Police Dog Snags Burglary Suspect in Vernon

VERNON, CT — A police dog snagged a burglar inside a house in Vernon after the man refused to come out of the dwelling, an arrest report indicates.

The incident took place at 11:05 p.m. on Friday when two River Street residents called police to say they saw someone breaking in to the vacant dwelling at No. 9, according to an arrest report.

Once at the scene, police immediately arrested 42-year-old Sheila Toomey for criminal trespass and interfering and she said that her boyfriend, Ronald Arruda, was still inside, according to an arrest report. Toomey and Arruda live nearby at 96 Spring St., according to an arrest report.

Arruda had broken into the dwelling through a window, according to an incident report. Officers surrounded the home and told him to come out several times via a public address system, according to an incident report.

He refused and police dog Thor was sent in. Thor located Arruda in a crawl space in the basement and detained him, according to an incident report.

Arruda, 37, was taken to Rockville General Hospital for treatment from a minor wound from the dog and was then arrested for first-degree burglary, interfering and possessing burglar tools, according to an arrest report.

Toomey and Arruda spent the weekend in the lockup on respective bonds of $10,000 and $30,000 while awaiting arraignment Monday, police said.

Photo Credit: Vernon Police Department