SALEM — A local man was arrested over the weekend after fleeing from security guards and making a phony 911 call in an attempt to distract police, authorities said.
William Moschetto, 30, was arrested on Saturday afternoon and charged with shoplifting, reckless operation and misuse of 911.
When Moschetto was caught by security at Marshall's department store, allegedly trying to steal items there, he ran out of the store on foot and drove down Route 28 in a white Cadillac.
Shortly after police got the call from Marshall's security, another call came in, with the caller claiming he saw two men smash the windows of a car in the Shaw's supermarket parking lot.
Police found Moschetto's Cadillac at Cumberland Farms and found him nearby, police Capt. Shawn Patten said.
During the investigation, police discovered that Moschetto made the call about the two men at Shaw's as an attempt to divert attention from him, Patten said.
"Through interviews and playing the tapes of the call, it was determined that he was the caller," Patten said.
Moschetto's bail was set at $5,000 cash pending arraignment in Salem District Court.
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