For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Andover Police Arrest Two New Hampshire Men In Connection with Breaking and Entering, Tie Them to Related Incidents In Neighboring Communities

Newburyport, Tewksbury, Ayer Incidents Connected

Andover Police Talking to Police In At Least Four Additional Communities

ANDOVER — Police Chief Patrick Keefe reports that the Andover Police Department arrested two men on Monday in connection with a breaking and entering incident. The suspects are believed to be involved in several house breaks in neighboring communities, including Newburyport, Tewksbury, and Ayer.

As a result:

BRANDON SIMMONS, AGE 28, OF SEABROOK, N.H. is charged with:

• Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin)
• Possession of a Burglarious Instrument
• Operating to Endanger
• Marked Lanes Violation

KEITH BABCOCK, AGE 33, OF SEABROOK, N.H. is charged with:

• Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin)
• Breaking and Entering During the Daytime for a Felony

BABCOCK also has warrants out of Newburyport and Ayer District Courts for related charges.

On Monday, Feb. 29, around 2:30 p.m., an officer on patrol on Lowell Street noticed a silver Toyota Corolla, operated by a man, drive in the middle of the road in an attempt to pass vehicles in traffic.

The officer followed the car and conducted a motor vehicle stop on Haggetts Pond Road. The driver was identified as SIMMONS. While on the scene, another vehicle with a man and woman inside, stopped to tell the officer they had been following the silver sedan. They had just witnessed it leaving their driveway in Tewksbury after returning home to find their residence had been burglarized.

As a result of the on scene investigation, the officer arrested SIMMONS.

At the same time, police received a report of a man running through backyards in the area of Bellevue Road and Osgood Street. Police, including officers from Tewksbury, were dispatched to the area, along with the Wilmington K-9 unit.

The Wilmington K-9, named Ridic, tracked toward a shed on Bellevue Road and Osgood Street. Inside, police located a man, identified as BABCOCK, along with heroin and related paraphernalia.

“I commend the work of Andover for recognizing and responding to these two related incidents,” Chief Keefe said. “Thank you to the Wilmington K-9 unit and Tewksbury officers for assisting us in locating this suspect.”

BABCOCK was arrested. During booking, it was revealed that he had warrants out of Newburyport and Ayer.

“We have been actively searching for Babcock, who we can connect to at least one breaking and entering in our community, but who we believe to be involved in multiple house breaks in our city,” Newburyport City Marshal Mark Murray said. “We thank Andover Police and all those involved for apprehending this suspect so these crimes will not continue to occur in other communities.”

Andover police are currently working with six area police departments who believe BABCOCK and SIMMONS may be connected to incidents in their cities and towns.

Both suspects were held at the Andover Police Department pending their arraignment at Lawrence District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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