4 arrested, 3 cited after officer's belongings taken

11/3/2001

Four people were arrested and three others were cited yesterday after a police officer's hat, badge, and coat containing a checkbook and credit cards were taken from a police vehicle.

Robert Perez, 23, of 826 Elm St. was charged with theft, obstructing official business, resisting arrest, and presenting false information. Joseph A. Mauder, 25, of 4325 Angola Rd. was charged with failure to stop after an accident and failure to control. Two other people were arrested on outstanding warrants, and three women were cited for obstructing official business for lying about Mr. Mauder's identity, police said.

Police saw a car being operated with no lights in an alley in the 100 block of Everett Street about 6:15 a.m. The driver, identified as Mr. Mauder, fled when police tried to stop him. The car crashed into a fence, and Mr. Mauder ran.

When police lost track of him, one of the officers returned to the crash scene and saw the three women running from a house on Everett to two vehicles parked near an alley. Police stopped them and learned they were with Mr. Mauder before the pursuit.

Police said Mr. Perez took the officer's belongings during the foot chase. They arrested him at 179 Everett. Police searched the area for the officer's belongings, including 179 Everett, where Mr. Mauder was found in a bed. About 9:30 a.m., the items were found in an alley in the area.