Saugus sex offender search comes up empty

SAUGUS – An air and ground search throughout Saugus for a Level 3 sex offender who fled police trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant was unsuccessful on Monday.Police attempted to arrest Richard Breau, 30, of 19 Holden Ave., Saugus, at his residence about 3 p.m.Breau, who was convicted in 1998 of eight counts of child rape, allegedly ran from the back door of his house, hopped a fence and continued running into nearby woods.All available Saugus police department units in addition to State Police troopers and a helicopter were used to search the area, specifically the railroad tracks around the Belmonte Middle School and the Caddy Farms off Route 1.Saugus police spokesman Lt. Michael Annese said officers attempted to arrest Breau because he is being charged with larceny over $250, which is a violation of his probation.”He’s well known to us,” Annese said. “They’ll put him away and that’s why he’s running.”The search lasted about two hours but was called off shortly after sunset.”They called it off because it got too dark,” Annese said.