By Robert Mills
The Lowell Sun
BILLERICA, Mass. — David Rogers ran through woods and marsh and even swam across the Concord River in an effort to elude police yesterday afternoon.
By the end of the day, he had time to rest — behind bars.
Officers in several communities are now investigating Rogers, 20, of Silvestri Circle, Derry, N.H., and police said they learned he was wanted on warrants in three different communities.
Police began pursuing Rogers after Carlisle Inspector Andrew Booth was on patrol in Carlisle near the Billerica town line and heard an alarm sounding through the open window of his police cruiser about 2 p.m.
Booth said he drove to investigate the alarm, which was sounding in a home at 417 Treble Cove Road, Billerica, and he saw a young man run into the woods near the home while putting a metal object into his backpack.
“I started to chase him but then I had to call it in,” Booth said last night.
That radio call for backup would lead more than a half-dozen other officers, including canine units, to join in the pursuit, which lasted well over an hour. Police said they discovered that Rogers had tried to break into the home.
Rogers fled through the woods toward the Concord River as police began setting up a perimeter around the area, according to Billerica Lt. Troy Opland.
Rogers swam across the river toward Dudley Road in Billerica in an effort to get away, but on the far shore soon encountered Billerica Officer John Harring.
Harring, a canine officer, ran after Rogers through marshes and water in the area of Dudley and Timber Creek roads before finally collaring Rogers about 3:30 p.m.
Rogers was charged with attempting to commit a crime (breaking and entering), possession of burglary tools, malicious destruction of property over $250, and resisting arrest, Opland said.
Booth said the metal object he saw Rogers putting into his backpack turned out to be a crowbar.
Opland said Billerica police had learned last night that Rogers is wanted on warrants from Haverhill and Wilmington police for breaking and entering, and that he is also wanted on a warrant from Salem, N.H., police.
He was also charged with being a fugitive from justice due to the New Hampshire warrant.
Opland said police will now investigate whether Rogers is connected to other break-ins around the area, but that there was no evidence linking him to other crimes last night.
Rogers was held without bail last night and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Lowell District Court.
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