BEVERLY — After investigating reports of glass breaking at a downtown office building, police discovered a 24-year-old man standing on the roof of the Family Dollar store next door on Cabot Street around 3 a.m. yesterday.
When they told the man, later identified as Daniel G. Taylor of 20 Bow St., Beverly, he was surrounded, he made a run for it anyway, shinnying down a pole and jumping, according to a press release from police.
His flight didn't last long, as Patrolman Brian Long chased Taylor down and arrested him, according to police.
Taylor told police he was up on the roof just smoking a cigarette. He had a backpack containing black gloves and a pair of long flat-head screwdrivers, according to police.
During booking, officers also discovered on Taylor three $100 Visa gift checks, an 8-gigabyte iPod, $51 in cash and a Bank of Zimbabwe check. Police hope to determine if these items were stolen from any of the businesses, the press release said.
Taylor was charged with trespassing, possession of burglarious tools, four counts of felony breaking and entering in the nighttime, four counts of destruction of property over $250, and larceny over $250.
He was arraigned yesterday in Salem District Court, where he pleaded not guilty, according to Steve O'Connell, spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.
The 24-year-old was initially ordered held on $5,000 bail, but it was revoked because he has an open case involving negligently driving a scooter after his license was suspended, as well as resisting arrest, O'Connell said.
Taylor's attorney, Paul Woods Sr., told the court his client is single, comes from Danvers, graduated from Danvers High and attends North Shore Community College. He lives down the street from the building in question. The attorney asked that Taylor not be detained so he could attend school.
"I know it's a huge coincidence," Taylor said from where he was being held in court.
Taylor had told police he had the screwdrivers because he was fixing a moped for a friend. "They said the moped was nowhere to be seen, but it was over in Salem."
Prosecutor Michelle DeCourcey noted Taylor had defaulted on cases in Brookline and elsewhere.
"This is a 1-inch putt," Judge Richard Mori said, advising Taylor not to say anything more.
Neil Hubacker, pastor of The Harbor: A Community of Faith, said he arrived to his offices at 222 Cabot St. yesterday around 6 a.m. to prepare for a morning men's group he runs.
As he walked upstairs, he noticed the screen for a window at the top of the stairs popped out. Hubacker also discovered glass strewn across the corridor outside the offices, windows broken and offices ransacked, Hubacker said.
The pastor said it was the fourth time his offices had been struck, but he's glad an arrest had been made.
"We're kind of relieved," Hubacker said. "The worst part is you feel so vulnerable."
The first robbery took place sometime in May, and each break-in since had grown increasingly more bold, he said. A safe had been removed from the wall in the last burglary.
Police said yesterday that they had three prior reports at 222 Cabot St., but an initial search of the reports did not say whether all three were related or separate incidents, Patrolman David Costa said. The last major break-in took place July 24, Costa said.
"We're obviously looking at the possibility that this is related," Beverly police spokeswoman April Clarizia said of yesterday's break-ins and the previous one. "It could be the same person, but obviously it's too early to tell. We're trying to put all the pieces together right now."
The Beverly Fire Department assisted officers in getting roof access after the arrest, police said. Officers saw the window at 222 Cabot St. with the screen popped out and a fire extinguisher being used to prop it open.
Officers entered the building and found glass strewn about. Several of the suites had been burglarized, furniture turned over and desks rummaged through.
By around noon yesterday, the Harbor ministry had reorganized its offices. Hubacker said he believes the gift cards found on Taylor are probably from his office and intended for the needy.
He and others in the office had been praying about how to respond to the man who had likely burglarized them.
"How do we tell him what he has done has hurt the church body?" he said. "But how do we show this guy mercy?"
The pastor said church members want to stress to him that they have forgiven him, too.
But Taylor must still return to court Sept. 20 for a pretrial hearing on his latest charges.
Patrolmen Michael Backstrom, David Grimes, Stephen Cecchini, Michael Bucci and Erik Schultz and Sgt. John Vitale also investigated the break-in, according to police.
Staff writer Ethan Forman contributed to this story.
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
