BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — A 23-year-old man was arrested for stealing a donation bucket from an elderly World War II veteran on Wednesday.
Swampscott Police Officer Michael Serino saw Michael Rogers, with addresses in Saugus and Lynn, running through the Swampscott Mall. He was holding a bucket and stuffing money down his pants, said Police Sgt. Tim Cassidy.
Serino chased Rogers while alerting other officers. Additional police, including Swampscott Police Chief Ronald Madigan and Officers Michael Bowden, Todd Pierce and John Loyte, responded. Serino apprehended Rogers without incident behind the Salem Five Bank, Cassidy said.
Police learned that Rogers had stolen the donation bucket from a 92-year-old veteran, a volunteer for the annual Buddy Poppy fundraiser for disabled veterans, outside the Stop & Shop.
Rogers was charged with larceny.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at gcawley@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.