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LEOMINSTER – On February 14, 2023, at 1:59 a.m., Officer Adam Washburn of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to Fred’s Auction House, located at 92 Pleasant Street, following a report of a possible break in. Dispatch said the caller could hear glass breaking in the building.
“Upon arrival I could see Officer [Brandon] Carlson shine his cruiser lights onto the right rear window of the building. As I looked, I could clearly see that the glass from the right rear window was missing,” wrote Officer Washburn in his Narrative for the incident. “I then parked my cruiser in front of the building and began walking toward Officer Carlson.”
As he walked toward the building, Officer Washburn said he noticed that a front right window to the basement was shattered. He added that shattered glass was all over the ground outside – and inside – the building.
“I then walked along the right side of the building and could see another similar window broken,” wrote Officer Washburn in his Narrative. “The two broken windows had metal bars across the inside of them which would block anyone from easily making entry.”
After observing the broken windows, Officer Washburn walked to the back of the building where Officer Carlson was. Once he was in earshot, Officer Carlson said he could hear someone inside the building below a right rear window, which was also smashed in.
“I then looked and could see the window shattered with glass all over the ground on the inside and out as well as what appeared to be an old weight plate leaned up against the outside of the building directly under the broken window,” wrote Officer Washburn in his Narrative. “I could also see that there appeared to be a metal cage on the inside of the window that was bent back, leaving a gap at the bottom big enough for someone to enter.”
Shortly thereafter, Sergeant Ny Mao arrived on scene to assist. As Officer Washburn was heading over to Sgt. Mao to update him on the situation, he overheard Officer Carlson speaking to a woman – later identified as Sofi Tanashian – inside the basement of the building beneath the broken rear window. Tanashian is a 22-year-old resident of Pearl Street in Leominster.
According to Officer Washburn, Tanashian exited the building through the broken window. Since her hands were covered in cuts, Officer Washburn asked her if she wanted medical attention, a request she denied.
“I then asked Ms. Tanashian what was going on and she stated that she was going for a walk and likes to explore buildings like this and that she was very sorry,” wrote Officer Washburn in his Narrative. “I asked how the windows were broken and she stated that the windows were broken when she arrived. I asked if she had permission to be inside the property and she said ‘no.’ Ms. Tanashian had a small backpack on so we asked if we could take a look inside and she gave us consent to do so. While looking, Officer Carlson found three unlabeled bottles with three different sized pills inside of them. Officer Carlson also found a sealed bag containing more unlabeled pills. When asked about the pills, Ms. Tanashian stated that they were all different kinds of Adderall that are prescribed to her but she placed them into containers. Ms. Tanashian also stated that the sealed bag contained Gabapentin.”
Officer Washburn informed Tanashian that she was under arrest and handcuffed her hands behind her back. Another responding officer transported Tanashian to the Leominster Police Station for booking. She was transported without incident, according to police.
Dispatch informed Officer Washburn that the owner of the building was on his way over. When he arrived on scene, the owner told Officer Washburn that the broken windows and bent bars on the back rear window were all new damage. Officer Washburn and the owner did a walk through of the building, after which the owner said that there was no further damage.
Back at the station, Officer Washburn identified the pills Tanashian had on her. The three unlabeled containers did in fact contain different kinds of Adderall and the pills in the sealed bag were identified as Gabapentin.
Tanashian was charged with breaking and entering into a building at nighttime, vandalizing property, and possession of a Class E drug.
Tanashian’s bail was set at $240.
She was arraigned later that morning in Leominster District Court.
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Disclaimer 2: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from mid-February, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.
Hi Genevieve…..Used to love going to Fred’s Auction house. Known Fred since the early 80’s. Got so many deals down in that cellar.