Police: Windsor Locks K-9 Jaxx Apprehends Two Burglars

Two men suspected of being behind a rash of burglaries in town were arrested May 8 after Windsor Locks Police conducted a surveillance operation in the Old County Circle commercial business district.

The suspects fled from officers but were ultimately apprehended by Jaxx, a WLPD K-9.

The arrests were made at about 10:45 p.m. on May 8, after Officer Malone spotted two males walking between buildings in the area of Aiello's Heating and Cooling.

Here's how it went down, according to a police report released May 13:

The two suspects reached the area of Aiello’s Heating and Cooling business, the sight of a recent burglary into a commercial truck, where large industrial spools of wiring were accessible outside the building," police said. "Both suspects fled on foot as Officer Malone approached and he gave chase into the darkness as assisting units responded.

Officer Malone activated an electronic device that automatically opens his cruiser’s rear door from a distance, allowing the release of K-9 Jaxx, who exited the vehicle and engaged in the pursuit of both fleeing suspects. 

K-9 Jaxx ran past Officer Malone and continued tracking the suspects in the darkness as they tried to escape. One suspect jumped a fence leading to Route 20 and the other quickly surrendered after being closed upon by K-9 Jaxx and Officer Malone. 

Once the first suspect was in custody, Officer Malone again deployed K-9 Jaxx in a wooded area near Route 20 in search of the second suspect. K-9 Jaxx tracked the scent for a few hundred yards in wooded terrain where the second suspect was found and apprehended.

K-9 Jaxx was then deployed to find evidence related to this case, and he located two pairs of gloves that were worn by the suspects. 

The two men arrested were identified as:

• Mark D. Burns, 53, of 50 Chestnut St., Windsor Locks  
• Cornelius McDermott, 35, of 27 Pleasant St., East Windsor

They were both charged with:

• Third-degree criminal trespass
• Interfering with/resisting an officer
• Conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny 

Burns and McDermott were both held on a $10,000 surety bond and were scheduled to appear in Enfield Superior Court May 9.