Branford Man Nabbed for Burglary in Rhode Island

John Koliscz, 55, of Branford, was arrested Friday in Barrington, RI after an alleged burglary 110 miles from home. Koliscz now faces three breaking-and-entering charges and an assault with a dangerous weapon charge.

Two Barrington homeowners and a son of one of the owners, captured Koliscz on Friday night, Oct. 14.

Allegedly, Koliscz was spotted leaving a home at 16 Woodland Road in Barrington around 7:25 pm, Barrington Police Chief John LaCross said.

The homeowner’s son, 27, saw Koliscz leaving the house by the front door, the same way he went in, LaCross said. He and his 58-year-old father chased Koliscz, police stated.

“It was a brave thing to do,” LaCross said.

The son caught up with Koliscz and police report he fought with the suspect and muscled him to the ground. Koliscz, the police added, waved a screwdriver around during the altercation.

The 27-year-old's father and a neighbor, 57, then pinned Koliscz to the ground as the homeowner’s wife waved down a police officer responding to the 911 call.

No one was injured, LaCross said.

Attempts to reach the victims for comment were unsuccessful.

Koliscz was arrested and taken to the police station for questioning, LaCross said. He admitted to Detective Dino DeCrescenzo that he had entered the home and two other homes in Barrington, LaCross said.

Koliscz parked his car in the Barrington shopping plaza near Shaw’s supermarket and walked into the nearby Rumstick neighborhood, said LaCross. Several pieces of jewelry were found in his pocket. He apparently melts down the jewelry at his home in Connecticut and sells the metal, the police chief said.

The burglar told police he spotted headlights coming into the driveway while inside the house. He decided to leave by the same door he came in, which is believed to have been unlocked.

“It’s still breaking and entering,” LaCross said. “He crossed the threshold.”

Koliscz was arraigned in the police station by a justice of the peace and an assistant attorney general before being taken to the ACI.

Besides the B&E and assault charges, Koliscz also faces an unknown charge from the Portsmouth Police Department, which had a warrant out for his arrest, LaCross said.

Branford Police Captain Geoffrey Morgan stated that Koliscz has no arrests on record in Branford.