Alleged Lynn burglar’s bail set at $10G cash

SALEM – A Lynn construction worker who was caught by police after allegedly burglarizing his neighbor’s apartment on Mall Street earlier this year is being held at the Middleton Jail on $10,000 cash bail after being arraigned Thursday afternoon in Salem Superior Court.Andre Carrasquillo, Jr., 27, of 26 Mall St., #10, pleaded not guilty to armed assault on an occupant during a burglary, larceny over $250, malicious destruction of property more than $250, carrying a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Judge John T. Lu set the bail Thursday.Assistant District Attorney Kim M. Faitella asked for the high bail telling Lu that the incident occurred in the early morning of Jan. 8 when the 32-year-old victim heard a fight outside his apartment.When he opened his apartment door to see what was going on he observed two men yelling at each other. Words were exchanged with Carrasquillo who lunged toward the victim as he pushed him.The victim managed to shut his door and lock it, but a short time later he heard someone breaking his door down with a hammer.As Carrasquillo forced his way into the apartment wielding a large kitchen knife, the victim said he was able to escape and flag down a police cruiser in Market Square.Police immediately responding to the apartment and arrested Carrasquillo as he came running from the ransacked apartment holding a 9-inch wooden handle knife. A flat-screen television set was missing from the apartment, which was later found on another floor, said FaitellaFaitella pointed out to Lu that the suspect has multiple assault and assault and battery charges on his record and had violated probation.Meanwhile, defense lawyer Patrick J. Regan maintained his client was “attacked” and was the actual victim in the case, sustaining a bloody lip and face.Regan said his client has worked construction, has an 8-year-old child and has “simply” no means to pay a bail beyond $1,000.But Lu was not convinced by the defense’s plea and went along with the prosecutor’s request.Carrasquillo is due back in court on April 13 for a pretrial conference.