Two men have been arraigned in Fall River Superior Court on several charges after an alleged armed home invasion in Bristol County.
According to Deputy Chief of Police Philip Adams, at approximately 12:00 a.m. on July 22nd, Easton Police officers were dispatched to a residence for a reported alarm activation. The resident was home with her three children and believed she could hear someone inside the home.
Upon arrival, the resident informed officers that she could hear the suspects at the rear of the home. Two Easton Police officers engaged in a foot pursuit and apprehended the first suspect. With the assistance of a Massachusetts State Police K9, a second suspect was located a short time later, along with a loaded Glock firearm containing a 30-round, high-capacity magazine.
The two suspects arrested were identified as 25-year-old Ernst Lacrete of Quincy, MA, and 25-year-old Lavar Benson of Dorchester, MA. Lacrete and Benson were both charged with Home Invasion, Firearm, Carry Without License, Firearm, Possess Large Capacity, and Firearm, Carry Without License, Loaded.
Court records show that at arraignment in District Court, they both pled not guilty and were held without bail with a detention hearing scheduled for Monday.
Both men were indicted in Fall River Superior Court last month on charges of Armed Burglary, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, Breaking & Entering in the Nighttime for a Felony, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, and Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card.
Lacrete was arraigned Monday in Fall River Superior Court where he pled not guilty and had bail set at $25,000 surety/$2,500 cash. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for December 15th.
Benson had an arraignment and dangerousness hearing on Wednesday where he pled not guilty and had bail set at $100,000 surety/$10,000 cash. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for December 3rd.
The Easton Police Department thanked the Massachusetts State Police, Stoughton Police Department, and West Bridgewater Police Department for their assistance.
