WESTFORD — On Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at approximately 5:05 p.m., Officer Michael Van Bemmel and Officer Max Sears of the Westford Police Department were dispatched to 11 Cornerstone Square (Marshalls and HomeGoods) following a report of a shoplifting incident in progress.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Michael Van Bemmel and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“The reporting party, [name redacted], stated that a male wearing a white baseball hat and a tan shirt and a female party wearing a black tank top and a light blue sweatshirt successfully shoplifted from Marshalls and Home Goods,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “[The reporting party] stated both the male and female party stole approximately $500-$600 dollars worth of merchandise and then ran out of the store.”
The reporting party added that both the male and female were now sitting by the flag behind the Market Basket.
“Upon arrival, I saw an unknown male individual wearing a white baseball hat and a tan t-shirt with grey jeans standing by the bus station and a female party sitting on the brick wall of the bus station wearing a black tank top and a light blue sweatshirt lying next to her,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “It should be noted laying around both individuals were baskets full of clothes and other merchandise.”
Officer Van Bemmel said he pulled his cruiser into the bus stop parking area, exited his cruiser, approached the male and female, and announced his presence.
“Upon approach, the male party kept backing up away from me and looking towards the Eastern Bank building,” Officer Van Bemmel said.
When Officer Van Bemmel ordered the man to stop moving, he turned and fled, running behind Eastern Bank and up the embankment toward the Market Basket loading docks.
“At this time, as the male individual began running, I notified dispatch and Officer Sears of his direction while I stayed with the detained female party who remained with me at the bus stop,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “As I was updating dispatch of the male’s direction of travel, I observed Officer Sears arrive on scene and I pointed to where the male party was heading.”
A short time later, Officer Sears advised Officer Van Bemmel that he had the male party detained on the side of Market Basket.
“Once Officer Sears advised the male was detained, I began speaking with the female party and requested her identification,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “She advised me that she did not have any identification on her but identified herself as Nicole Ellison.”
According to police, Nicole A. Ellison, 45, is a resident of Chelmsford, MA.
“I asked Nicole if she had anything on her other than the merchandise that was laying in weaved baskets to which she stated she had a syringe in her right shirt’s pocket,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “Due to the music playing over the speakers at the bus stop, I escorted Nicole to a rock near the bus stop and had her take a seat.”
Officer Van Bemmel contacted dispatch to have Ellison’s information run through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database. Dispatch later informed him that Ellison had no active warrants.
“It should be noted it was at this time, the reporting party, [name redacted], arrived at my location and approached me,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “[The reporting party] positively identified Nicole as the female party who shoplifted from Marshalls and Home Goods.”
She said both individuals were caught on camera taking various items and placing them in a shopping cart.
“The reporting party then advised that they proceeded to run out of the store with all of the merchandise still in the shopping cart with the tags still attached, and ran past the checkout area and out of the store,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “Due to this it was clear, both parties intended to leave the store without paying for the items.”
Sergeant Daniel O’Donnell, Officer Matthew Bunyon, and Officer Danielle Mendonca responded to Officer Van Bemmel’s location. Meanwhile, K-9 Officer Corey Peladeau, Boxborough K-9 Officer Max Bressi, and Groton K-9 Officer Greg Stewart arrived to assist Officer Sears at his location.
“Officer Mendonca, Westford Police Department’s female officer, began to search Nicole for items on her person,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “I advised that Nicole did have a syringe in her right pocket, along with a crack pipe, a butane torch, a bus schedule booklet, broken pencil, and a metal rod. As Officer Mendonca was searching Nicole, I proceeded to read Nicole her Miranda rights.”
Ellison stated that she understood her rights and declined to speak with police.
“At this time, Officer Sears as well as the other K-9 officers arrived to our location with the male party,” Officer Van Bemmel said.
When the male suspect arrived on scene two loss prevention associates were waiting at the bus stop with the merchandise and positively identified the man as the other shoplifting suspect.
“The male party was identified as, [42-year-old] Daro San,” Officer Van Bemmel said.
Officer Van Bemmel said Sergeant O’Donnell and Officer Bressi searched San and found a crack pipe, a knife with crystallized narcotic residue on the blade, a narcotics cutter containing additional residue, and a narcotics spoon. San also had a bus schedule on him.
“While Daro was being searched, I proceeded to read Daro his Miranda rights, to which Daro stated he understood his rights and stated he would talk to us,” Officer Van Bemmel said.
Sergeant O’Donnell asked San why officers were there, and San replied that he “guessed it was for shoplifting.”
Officer Van Bemmel said San was then taken into custody, handcuffed, and placed into the back of his cruiser. Ellison was also arrested.
“Officer Mendonca and Officer Bunyon placed Nicole into the back of their cruiser and transported Nicole back to the Westford Police Department, where Lieutenant [David] O’Hearn was waiting in booking,” Officer Van Bemmel said. Later adding, “Officer Bressi proceeded to test the residue of crystalline substance on the knife and cutter, which tested positive for heroin. Both Nicole and Daro’s belongings and items in each individual’s possession were bagged and placed into the front passenger seat of my cruiser. Officer Bressi’s test kit will be placed into evidence along with the two crack pipes, knife, cutter, and narcotics spoon to be ordered for destruction. Captain Breault was notified of all evidence.”
Officer Van Bemmel transported San to the Westford Police Department, where both he and Ellison were searched again, and all of their belongings were recorded on a property form.
“He along with Nicole were separately advised of all their applicable rights by Lt. O’Hearn. Daro was placed into Cell M1. Nicole was placed into Cell F2,” Officer Van Bemmel said. “It should be noted, Officer Sears, Sgt. O’Donnell and Detective Antonelli returned to Marshalls and Home Goods, were all the stolen merchandise was photographed. The total of the stolen merchandise was itemized and came out to a total of $1,882.18.”
Daro San and Nicole Ellison were both charged with the following criminal offense:
- Shoplifting By Asportation, 3rd Offense
According to Officer Van Bemmel, Ellison had been found guilty of shoplifting four times in Lowell District Court since July 2, 2024. San had six shoplifting convictions since about Dec. 21, 2023, five from Lowell District Court and one from Woburn District Court.
Officer Van Bemmel said Lieutenant O’Hearn contacted Bail Commissioner Matt Day, who set cash bail for Daro San at $1,000. San was later transported to the Billerica House of Correction by Officer Geoffrey Pavao. Nicole was released on personal recognizance and transported back to Lowell by Officer Mendonca and Officer Bunyon.
Ellison’s arraignment was scheduled in Ayer District Court for Aug. 12, 2025, but she failed to appear, so a default warrant was issued for her arrest.
Ellison appeared for her arraignment on Aug. 18, 2025, after which she was released on personal recognizance under the condition that she stay away from all TJX owned stores.
Ellison didn’t appear for her pretrial hearing on Sept. 23, 2025, and another warrant was issued for her arrest.
(Please note, the court docket information for San was not included in the FOIA request obtained by News Link Live for the incident).
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in August, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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