BARRE — On Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at approximately 8:01 p.m., Detective Robert Brooks and Officer Ryan Walsh of the Barre Police Department were dispatched to Bruso’s Liquor Mart, located at 15 Exchange Street, for a reported shoplifting incident.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Detective Robert Brooks and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Detective Brooks said the reporting party, a cashier at the liquor store, reported that the female suspect left the store on foot.
“Upon arrival, [the cashier] stated a female entered the store and appeared severely intoxicated. He said he did not feel comfortable selling additional alcohol to her,” Det. Brooks said.
The cashier told police the woman walked away from the counter, took a 1.75-liter bottle of Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix valued at $15.99, and left the store without paying.
“[The cashier] showed us the surveillance video,” Det. Brooks said. “I immediately recognized the female as Maureen Mortell. Officer Walsh obtained the video file showing Mortell leaving the store with the unpaid merchandise.”
According to police, Maureen A. Mortell, 62, is a resident of Barre, MA.
“Officer Walsh and I then responded to Mortell’s residence at XX Broad Street,” Det. Brooks said. “Mortell’s son answered the door and stated she was upstairs. We were led to her bedroom, where Mortell was lying on her bed. On the floor to the left side of the bed was the margarita mix. The seal was broken, but only a small amount had been consumed. I asked Mortell about the incident at Bruso’s. She admitted she took the margarita mix and appeared upset that it was not vodka. I informed Mortell that she had previously been trespassed from Bruso’s Liquor. Mortell stated she believed she could still go to the store when the female employee was not working. I explained that she was prohibited from entering the premises at any time.”
Detective Brooks added that a constable had served Mortell with a no-trespass order in hand on Oct. 25, 2024, as documented in the Barre police call log.
“I informed Mortell she was under arrest for shoplifting and trespassing,” Det. Brooks said, adding that she was taken into custody without incident and placed in the rear of his cruiser.
“I transported her to the Barre Police Department, where she was booked per department policy by Officer Walsh and I,” Det. Brooks said.
Maureen Mortell was arrested and charged with the following:
- Shoplifting by Asportation
- Trespassing
“I contacted the on-call bail commissioner, Don Haapakowski, who set bail at personal recognizance,” Det. Brooks said. “At approximately 9:50 p.m., Mortell was released from custody. Officer Walsh transported her back to her residence.”
Mortell did not appear for her scheduled arraignment on Nov. 18, 2025, in East Brookfield District Court; a default warrant was issued for her arrest, and she was fined $50.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the arrest in this story took place in November, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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