PORTLAND — Police arrested a man for burglary early this morning, helped in part by a dispatcher being able to spot the alleged burglar from a desk at police headquarters.

Police said a burglar alarm from the Pepper Club restaurant on Middle Street came in shortly after 2 a.m. and a dispatcher on the fourth floor looked out a window and spotted a man coming out of the building. The dispatcher was able to give officers a description of the man and John Cella, 45, of Portland, was arrested a few minutes later.

The police station is also on Middle Street, just across Franklin Arterial from the restaurant.

Cella is being held on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools in connection with the Pepper Club, and on charges of criminal mischief and criminal trespass in connection with an alleged burglary attempt at neighboring Hugo’s restaurant.

Police said Cella had cash on him that matched the amount reportedly taken from a cash register at the Pepper Club. They also said blood was found at the restaurant near where a door had been shattered and Cella had fresh cuts when he was stopped walking away from the area where the burglaries were reported.

 

 


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