ROCHESTER - A suspect in a theft case led Rochester officers and a K9 team on a brief foot pursuit today ending in his arrest in thick woods along the old railroad bed near Old Dover Road.
Rochester Police got the initial call this morning after the homeowners of an Old Dover Road residence reported they had woken up and discovered that their doors were open, and they were missing some electronics, as well as two firearms.
It is believed the suspect, Christopher Nathan Bell, 23, of 20 Academy Lane, Apt. #A, Rochester, had burglarized the home earlier that morning while the homeowners were sleeping.
When officers arrived on scene they believed the suspect was still in the area, so they set up a close perimeter.
Soon after one officer made contact with a male who would turn out to be Bell in the parking lot of Lius Garden at 603 Columbus Ave. The officer spoke briefly with him before he started to run. As he ran from the officer he threw two items into the woods, both later identified as the two stolen firearms. A Rochester Police K9 unit responded and tracked Bell along the old railroad bed in the woods near Old Dover Road. After a short K9 track he was apprehended.
Bell was charged with felony burglary, two counts of felony firearms theft, resisting arrest and a bench warrant out of Concord District Court on a warrant out of Merrimack Superior Court for allegedly receiving stolen property.
Bell refused bail and was sent to Strafford County Jail where he will be held until his arraignment on Friday
Rochester Police took the opportunity to remind all residents to always lock their homes and vehicles.