Alarm rings in New Year

Laura Morrow believes that her year had a positive start, even though her building, Laura M Gallery, was broken into early New Year's morning. "What a way to start the year, but it is good to have a good team in place and the support of a community," Morrow said.

Morrow said she received a phone call around 3 a.m. New Year's Day and just assumed it was a prank call. Then the phone rang again. It was her security alarm network notifying her of a potential break-in at the gallery.

Morrow said while she was on the phone with the security company she received a call from Saratoga dispatcher Cindy Talbott, who left a message that Morrow's gallery had been broken into. Morrow reported that she called the dispatch back to see if she needed to go down to the gallery and was informed that, yes, she needed to check the gallery.

According to Morrow, Saratoga Police Officer Bobby Chitwood responded to the call and parked outside the gallery to wait for her. Morrow said she could not get the front door open, so she went in through her other business, Laura M Backroom.

After going in, Morrow realized she should have waited for Chitwood. Morrow said she went into the gallery, turned on the lights, turned off the security alarm and went to check the front door. She said she told her partner Andy Van Tol and Chitwood that she didn't think anyone was in the building, but when she turned around to walk back toward the front counter she saw a young man curled up in a ball. Morrow said she yelled out to Van Tol and Chitwood, that there was someone in the building.

Morrow said, "I don't think he had any idea where he was." She said she believed he had too much to drink and was looking for a warm place. Morrow reported the man only had on blue jeans, tennis shoes and a t-shirt.

Allegedly, Ben Green, of Encampment, had passed out near the counter at the Laura M Gallery.

Security camera footage showed a man that appeared to be Green walking in the store and then into another room, before going to the front counter. The man in the video leaned on the counter for support, dropped his phone several times, bending over to pick it up, eventually getting down on his hands and knees to retrieve the phone. The man in the video did not get back up.

According to Morrow, Chitwood tried to handcuff the suspect who became agitated and fought with the officer on the ground. Morrow said she and Van Tol moved a glass display case and a stone carving to avoid damage people or property.

As seen in the security video, the suspect got up before Chitwood could handcuff him and ran away from the officer. Morrow said Chitwood was very patient with the suspect and warned him several times to stand still, when finally, the suspect charged Chitwood who used a taser to subdue him. Morrow said after tasing the suspect, Chitwood used his radio to call for backup.

According to Morrow, an ambulance was called and Bifano attempted to calm the suspect as he started to realize what was happening. Morrow said at one point Bifano asked the suspect if he knew where he was, to which the suspect replied he did not. Morrow said that Bifano told the suspect he had broken into the business and the suspect responded, "No, I wouldn't do that."

Morrow said, at around 4 a.m., the suspect was finally settling down and was "quite surprised where he was."

Based on Morrow's account, the officers explained to the suspect they were there to help him and not hurt him. "(The officers) were very calm and very gentle. I can't express how impressed I was with our police officers," Morrow said.

By Morrow's account, nothing was taken from the gallery and she assumed the suspect was just looking for a warm place to sleep. Morrow said she questioned whether or not she wanted to pay for the security camera, but now she is glad she has it. It helped her to think that the suspect was not in the building to steal anything or do any harm.

Morrow said once the suspect calmed down and realized where he was, he wanted to curl up and sleep. "He was pretty humble," Morrow said. He went to the police station willingly once he was calm, Morrow said.

Green was cited and arrested for Criminal Trespass, Interference with a Peace Office and Property Destruction.

Saratoga Police Chief Tom Knickerbocker said he could not comment on the case because the incident is under investigation.

Green appeared in court on Monday and pleaded guilty to all three counts. The court is waiting for the victim impact statement to determine if any restitution needs to be made. Green is scheduled to be sentenced for a misdemeanor at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 13.