WESTFIELD – A couple who fled Westfield court ahead of arraignment was back in court again yesterday and, this time, arraigned and held.
The couple is charged with offenses stemming from a larceny from a commercial storage unit which, according to the victim, had been a temporary repository for $30,000 in cash, savings bonds and thousands of jewelry and collectible items.
The theft had been investigated by Det. Brian Freeman who said that the victim had explained that her home had been damaged and she had removed all her valuables to her storage unit, both to make room for the needed repairs and to keep the property safe while a succession of contractors were in her home to make repairs.
Freeman said that his investigation found that an adjacent storage unit had been rented by a couple who were known to him as heroin users and he began to suspect them more strongly after an employee of the storage facility reported seeing the male party of the couple, Luis M. Casanova, 23, of 919 Southampton Road, near the door of the victim’s unit.
Freeman said that a search of area jewelry stores and other businesses which buy used jewelry showed that the female half of the couple, Chelsea L. Smith, 24, of 23 River St., had sold items which fit the description of some of the stolen pieces. When he investigated, he said, he found the woman in the store when he went there.
“We were there to get other stuff she sold and she was there trying to sell more,” Freeman said. “As soon as I walked in she looked like she saw a ghost. It was funny.”
Smith was found to be in possession of several bags of heroin when she was arrested and, after her mother posted $1,000 bail, she was released and appeared in court as scheduled.
Court records show that she was interviewed by a court-appointed defense attorney and apparently advised that there could be an effort to modify her bail.
Smith had been in court with Casanova (who had not then been charged) and the couple left the court before Smith could be arraigned.
Smith reportedly left her child with a relative in Chicopee before she and Casanova dropped out of sight. The child was later surrendered to the Department of Children and Families! Smith’s bail was declared to be forfeit, warrants were issued and Freeman started to look for the couple.
A lead suggesting that they had gone to Enfield did not pan out, he said, and he turned his focus to Holyoke.
“I had reason to believe that they were in Holyoke, I had a couple of anonymous tips,” he said and enlisted the assistance of Holyoke officers to be on the lookout for the couple.
He said that it was state trooper who had questions about the couple’s vehicle when he spotted it in Holyoke.
Freeman said that the suspects lied to the trooper but he persisted and they were taken into custody Monday evening.
The couple returned to the Westfield Court yesterday where both were held after arraignment in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
Casanova was arraigned for breaking and entering a building in the daytime with intent to commit a felony and larceny of property valued more than $250.
Smith was arraigned for receiving stolen property valued more than $250 and possession of a Class A drug.
Each is scheduled to return to court May 21.
