Police: Seattle Man Burglarizes Dutchess County Home After Spotting It On Rail Trail

A Seattle man walking on the rail trail is accused of breaking into a Dutchess County home off the rail trail, staying the night and burglarizing the home.

Tuesday afternoon, Dutchess County 911 dispatched State Police from Dover Plains to a possible burglary in progress on Mill Road in the Town of North East.

The caretaker of the property observed lights being turned on and off inside of the home and an unknown man in the kitchen.

Responding officers arrived at the home with the man still inside. He eventually exited the home and was taken into custody.

The man, 24-year-old John Darden of Seattle, traveled to the area from New York City and discovered the home while walking on the rail trail, police say. He entered the property on Monday and stayed until he was discovered on Tuesday.

Darden was charged with third-degree burglary, a felony. He was arraigned in Town of Amenia Court and remanded to Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Darden is scheduled to appear in the Town of North East Court on March 6.

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