East Hampton Police Arrest Two in Church Theft

East Hampton Police have arrested two people including a local woman for attempting to steal copper from the Second Congregational Church early Saturday morning.

Police responded to a call at about 2:53 a.m. on a report of suspicious activity at the Second Congregational Church at 52 Middle Haddam Road. A neighbor had reported seeing people walking around the church and thought that criminal activity might be occurring, police said in a press release.

Upon arrival, Officer David Gionfriddo found that copper gutters had been pulled off the church's exterior and were crushed up and piled on the ground. Also found was a large backpack full of copper pieces from the church. According to police, no suspects were located at the scene but it was obvious an attempt had been made to steal the copper material from the church.

Approximately 45 minutes later, Gionfriddo was dispatched to Cobalt Lodge at 29 Middle Haddam Road for a report of a suspicious person. Staff members reported that a suspicious female had stopped at the facility and asked for directions and claimed to have been abandoned by her boyfriend. The woman, Nicole LaPlante, 19, of 41 Old Middletown Ave., East Hampton, was later located on Route 66 by Officer John Wilson. Upon interviewing LaPlante, police said she confessed to her involvement in the attempted theft of the copper from the church and also implicated her boyfriend, Frederick Dart. Dart, 24, currently resides at the Riverdale Motel, Route 66, in Portland.  

According to police, LaPlante was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny and sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny. She was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond.

The officers later located Dart at the Riverdale Motel and he was arrested. Dart also was charged with second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny and sixth-degree conspiracy to commit larceny. He was released after posting a $10,000 surety bond with the aid of a bondsman.  

Dart has had several run-ins with the law before, being convicted on charges of larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, burglary, possession of narcotics and others. He has previously been sentenced to jail time.

LaPlante and Dart are scheduled to appear in Middlesex Superior Court to answer to their charges on July 31.

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