Posted on 12/07/2002 1:55:04 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo
SKOWHEGAN — A Skowhegan man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of body-piercing equipment and jewelry from a Water Street shop was arrested Thursday night with the goods on him — literally, according to police.
Police said Friday that when they arrested Wayne M. Blanchard, 21, of Cross Street, his body was pierced in numerous places with jewelry stolen from Detail Color and Tattoo.
"We removed a dozen pieces off his body, bar bells on his face and ears," Skowhegan Detective James Ross said.
He said Blanchard had even pierced his genitals.
And, said Deputy Police Chief Rick Bonneau, some of the jewelry did not come off easily."He had two holes above his nose that began to bleed," Bonneau said.
Blanchard has been charged with burglary, a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He also has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of inhalants.
"It was kind of an eye opener to see the bizarre type of inhalants being used," Ross said.
Bonneau said that plastic bottles were connected to create a vessel for inhaling ethyl ether, a volatile, colorless, highly flammable liquid sometimes used as an anesthetic and a solvent for resins and fats.
Ross said the thefts had taken place over two nights, Nov. 23 and 24 and were reported to police on Nov. 25.
"He actually entered Saturday night and Sunday night," Ross said.
The owner discovered the thefts on Monday.
"The burglar had gone through a window and cleaned out all the owner's piercing jewelry and his piercing equipment," Ross said. "The display case alone that we recovered is valued at $600."
With the help of concerned residents, police said, they traced the cache of stolen goods to Blanchard's apartment. Blanchard is being held on probation hold at the Somerset County Jail. He is expected to be arraigned at Skowhegan District Court next week. Ross said other arrests in the case may be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Ross said, owner Joseph Staples is putting together a list of estimated loss that is well into the thousands of dollars.
The burglar also stole numbing agents, according to Ross, who said it appears the suspect pierced some of his friends.
"I sure hope nobody had hepatitis or anything," Ross said. "There was repeated use of the equipment. He was doing other people for free."
The mental image that this invokes is priceless..
Of course.
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