After massive search, Level 3 sex offender arrested

By Dan O'Brien / The Daily Item

SAUGUS - The Level 3 sex offender who caused a massive air and ground search Dec. 29 was found and arrested at his Holden Avenue home without incident Monday afternoon, police said.

Police tried to arrest Richard Breau, 30, of 19 Holden Ave., at his home last Monday around 3 p.m. for an alleged probation violation. Police said his live-in girlfriend answered the front door when they arrived but Breau ran out the back door into some woods, resulting in a massive search by Saugus and state police that included a helicopter and K-9 units.

The search was called off about 5 p.m. due to darkness.

According to police, Breau called his girlfriend two days later and told her he was somewhere in Revere. He said he borrowed a cell phone to call her.

The girlfriend told police Sunday that Breau said he had no money, clothing or means to contact her at the time, police said.

Police also interviewed Breau's father on Sunday but he said he hadn't heard from his son.

According to police, officers went to Breau's home about 1:05 p.m. Monday where he was found. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Authorities had initially tried to arrest Breau because he had an outstanding 2007 warrant for larceny over $250, which is a violation of his probation.

Breau was convicted in April 1998 of eight counts of child rape when he was 20 years old. Multiple sources said Breau was convicted of raping his then-girlfriend who was 15 years old at the time.