MACHIAS, Maine — Michael J. Mackenzie, 32, was arrested early Wednesday morning at the home of a friend in Washington County’s Indian Township on charges of burglary and theft related to a three-month series of break-ins at homes and businesses in and around the communities of Topsfield, Alexander and Robbinston.
Mackenzie is being held at the Washington County Jail and is expected to appear Thursday at a bail hearing. The investigation into the break-ins associated with his arrest is ongoing, according to Lt. Travis Willey of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
“We do believe there are more persons than Mr. Mackenzie involved,” Willey said Wednesday afternoon. “But he seems to be the common factor in all these break-ins. I anticipate we will be speaking with other suspects and witnesses in the next few days.”
Mackenzie was being sought on an arrest warrant obtained by the Calais Police Department. He was taken into custody after what Willey said was a nearly three-hour standoff at the home of a former girlfriend. A car identified as belonging to Mackenzie’s mother was seen parked at the residence. After the house was surrounded by law enforcement personnel just before midnight, Mackenzie was contacted by phone. He eventually was persuaded to surrender, Willey said.
“All of these break-ins were drug-related,” Willey said, with cash and jewelry and other personal items being stolen to buy drugs. “Mr. Mackenzie is a convicted felon and did prison time for burglary and theft. He is on probation and is very well known to law enforcement, given his criminal career.”
Willey said Mackenzie’s arrest was the result of a coordinated investigation by his department and by the Maine State Police, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Baileyville and Indian Township police departments.
“It’s taken a lot of man-hours to put all this together,” he said.
Good job to all the Law Enforcement involved. Thank you.
He must like prison life. sounds like he is going back, I hope.
Now if they can get the rest of his cronies, we’ll be in pretty good shape.. And they got him on Indian Township, not Union Township.
It was a cooperative effort of several law enforcement agencies. Good Job by all.
I know it was. I was just commenting on BDN’s location error.
I know it ………misprint as always!
Lock him up.
Throw away the key.
The way it works is that he’s looking at a lot of years behind bars. The DA and the Defense attorney will negotiate a plea deal for a reduced sentence if he gives up his cohorts in crime.
The cohorts will be arrested and try to do the same deal as he did. And so on and so forth.
There is no honor amongst thieves.
where’s the picture of this rat?
http://www.facebook.com/groups/82695491885/
Friend of Calias Police has a pic of McKenzie. A lot of regular folks were keeping their eyes out for this guy.
Good Job, just hope the judge denies bail
This guy even broke into a funeral home! That is low.
If he really has a substance abuse problem, I hope he gets the help he needs. That kind of help is a lot cheaper, thus more cost effective, than warehousing him in jail.
Sometimes when you lead a horse to water they won’t drink. Mike has been to the trough, has been offered the water, has made the decision to return to drugs.
Way to go, mark one up for the good guys!!!!