Man Charged With Breaking Into Hingham's Scarlet Oak Restaurant

HINGHAM, MA — A Yarmouth Port man was charged with breaking into a restaurant in Hingham on Friday. Christopher A. Dalton, 41, was arrested on several charges after Friday's break-in at Scarlet Oak Restaurant in Hingham and a search involving a police dog, according to the Hingham police. Dalton is charged with felony breaking and entering, malicious destruction of property valued at more than $1,200, and four counts of possession of a controlled substance, including methamphetamine.

Police say they came out to the Scarlet Oak Restaurant on Main Street around 2:30 a.m. on Friday after a burglar alarm was triggered by a motion sensor on the second floor. In the parking lot of the restaurant, police saw a car with the key in the ignition with the car door partially open. And although the restaurant's front door was closed, the lock had been removed, police say.

While searching inside the restaurant, police found a hole in the attic ceiling , where a fan had been removed. Police say they believe the fan was removed so that the suspect could enter the establishment from the outside. According to police, the break-in suspect — later identified as Dalton — tried to flee the restaurant from police. He tried to exit out the front door, but it was locked. He then removed the lock from inside to open it, and fled on foot, police say.

To track the suspect, police used Plymouth County Sheriff's Department police dog Heath, with his handler, Lt. James Creed. Dalton was found in a swampy, heavily wooded area behind the restaurant, according to the Hingham police. Dalton was found covered in mud, barefoot and holding a cell phone, according to police. A small amount of what is believed to be methamphetamine was found in his pocket, police say.

According to the Hingham police, the car parked in front of the restaurant was searched, and police found a bag containing Gabapentin pills, Adderall pills and a Suboxone strip. The car was towed.

In addition to the felony breaking and entering charge and the malicious destruction of property charge, Dalton is charged with possession of a Class A substance, two Class B substances, and a Class E substance, police say. He was held overnight in jail on $300 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned later on Friday at Hingham District Court.