By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to a Medford St. location last Friday evening on reports of a breaking and entering in progress.

According to police, the reporting parties told the dispatcher that they had heard a loud banging sound and could see a figure standing at the entrance to the building, the offices of Carroll & Sons Roofing.

Upon arrival, the officers reportedly spotted the individual in question, later identified as John Sennott, of Billerica, trying to gain entry into the building by using a hammer and what appeared to be a crowbar.

According to reports, Sennott appeared to the officers to be under the influence of drugs. He was reportedly sweating heavily and the pupils of his eyes were severely dilated. Additionally, the officers reported that Sennott could not focus when he was spoken to.

When asked what he was doing, Sennott reportedly told the officers that he was trying to get into the building because he worked there and had left his keys inside. He also reportedly said that the lock on the door was broken and that what he was doing was how all the employees got into the building.

The officers noted that the deadbolt mechanism on the door had been freshly destroyed and that parts were strewn on the porch floor.

A call to the owner of the business established that Sennott was unknown to him and that the door’s lock had not been damaged earlier that day.

Police then placed Sennott under arrest, charging him with attempt to commit a crime. When asked if he had any other tools on his person that would be used for breaking into the building and he reportedly said that he did not.

A search of Sennott’s person turned up a needle, two baggies containing a white powdery substance, and a folded up dollar bill containing a white rocky substance. The officers suspected, and it was later confirmed, that the substances on Sennott’s person were cocaine and heroin.

Sennott was additionally charged with possession of a class B drug, possession of a class A drug, and possession of a burglarious instrument.