CARIBOU, Maine – Police arrested a Caribou man Sunday for allegedly stealing five ceremonial guns from American Legion Post 88 in Caribou in late December.
Jonathan Emmert, 26, was taken into custody after police received an anonymous tip that Emmert had been seen walking on Collins Street.
Caribou Police Department had issued a search warrant for Emmert at a home on 206 Sweden St. on January 3 but did not find him there, said Caribou Police Sgt. Chad Cochran.
Cochran said that Emmert faces pending charges related to burglary and theft.
Emmert is currently being held at Caribou Police Department until he can be transferred to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton, Cochran said.
American Legion member Cuppy Johndro said that the Legion had previously used the five early 1900s rifles for parades and veterans ceremonies. The guns were found and remain at Caribou Police Department as evidence in the case, Johndro said.
A Legion volunteer discovered in late December that someone had broken into Post 88 on Sweden Street by breaking through a layer of wood between the first and second floors that covered space where a window used to be, Johndro said. The individual also stole liquor from the Legion’s refrigerator.
“We’re grateful for the police and public help in finding [Emmert’s] whereabouts,” Johndro said.
While at the Sweden Street residence last month, police arrested two men who were not connected to the American Legion burglaries but had previous warrants issued for their arrest, Cochran said.
Joshua Martin, 36, was charged with failure to appear in court related to previous domestic violence charges and Shawn Roy, 44, was charged with three counts of failure to appear in court related to charges of burglary, theft and refusal to submit to charges.
This story was updated to correct the date of the American Legion guns theft and add new information.
