Barefoot South Berwick man nabbed after missing shoe found at burglary scene

Jeffrey Dunn (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police investigating a Portland Street robbery late Tuesday night say they caught the suspect after they found them riding a bicycle nearby wearing only one shoe.

A matching shoe was found at the scene of the burglary.

The incident unfolded around 10:10 p.m. as officers were dispatched to Portland Street where it was reported a male suspect wearing a white shirt and about 6-feet tall had just run from the house carrying items from inside and was putting them in the driveway. The reporting party added the suspect had taken items from the refrigerator including a bottle of wine.

"As officers arrived in the area, a male matching that description was spotted on Portland Street on a bicycle not far from the reported burglary," Rochester Capt. Todd Pinkham said on Wednesday. "The officers stopped to speak with him and noticed he was only wearing one shoe."

While officers were speaking with the male on the bicycle, another officer was at the residence where they found some items from inside the house outside and also a matching shoe for the opposite foot.

Officers then identified the male and learned he had an active electronic bench warrant for criminal mischief issued for his arrest. While taking him into custody he was also found to have drugs on him, police say.

Jeffrey Dunn, 40, of South Berwick, Maine, was charged with burglary-night and drug possession. He was transported to the Strafford County Jail pending arraignment on Wednesday. A nighttime burglary elevates the charge to a Class A felony, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison.

A spokesman at the jail today said Dunn was no longer being held there.