Four Men Arrested for Damaging Salem Property

Salem Police arrested four men early Friday morning after they allegedly trashed a rented property.

Those arrested were: Matthew Hemmerdinger, 18, of Salem; Jonathan Godin, 22, of Windham; Seth Berek, 22, of Windham; and Marco Devito, 19, of Salem. A 17-year-old was also placed into protective custody.

Police said they responded to 59 Lake Street for a report of criminal mischief at 1:30 a.m. The victim told police he had previously rented his home to several males who were facing eviction and told police several males were "drinking and destroying the inside of the home."

Police said several people ran from the home when they arrived and found others inside. The suspects had "completely smashed walls, ceilings, windows, furniture and other items inside the home," police said, adding officers on scene were "shocked at the level of destruction."

Police found graffiti on the inside of the walls, some of which they said was "anti-police."

Three of the suspects struggled with police during the arrests and one of them "attempted to kick out the rear window of a cruiser, damaging the door frame to the point it wouldn’t close," police said.

Hemmerdinger was charged with a criminal mischief felony, a criminal mischief misdemeanor, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of alcohol.

Godin was charged with a criminal mischief felony and resisting arrest. Berek was also charged with a criminal mischief felony and resisting arrest.

Devito was charged with a criminal mischief felony and unlawful possession of alcohol.