Man arrested for allegedly stealing donation box from Methuen mosque
Methuen police have arrested a man who allegedly broke into and robbed a mosque last week.
William Ortiz, 38, of Methuen, was charged with breaking and entering during the nighttime to commit a felony and larceny property over $250, according to police.
Police responded Friday to the Selimiye Mosque on Oakland Avenue. The imam told detectives someone had stolen the mosque’s donation box, a computer, a laptop, a network router, and a video camera.
Later that day, police responded to an armed robbery on Railroad Street. Two men had robbed Ortiz after watching him try to pull money out of the mosque’s large metal donation box using a coat hanger, police said. Ortiz was arrested at the scene.
After an investigation into the robbery of Ortiz, police said they arrested Josue Marrero, 29, and Julio Medina Pimental, 32, both of Lawrence. More than 54 grams of heroin and a stolen, loaded handgun were found during a search of their residence, according to police.
Marrero and Pimental were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, receiving stolen property over $250, trafficking a Class A substance (heroin), and armed robbery. Police said Marrero also had multiple outstanding arrest warrants.
Police said they recovered the stolen property and return it to the mosque.
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