Contact: Captain Michael J. Winquist, Detective Commander Telephone: (401) 444-1008
Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of Public Safety, announces that the members of the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit have arrested two subjects wanted in multiple housebreaks throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. Detectives had received information from the Mansfield (Massachusetts) Police indicating that Ian Catherwood, age 23, and his girlfriend, Anne Marie Schafer, age 20, were residing at 497 Rathbun Street in Woonsocket and that both were parties of interest in unsolved breaks in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Detectives were also able to confirm that Catherwood was a suspect in additional housebreaks in Exeter and North Kingstown and was wanted by the Sixth Division District Court for failure to appear on an unrelated charge.
During the early morning hours of March 8, 2012, detectives responded to the City of Woonsocket and arrested both Catherwood and Schafer without incident at their residence. A court-authorized search warrant was executed, which resulted in the recovery of narcotics, as well as several items believed to have been stolen. Catherwood had been previously charged by Massachusetts authorities on several counts of receiving stolen goods and breaking and entering and is currently wanted as a fugitive from justice on pending charges stemming from an unsolved housebreak being investigated by the Northborough (Massachusetts) Police.
Both suspects were returned to Rhode Island State Police Headquarters in Scituate where they were charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count for receiving stolen goods and possession of the following illegal narcotics: Heroin, Suboxone and Marijuana. In addition, Catherwood was charged as a Fugitive from Justice from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for receiving stolen goods, as well as with breaking and entering and conspiracy. Both parties were held at the Adult Correctional Institution and were presented for formal arraignment this morning before the Honorable Judge Walter Gorman of the Sixth Division District Court in Providence. Catherwood's bail was set at $100,000 with surety with the agreement he would voluntarily waive extradition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Schafer's bail was set at $50,000 with surety. Police departments are asked to call Lieutenant Benjamin Barney at the State Police Major Crimes Unit at (401) 444-1220 with any inquiries.