NORTHAMPTON — Two men were arrested and charged with breaking and entering after a police dog sniffed them out in an abandoned warehouse in Easthampton.
Alexander T. Viands, 27, of Wilbraham and Charles Hatay-Gezork, 29, of Northampton, on Monday pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court to charges of breaking and entering into a building in the nighttime for a felony and trespassing.
The two were arrested by Easthampton Police shortly after 6:10 p.m. Saturday at the former site of the Hampton Warehouse on Ferry Street.
Responding to a report of possible trespassers, police arrived at the warehouse around 5:30 p.m. and an officer began making announcements for anyone inside to come out of the front gate or a police dog would be sent in and those inside “could be bit,” according to court documents.
A man reported to officers on scene that he heard people on the second floor of the building and heard glass smashing inside. Toward the back of the property, police found two juveniles by a cut in the fence. The juveniles told police there were at least two adult men inside, according to court documents.
An officer along with Gino, a police dog, entered the building around 5:40 p.m. and began searching. About 15 minutes later, another officer joined in the search. Toward the back of the building, Gino began showing behavior changes which indicated he had picked up a scent, according to court documents.
Police eventually found the men around 6:10 p.m. near a rear stairwell on the building’s first floor. They were brought out of the building and brought to the Easthampton police station for booking.
Viands was represented in court by attorney Torran M. Bagamary. Hatay-Gezork did not have an attorney at his arraignment. Both men are scheduled to appear in court on March 12.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.