Mid-county burglars caught

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two City of Poughkeepsie men they believe to be responsible for a string of burglaries in the mid-Dutchess County area since late December 2007.

Charged last Friday were Mitchell Lee Douglas, 40, and 38-year-old Dondi Michael Johnson. At the time of their arrests, the two had completed two separate residential burglaries in the Town of Sanford, police charged.

Tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods stolen in the burglaries were recovered, police said.

A total of 12 detectives and several patrols were conducting surveillance in the Pleasant Valley area when their vehicle was sighted. Deputies stopped it on Van Wagner Road near Salt Point Turnpike. A high speed chase ensured until the suspects fled to concord village in the town of Poughkeepsie and ran on foot.

They were caught after a brief chase and the proceeds taken from the burglaries earlier in the day were in their possession.
Both Douglas and Johnson were arraigned and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail.

Police agencies working on the case included the Sheriff’s Office and City of Poughkeepsie Police.