DIXFIELD, Maine — Three Dixfield residents are facing multiple charges after a burglary at Ellis’ Variety led to the theft of approximately $820 in cash and rolled coins, according to the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.
The break-in occurred early Monday morning at the Ellis’ Variety store located at 126 Weld St., when deputies responded to a burglary alarm around 2:45 a.m. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that two masked suspects had forced entry and ransacked the business before fleeing.
Later that day, a woman used rolled coins to make a purchase at a nearby store. Deputies identified the coins as being among those stolen from Ellis’ Variety earlier that morning.
Following this lead, investigators obtained a search warrant for a residence at 14 Third St. in Dixfield. Around 7 p.m., deputies recovered evidence linking the suspects to the crime, including opened coin rolls, latex gloves, and clothing worn during the burglary. Authorities also found 0.28 grams of cocaine base at the scene.
Three Suspects Arrested
The three suspects, Shawn Morrison (25), Justin Perry (32), and Melanie Kinney (51), were all present during the search and were taken into custody without incident.
Shawn Morrison was charged with:
Burglary
Theft by unauthorized taking
Criminal mischief
Violation of conditions of release
Justin Perry faces the same charges as Morrison.
Melanie Kinney was charged with:
Receiving stolen property
Possession of scheduled drugs
As of Tuesday morning, all three suspects remain in custody at the Oxford County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be pending.