CLINTON — On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at about 11:19 p.m., Officers Matthew Champagne and Shane Gilman of the Clinton Police Department were dispatched to Nashua Street after a resident called in to say she saw a man breaking into cars along the street.
(The account and quotations in this article were taken from the Personnel Narrative of Officer Champagne.)
“[The caller] stated she witness a male party ‘trying people’s doors’ a day or two ago, and witnessed the same male exiting a pickup truck located two houses down from her residence,” Officer Champagne said. “The male party then walked towards the Cumberland Farms located at 1 Chestnut Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. [The caller] stated she had video footage of the male.”
At approximately 11:24 p.m., Officers Champagne and Gilman arrived on scene and were met by the caller.
“[The caller] explained that on 1/29/24 she spoke with a Clinton officer regarding a male party who was attempting to open multiple car doors parked on the street,” Officer Champagne said. “[The caller] showed the footage from tonight prior to when she called. The video shows a male party wearing dark sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt. The male party continued walking with their hood on past her camera in the direction of Chestnut Street.”
Doorbell camera footage of Damaso posted to Facebook:
While the caller showed police her footage from about an hour earlier, police observed a man, wearing the same clothing in the video and holding a large Cumberland Farms cup, approaching from the Chestnut Street side of Nashua Street.
At this time, Officer Kyle Grady and Officer Gerald Guerra arrived on scene as backup.
When the man walked past Officer Champagne and the caller, the caller identified him as the person she had seen breaking into the truck parked two houses down from her residence. She added that he was also the individual she saw attempting to open car doors on Jan. 29, 2024.
“The male party was walking slow and leisurely, consistent to that in the video,” Officer Champagne noted.
Officers Grady and Guerra apprehended the man at the intersection of Nashua and Grove Street, and Officer Champagne soon joined them to question the man, who was later identified as Carl Damaso.
Carl Alfred Damaso, 44, is a resident of Duane Drive in North Reading.
According to Officer Champagne, Damaso said he just walked to Cumberland Farms to get a drink and was on his way back.
“Mr. Damaso informed us that he has been staying at 288 Grove Street for a while with a friend,” Officer Champagne said. “Mr. Damaso stated that he frequents the Cumberland Farms on Chestnut Street and goes almost every night.”
While Officer Champagne was speaking with Damaso, dispatch advised all units that there was an active warrant out for his arrest. Damaso was then arrested and placed into the rear of a Clinton police cruiser.
Before transporting Damaso to the Clinton Police Department for booking, Officers Guerra and Gilman spoke with the Nashua Street resident whose truck was allegedly broken into.
“The vehicle was parked in front of 32 Nashua Street on the road. This is the residence reported by [the caller] as ‘two houses down’ from her residence,” Officer Champagne explained. “[The owner of the truck] checked the interior of his pickup truck and immediately noticed that his mail and multiple papers were on the floor of the front passenger seat. [He] confirmed that they were not there before, as he keeps all these papers in his glove compartment. After conducting a check, he confirmed nothing of value was taken.”
At this time, Officer Guerra observed cameras at 27 Nashua Street facing the truck’s direction.
Officer Champagne then spoke with the residents of 27 Nashua Street, who owned the cameras.
“Both parties were able to access the footage, which shows a Mr. Damaso wearing the same clothing as shown in previous videos. In these videos, it shows Mr. Damaso opening the driver side door, as well as the front passenger door of [the pickup] truck, appearing to search through the interior, and then continue walking in the direction of Chestnut Street. In the video, it shows the interior illuminate each time he opens the door and gains access.”
While Officer Champagne was speaking with the residents of 27 Nashua Street, Officers Grady and Guerra transported Damaso to the Clinton Police Station for booking. After his Miranda Rights were read to him twice, the bail commissioner was notified, and Damaso was advised he would be held until court.
After booking Damaso and placing him in a holding cell, Officers Grady and Guerra went back to Nashua Street to check for additional break-ins and to canvass the area.
“While doing so, they came across multiple cards in the area where Mr. Damaso was first seen walking,” Officer Champagne said. “The items being a Ryan’s Bowling Card, $1 scratch ticket, Plunske’s Garage card, and a Tower Safety Training Certification card with [the truck owner’s] name on it. These items were located across the street from 62 Nashua, in the snow along the fence line. Officer Guerra spoke with [the truck owner] at his residence. [He] immediately recognized these items and was able to confirm that these items were his and were in his vehicle before the break in.”
At approximately 1:03 a.m., Officers Grady and Guerra went to the Cumberland Farms on Chestnut Street to speak with the cashier.
The cashier told police that Damaso frequents the establishment and was there at approximately 10:41 p.m. to buy a drink, which is consistent with the time he was seen walking on Nashua Street, Officer Champagne said.
Damaso was charged with: Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor and Fugitive from Justice.