Lawrence police have arrested a Trenton man suspected in a series of burglaries, including an overnight break-in at Notre Dame High School.
The arrest followed an investigation that prompted a shelter-in-place at the school as a precaution, according to a Lawrence Township Police Department news release.
Police said officers responded to the school around 8:22 a.m. March 17 after officials learned an unknown man had unlawfully entered the building overnight.
Investigators determined the suspect entered through an unsecured door around 11:10 p.m. March 16, walked through parts of the building, damaged property and stole items before leaving about 20 minutes later.
Authorities said the suspect was not believed to be inside the building when police arrived, but officers conducted a full search. Police said there was no known threat to students or staff.
During the investigation, detectives linked the suspect to several recent incidents in the township, including a March 3 disturbance at a McDonald’s on Brunswick Circle Extension in which he allegedly brandished a knife during a verbal dispute.
Police also connected the suspect to multiple burglaries at Carriage Park on Colts Circle on March 3, March 13-14 and March 17, where packages were taken from mailrooms after forced entry.
At about 9:30 a.m., officers located a man matching the description riding a bicycle near Brunswick Pike and Darrah Lane, police said. He was later found at a business on Brunswick Pike and taken into custody without incident.
Police identified the suspect as Erick Alvear Vizcaino, 26, of Trenton.
Authorities said he was found with stolen property, a controlled dangerous substance and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest.
Vizcaino was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, five counts of burglary, five counts of theft, criminal mischief, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
He was lodged at the Mercer County Correctional Center pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with additional information related to these incident is encouraged to contact Detectives Suzanne. Girard or Detective Dean Sawasky at 609-844-7124, 609-844-7125 or at sgirard@lawrencetwp.com or dsawasky@lawrencetwp.com.
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