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Crime & Safety

Police Log: Nickel Embezzlement

The following arrest information was supplied by the Woonsocket Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.


A Massachusetts man is facing criminal charges after he was allegedly filmed by surveillance cameras stealing hundreds of pounds of nickel from his employer, a Woonsocket company that sells precious metals in powdered form.

Myron Merrill, 45, of 2A Kelly Road, Mendon, MA., is charged with embezzlement over $100, a felony, according to police records.

The investigation began Thursday when Woonsocket police detectives went to the local office of Carpenter Powder Products, located at 500 Park East Drive, for a meeting with several company managers. The managers told the detectives they had surveillance films of an employee arriving early for his shift on two occasions last month, and placing five-gallon buckets of nickel powder outside a back door. They said they planned to suspend the employee and file a criminal complaint.

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The managers then brought Merrill into a meeting room, where they sat down with the police detectives. They informed him they suspected him of stealing the metal product, and that he was suspended. The detectives then told Merrill they had enough evidence to pursue criminal charges, and arrested him. A short time later they took him to the police station.

After the detectives informed Merrill of his rights, he reportedly began to talk. He told them that on several occasions over a three-month period, he arrived for his Sunday shift an hour early, when the company facility was largely empty. He would allegedly scoop nickel powder into five or six buckets, until each held about 90 pounds of material, and place them outside a door.

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By prior arrangement, another man would then drive a station wagon onto company property and load the buckets into the back of his vehicle. The accomplice would allegedly sell the nickel to a Providence scrap yard. Later,
Merrill would meet the man at a gas station on Rte. 146, and they would split the money. He told the officers he needed the cash to buy a car.

According to a report by Det. Sgt. John Scully, "Merrill was co-operative and very upset with himself about the fact that he was stealing from the company."

Other arrests

Richard Barnett, of 1887 Smith St., North Providence, faces a charge of driving with a suspended license. Police arrested him on Mendon Street at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday.

Police arrested Anthony Clark, 18, of 2281 Diamond Hill Road, on a warrant 3:11 a.m. Wednesday.

Police arrested Roger A. Cote, 46, of 395 Ninth Ave., on a warrant at 7:10 a.m. Wednesday.

Police arrested Teese Angelic Morris, 40, of 183 Barton Ave., Pawtucket, on a warrant at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday.

Police arrested Daniel Clifford Lane, 34, of 118 Willow St., on a warrant at 10:36 p.m. Wednesday.

 

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