Fall River man arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle and breaking into two businesses

Fall River Police arrested a city man on multiple charges Friday.

According to Detective John Robinson, on February 11th, FRPD Officer Steven Washington responded to East Coast Laundry on Quarry Street in response to a break-in complaint. Upon arrival, Washington learned that a suspect entered the building through a rear door and attempted to break into a VTM. Video surveillance put the male inside the building for less than ten minutes. The suspect in this incident was described as a black male, wearing a dark puffy coat, dark clothing, hat, and shoes and appeared to be walking bow-legged.

On February 17th, Officer Kevin Bshara responded to the intersection of Johnson and London Street for a 2010 GMC Acadia parked on the roadway without a registration plate. Officer Bshara was later called to a North Quarry Street Auto Dealer regarding a stolen 2010 GMC Acadia. Officer Bshara canvassed the area and was able to locate a surveillance camera pointed in the area of where he recovered the GMC. This video was replayed and showed a black male, wearing a gray hooded zip-up sweatshirt, dark pants and a New England Patriots hat. According to police, the suspect stopped the vehicle at approximately 4 a.m. and then drove away from the area after searching the rear cargo area. At approximately 7:30 a.m., the GMC returned and parked in the same area. The same suspect observed earlier, exited the vehicle and walked away with a distinctive bow-legged walk, according to police.

On February 20th, Officer Gary Pasternak responded to the Laundry Palace on President Avenue in response to a break-in complaint. Upon arrival, Pasternak learned that someone had forced their way in through the outer door, shattered the glass on the inner door, and then entered the business. According to police, once inside, the suspect broke into the lottery register and took the cash. Surveillance video was obtained and depicted a bow-legged black male entering the building wearing a grey hooded zip-up sweatshirt, dark boots with a distinctive pattern, a winter hat, and dark pants.

Upon review of all videos, it appeared to Detective Vertentes and other Major Crimes Detectives that all three events involved the same individual and resembled a male by the name of Keyante L. Mills.

Mills was taken into custody by Detectives Jon Rose and Neil Rodrigues on Harrison Street wearing a jacket similar to the one depicted in the surveillance video from the February 11th break, a Patriots hat similar to the one observed on surveillance video from the February 17th GMC Acadia theft, and dark boots with a distinctive pattern similar to those worn during the Laundry Palace break on February 20th.

As a result of an investigation led by Detective Luis Vertentes, on February 21st, Mills, 40, of 246 Quequechan Street Fall River, was arrested and charged with breaking and entering into both East Coast Laundry and Laundry Palace, along with Larceny from a building, attempted break into a depository, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.