On February 28, patrol officers responded to the 9200 block of Kris Drive in White Plains for the report of a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they observed the residents running from the house. A preliminary investigation showed the suspect initially approached a woman who was standing outside of a house and asked if he could go inside; the suspect was armed with two large knives at the time. The woman told the suspect to leave, at which time he dropped the knives and then ran to another house where he forcibly broke in. Once inside, the suspect walked upstairs and began breaking items. The occupants fled and called 9-1-1. Officers established a perimeter and were able to deescalate the situation; the suspect surrendered without further incident. The suspect, Michael Santa Mendez, age 42, of White Plains, was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, and malicious destruction of property. Mendez was released by a district court commissioner on personal recognizance on March 1. Officer Giroux is investigating.
Michael Mendez
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