TOWNSEND — On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at approximately 4:25 p.m., Townsend Police Officers Dylan Silvestri and Michael Marchand were searching for two suspects in connection with a bicycle theft reported earlier that day at 258 Main Street.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Dylan Silvestri and Supplemental Narrative of Andrew Romano and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“I located the female and male subjects matching the description attempting to cross the crosswalk at the center traffic lights near 262 Main Street,” Officer Silvestri said. “Upon observing my police cruiser, both individuals turned around and began riding their bicycles southbound on Elm Street.”
Officer Silvestri turned right onto Elm Street from Main Street and kept the suspects in plain view.
“I attempted to park my cruiser ahead of them slightly up the road so I could exit my vehicle and make contact,” Officer Silvestri said. “At this point, both subjects rode across the street and into the parking lot of the Ice Cream Factory (7 Elm Street) in attempt to get away from me. I exited my cruiser and walked through the rear parking lot of the Ice Cream Factory, where I located both subjects standing with their bicycles next to the building.”
Officer Silvestri said he approached suspects and began questioning them about the bicycle larceny from earlier in the day.
“I requested identification from both individuals, which they provided without incident,” Officer Silvestri said. “Prior to being identified via her Massachusetts ID, the female subject advised me that she had an active warrant and had been attempting to go to the courthouse today to clear it up.”
Officer Silvestri said he identified the suspects as Samantha Jean Strandgaard, 37, of Fitchburg, MA; and 34-year-old Angel Morales.
“Officers [Andrew] Romano and Marchand arrived on scene shortly after to conduct the primary investigation into the larceny,” Officer Silvestri said. “Dispatch confirmed an active warrant for Strandgaard out of Fitchburg District Court for shoplifting by asportation.”
Officer Silvestri said that after Strandgaard was done speaking with Officer Marchand, he placed her under arrest.
“Handcuffs were placed on Strandgaard, double-locked, and checked for proper fit. Officer Marchand took possession of a bag that Strandgaard had in her possession at the time of her arrest,” Officer Silvestri said.
Strandgaard was then escorted to a cruiser and transported to the Townsend Police Department for booking.
In his report, Officer Romano said Strandgaard was knowingly in possession of a stolen NEXT-brand mountain bike belonging to a resident of 258 Main Street, which had been reported stolen at approximately 11:19 a.m. on July 21, 2026.
“The mountain bike, which is valued at approximately $200.00, was stolen from the driveway of 258 Main Street,” Officer Romano said. “The bike was leaning against the wall of the residence, next to a vehicle approximately two car lengths up the driveway.”
Romano said Strandgaard rode the mountain bike to Mr. Mike’s gas station at 238 Main Street.
“[Strandgaard] concealed the mountain bike behind the gas station, where it remained for several hours,” Officer Romano said.
Romano also said Strandgaard “made statements that she intended to sell the mountain bike as scrap metal, permanently depriving the owner of the property.”
Officer Romano said the mountain bike was later identified by its owner and returned to them.
When Strandgaard arrived at the station for booking, Officer Silvestri said Matron Jess Demeo was waiting for her.
“Matron Demeo searched Strandgaard, and she was booked in routine fashion,” Officer Silvestri said. “During an inventory search of the bag in Strandgaard’s possession, Officer Marchand located multiple crack pipes as well as two hypodermic needles. The needles were safely disposed of in a sharps container, and the crack pipes and other small miscellaneous drug paraphernalia were logged into evidence for destruction.”
Samantha J. Strandgaard, 37, of Fitchburg, was charged with the following:
- Warrant Arrest
- Larceny under $250
The other initial suspect, Angel Morales, was not arrested in connection with the incident.
Strandgaard’s bail was set at $100.00.
Strandgaard was arraigned in Ayer District Court on July 22, 2026. Following her arraignment, Strandgaard was released on personal recognizance under the condition that she stay away from 258 Main Street in Townsend, possess/consume no drugs, and undergo a substance abuse evaluation and follow up as recommended.
Strandgaard’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for Aug. 19, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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