MIDDLETON — A man from Montreal helped himself to a firefighter's helmet when he wound up in the Middleton fire station on Lake Street more than two weeks ago, asking for directions to a nearby bank.
That's when an observant dispatcher, Brittany Boulanger, noticed 24-year-old David Pelletier making off with the helmet. The theft was captured on one of the station's surveillance cameras set up for the building's safety, police said.
It wouldn't be long before Pelletier, himself, was captured.
"OK," Boulanger said to herself when she saw Pelletier absconding with the helmet, "that guy just stole a piece of public property. I should possibly call someone."
Who better to call for help than the person on duty in the town's dispatch center with the police at her fingertips?
Police quickly caught up with Pelletier because, instead of heading east on Route 114 toward the Salem Five bank — the place he asked to be directed to — he headed west on 114 in the direction of the Middleton Police Department.
The department happens to be less than a half mile away from the fire station, and Patrolman Michael LeColst and reserve Patrolman David Bettencourt quickly caught up with Pelletier, Sgt. Gayle Haley said.
In court yesterday, Judge Richard Mori continued the case without a finding and asked Pelletier to pay Middleton restitution of $750 plus a $150 fee for counsel in a deal worked out between prosecutors and defense attorney Patrick Regan.
"Don't steal anything," Mori said. "No more fire hats." He joked that Pelletier is helping to balance Middleton's budget by his actions. "(Town Administrator) Ira Singer will be very happy."
Pelletier's uncle, who did not give his name in court, said times were tight, so his nephew was given four months to pay the $900. Pelletier had come to live here from Canada and was doing odd jobs for his uncle, but he was finding it hard to find steady employment.
The incident took place at 3 p.m. on Aug. 19 when Pelletier and a couple of people stopped at the fire station at 4 Lake St., which is in the heart of town. Pelletier sought directions to the bank, Haley said.
Because of the way the station is laid out, the only public access to dispatchers and fire personnel is down a narrow passageway in the station's bay created by a firetruck and a wall where crews hang their gear.
On the tape, Pelletier could be seen checking out the fireman's gear as he walked out of the station, Haley said. He then came back in, grabbed the helmet and drove off in a landscaper's pickup truck with a trailer attached.
The dispatcher on duty, Boulanger, called police, Haley said.
Firefighter Tyler Dechene retrieved the surveillance tape for police and, soon, Pelletier gave police the helmet back. The helmet is valued at $235, and the face mask attached to it is valued at $40. That made the crime larceny over $250, which is considered a felony, Haley said.
At the time of his arrest, Pelletier had only been living in the United States for a few days, Haley said.
"Why did you take it?" Haley said she asked him.
"'I always wanted one of these,'" Haley said Pelletier told her.
Yesterday, Pelletier went to the station and apologized to fire Chief Frank Twiss, Haley said.
"I think he made a foolish mistake, and he realized what he did," Boulanger said.
"He didn't give us any trouble," Haley said of Pelletier's behavior after being caught, "other than he was being a knucklehead."
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or eforman@salemnews.com.
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