Swansea Police Catch Suspect in Impound Lot Break-in

SWANSEA — A man suspected of trying to break into a Swansea impound lot to get his car back was arrested after a foot chase Thursday morning.

Swansea police said 18-year-old Biron Gabriel Chalas-Lopez of East Providence was arrested in connection to the attempted break-in at Brad's Auto at 1475 G.A.R. Highway.

Officers were called to the auto center on Wednesday evening for a report of someone driving through the gated fence, but they could not find the suspect.

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Then at around 8:20 a.m. Thursday, four officers responded to Brad's Auto for a report of a suspicious man allegedly trying to break through the gate to the impound yard.

Before they arrived, the suspect left the scene and headed on foot towards Best Choice Auto near the intersection with Bushee Road.

When they arrived on scene one of the officers saw the suspect run behind a house on Bushee Road before heading into the woods behind Best Choice Auto.

Police set up a perimeter and began a search in the woods, using a police drone and K-9 units from the Bristol County Sheriff's Department and Massachusetts State Police.

Shortly afterwards police said they found the suspect, later identified as Chalas-Lopez, in a thorny area in the woods.

He was arrested after a brief struggle that did not result in any injuries, according to police.

Police said Chalas-Lopez allegedly had a BB pellet gun when he was arrested. The weapon was seized.

The suspect also had a key fob that was found to belong to an impounded vehicle at Brad's Auto, police said.

According to police, Chalas-Lopez is also the suspect in the earlier break-in at Brad's Auto on Wednesday evening.

Chalas-Lopez is charged with a litany of offenses including multiple counts of breaking and entering into a vehicle and receiving stolen property, malicious damage and destruction of property, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, among other charges.