Salem Man Charged In Cash Register Theft From Restaurant

SALEM, MA — A Salem man was charged with breaking and entering, larceny and assault and battery on a police officer in connection with a pair of break-ins at Passage to India on Washington Street last weekend.

Police said Christopher Drew, 37, is accused of stealing $150 in cash and a cash register from the restaurant last Monday after closing. Police said they identified Drew as a suspect after reviewing security video, and that when they found him on Margin Street and told him that he was being arrested, he punched officers in the face.

Police said Drew continued his "aggressive and belligerent behavior" after he was subdued, handcuffed and taken to the station.

Drew was charged with two counts of breaking and entering in the night time to commit a felony, two counts of larceny, two counts of destruction of property, three counts of assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Police said during a review of the security video they determined that Drew twice broke into the business, causing damage to the door frame. Police said the video showed the suspect taking cash in the first break-in and the entire register in the second break.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the Salem Police Department. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.