Crime & Safety

Alleged Beer Thief Caught Even After Police Dog Sprayed by Skunk

An Amesbury man faces charges after allegedly stealing beer from a Danvers distributor last weekend.

A police dog helped lead police to an alleged beer thief in the early morning hours last weekend, even after the dog had a run-in with a skunk.

An employee that reported that a man wearing a red sweatshirt was in the building at Merrimack Valley Distributing Co. on Prince Street at 3:06 a.m. on Saturday.

The man grabbed a case of beer and a six-pack and got away after forcing open a door, said Danvers Police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt, a police spokesman.

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Danvers Police arrived and heard somebody in the brush next to the building. A police dog from the State Police was called and helped track the suspect. The dog helped get police close to the suspect, but the dog met up with a skunk and was sprayed.

Despite the encounter with the skunk, police were able to catch up with one of the suspects and make an arrest. Christopher Sullivan, 23, of 10 Sweet Hill, Amesbury faces charges of breaking and entering to commit a misdemeanor and disturbing the peace. He was released on bail after the arrest and police said they are seeking a warrant for an accomplice.

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“We are working on that now,” Bettencourt said.


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