Gardner Driver's Ed Teacher Suspected In BB Gun Shooting Spree

GARDNER (CBS) - Police are hoping a four month BB gun shooting spree has finally come to an end with the arrest of a 52-year-old driver's education teacher from Gardner.

Dennis Maylin was among a handful of suspects in the case, and officers had him under surveillance.

On Wednesday, after a window was shot out at the Auto Zone in Gardner, police immediately headed over to Maylin's house.

Arriving officers spotted Maylin, who is co-owner of a Fitchburg Driver Education School, pulling his driver's education training car into his driveway.

Seeing police, Maylin allegedly jumped out of his car while it was still in motion, and tried to escape. He was quickly captured.

Police found a loaded CO2 BB pistol and BB projectiles in his car. He's charged with malicious destruction of property over $250 and failing to stop on the signal of a police officer.

Gardner police are compiling evidence and are working with Fitchburg, Leominster, Westminster, Templeton, and State Police on other cases to see if there is a connection.

In the past four months, more than 30 commercial plate glass windows and doors in the Main Street and South Gardner areas were shot out with a BB gun.

At least two windows of passing cars were also shot out. One of those cars had a child seated inside. A second involved a driver who had his window blown out on Route 2 last Sunday. That driver was hit in the face by a projectile.

Detectives say they do expect additional charges to be filed against Maylin.