicated efforts, Detective Thorton was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation on March 18, 2010.