Crime & Safety

Chelmsford Man Charged With Alleged Multi-State Baby Formula Theft Spree

The man "dove out" of a stolen car and "attempted to flee on foot" after police caught him after hitting a third store for baby formula.

By Kyle Stucker

Salem N.H. police arrested a Chelmsford man Tuesday on a variety of charges after he used a stolen car to steal baby formula from stores in Salem, Nashua, and Chelmsford, Mass.

James Slater, 23, of Chelmsford was charged with a felony count of receiving stolen property, a felony count of willful concealment (third offense), resisting arrest, disobeying a police officer and driving after revocation.

Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said the Chelmsford Police Department issued an alert around 2 p.m. Tuesday for a Toyota Matrix that had been stolen in Andover, Mass., at some point Tuesday morning.

The stolen vehicle was reportedly used during a theft of baby formula from stores in Chelmsford and Nashua, and around 2:30 p.m. the vehicle was spotted in Salem leaving the Market Basket plaza after its operator was involved in a theft of baby formula from the Salem Market Basket, according to Patten.

Salem K9 Officer Paul Benoit attempted to force the vehicle to pull over on Rockingham Park Boulevard, although Patten said the driver of the stolen vehicle "dove out of the passenger side window and attempted to flee on foot."

After a "struggle," Patten said officers were able to apprehend the "combative" suspect, later identified as Slater, along a nearby fence.

Officers also found "numerous items" of allegedly stolen jewelry in the suspect's vehicle, according to Patten. Additional charges may be forthcoming as officers were still seeking a search warrant for the vehicle.

Patten said the incident is still under investigation, during which the Salem Police Department is being aided by several other agencies.

Slater was held on $25,000 cash bail.


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