A Massachusetts man arrested on a fugitive from justice charge in Jaffrey last week has been connected to a recent unarmed robbery in Milton, Massachusetts.

John Burke, 44, of Quincy, was arrested on the afternoon of Jan. 25 at his ex-wife’s apartment in Jaffrey. Burke was wanted on an active warrant out of Massachusetts after removing his ankle bracelet while being on probation, stemming from a separate incident where he was charged with breaking and entering, domestic violence, drug charges, larceny over $250, and breaking and entering during the daytime, according to a Jaffrey police press release. 

“There was no struggle, the entry was so rapid and he was so close to the entrance that officers were on him before he had time to react,” said Jaffrey Police Chief Bill Oswalt, in an interview Friday. 

Jaffrey police originally became aware of Burke’s potential whereabouts by the Milton, Massachusetts Police Department, which was conducting an investigation into a Jan. 23 bank robbery of which Burke was a person of interest. 

Burke has since been charged by Milton police with unarmed robbery, after evidence was found in Jaffrey that could connect Burke to the crime, according to Milton Lt. James O’Neil. 

Jaffrey police eventually tracked Burke down at his ex-wife’s apartment, after spotting a vehicle that matched a description provided by Milton police. Entry into the apartment was made by the Monadnock Regional Special Response team after Burke failed to respond to an officer’s call to come out.

After making the arrest, police found a replica gun – similar in function to a starter’s pistol – under the mattress Burke had been sitting on, in addition to a small quantity of cash and a drug believed to be heroin. 

“It resembled a very realistic revolver, but functionally speaking looked to only fire cap rounds,” said Oswalt. “When it was first discovered, we thought he had a real weapon.” 

Oswalt said that while Burke had been staying at his ex-wife’s house, police had no reason to believe that she knew of Burke’s crimes, or that she had been involved in any way. Oswalt said that Burke does not have any prior criminal history in town. 

Burke is currently being held at the Cheshire County House of Corrections, held on $500,000 cash bail. His next scheduled hearing takes place on Feb. 9. 

In addition to officers from Jaffrey, Rindge and Dublin Police Departments, members of the Monadnock Regional Special Response team, Milton, Massachusetts Police Department, and the FBI were present and assisted with the investigation. 

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