On November 18, 2018, at approximately 16:55 hours, Officers Schneider, Fusco, and I were dispatched to Nike, for a report of a shoplifter who had fled the store. The suspect, James PERRY, had been caught stealing from Kmart earlier in the day, so we were familiar with his clothing and appearance. Nike management updated us that PERRY had taken off the hat and vest he was wearing, in an attempt to throw us off.

After a brief search of the area, PERRY was located on the MBTA train stop platform. I immediately observed that he was sweating and out of breath, though the temperature was only in the mid-thirties. PERRY was not wearing the grey hat and black vest he had been wearing earlier, and was instead wearing a grey sweatshirt. Nike management told me he had concealed a pair of red/black Air Max sneakers in a white reusable bag, though he did not have any property with him when stopped. I repeatedly asked PERRY where the bag and stolen merchandise were, and he insisted he had no bag and did not steal. When officers brought up the numerous cameras at Assembly Row, as well as the fact that he had been caught shoplifting from Kmart, he stated, “Yeah, but I already worked out a deal with Kmart,” referring to their corporate jail diversion program.

Based on information from Nike and Kmart, coupled with my observations of PERRY, I placed him under arrest for Shoplifting by Concealment. As soon as he was handcuffed, he immediately began to cry and uttered that he would tell me where the bag with merchandise was. When he realized he would not be released, he again refused to cooperate. The handcuffs were double-locked, and he was transported to the station for booking in the usual manner.

I conducted a follow-up at Assembly Row Security, and via surveillance camera, was able to view PERRY flee from Nike, eventually taking off his black vest and grey hat, and hiding them and the reusable bag under a bush in Draw Seven Park. Officer Fusco and I immediately made our way to the location he was seen on camera ditching these items, and located them undisturbed. Inside the reusable bag we found PERRY’s grey hat, black vest, and the stolen red/black Nike sneakers, which were valued at $79.99.

Respectfully submitted,

Officer Reece
#325