Dartmouth Man Arrested for Smashing Window, Robbing Liquor Store

NEW BEDFORD — Quick work by the New Bedford Police Department led to the arrest of a Dartmouth man early Tuesday, moments after he smashed the front window of Barry's Liquors, located at 573 Mill Street, with a brick before stealing items from the store.

Police responded to a call at that location at about 12:15 a.m. for a break in progress. Police searched the area and found the suspect in a yard on Lake Street with items that linked him to the break.

Erik Silvia, 39, of 19 Howard St., North Dartmouth, was arrested on charges of breaking and entering in the nighttime for a felony, vandalizing property, larceny from a building and trespassing.

Silvia has an extensive criminal record. He was sentenced to 30 days in the house of correction in 2010 for assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

He was found guilty in 1997 of operating under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to serve six months in the house of correction.

He was sentenced in 1996 to serve 59 days in the house of correction for breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, minor transporting alcohol, malicious destruction of property and breaking and entering in the nighttime. He was originally given a suspended sentence on that charge but violated probation and was sentenced to serve 59 days.

He was sentenced in 1995 to serve 59 days in the house of correction for breaking and entering in the nighttime.

Cash bail for the Dec. 19 charge was set at $500. He did not make bail, and is being held at the Dartmouth House of Correction.

--New Bedford Police