ST. ALBANS, VT — A man was arrested after police responded to an alarm at a local shoe store and found him exiting a neighboring brewery.
Officers from the St. Albans Police Department responded to a reported alarm at Danform Shoes at approximately 10:45 p.m. March 24, 2026.
The alarm company notified police that a masked male had forced entry into the closed business and was inside the store.
The suspect then exited Danform Shoes and forced entry into a neighboring business, 14th Star Brewing Company.
Responding officers were alerted to an audible alarm and observed movement coming from inside 14th Star Brewing Company.
Officers located Brian K. Leclair, 45, of Colchester and St. Albans, as he was exiting 14th Star Brewing Company.
He was taken into custody without incident.
Officers from the Swanton Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Vermont State Police assisted the St. Albans Police Department in clearing both businesses to ensure there were no additional suspects inside.
Leclair was lodged at the Northwest State Correctional Facility due to a lack of bail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned March 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. on charges of two counts of burglary, possession of burglary tools, false information to a police officer and unlawful mischief.
Leclair has 36 previous felony arrests, 11 resulting in convictions.
