By Jim Clark

A police unit was dispatched to a Norfolk Street residence last week after complaints were made about a man damaging the building while attempting to remove copper gutters from it.

The reporting party told police that a man was seen trying to remove the gutters and a description of the man was supplied to police.

One of the responding officers recalled seeing a man fitting the description walking in the area earlier in the day, and further realized that the man had a prior history of stealing copper gutters from the same building. The officer had actually spoken to the man briefly at that time.

Police left the scene after taking the report, but shortly thereafter another call came in reporting that the same suspect was once again attempting to remove the copper gutters from the building.

One of the original responding officers was nearby as the call came in and returned to the building almost immediately. The reporting party led the officer to the rear of the building where the suspect, David Bluteau, 45, of Everett, was caught in the act of removing a piece of copper gutter, police said.

The officer reportedly ordered Bluteau to stop when he began walking away, but he instead began running away, dropping a piece of gutter as he fled.

Officers pursued and apprehended Bluteau, whereupon he was placed under arrest and charged with larceny from a building and destruction of property over $250.