Trio charged in car thefts after chase
10/6/08 | 13 comments

Trio charged in car thefts after chase


By Jen Lynds
BDN Staff

HOULTON, Maine — Two juveniles and an adult are facing a blizzard of charges after allegedly spending an evening stealing cars, leading police on a chase and ramming a police cruiser.

State police Sgt. Julie Bergan said last week that the incident took place late Thursday evening, after police simultaneously began investigating a report of a stolen motor vehicle from Hodgdon and a missing juvenile from Ludlow.

Police soon determined that the two cases were connected.

The stolen vehicle, a 2002 GMC pickup, was spotted around midnight by U.S. Border Patrol Agent Tory Keehn. The agent attempted to stop the truck on Interstate 95 in Houlton, but the operator refused to comply. The truck continued south on the interstate at speeds exceeding 95 mph before leaving I-95 at Smyrna. The operator then turned onto a back road and slowed the vehicle to 35 mph. Fifteen miles into the chase, Bergan set up a roadblock on Keith Brook Road in Oakfield, but the vehicle sped through without stopping.

Bergan then led the pursuit as she and Troopers Dennis Quint and Nicholas Casavant chased the truck another 17 miles toward Island Falls. Bergan said the truck kept speeding up and slowing down, with speeds ranging from 25 mph to 60 mph.

Bergan eventually was able to pull alongside the pickup, but the driver slammed into the side of her cruiser.

Additional Border Patrol agents arrived and joined the pursuit, following the truck onto Sleeper Road in Sherman. Bergan said police then were forced to call off the pursuit because the terrain on the back country road was too rugged and “became extremely difficult to maneuver in.”

A follow-up investigation determined that the three suspects later abandoned the truck in nearby woods and fled on foot, walking for some distance before they came upon another motor vehicle. One of the juveniles, a male, found the keys to the 2004 Ford Taurus in Sherman and the trio sped off in it, driving around for some time.

Bergan said that one of the suspects, Sam Heath, 18, of Sherman, was dropped off at his residence while the two juveniles drove on to Mars Hill. The duo then met two female juveniles who joined them in the stolen vehicle for a trip to Presque Isle.

Around 7:30 a.m. Friday, state police Sgt. David McPherson encountered the stolen car in Westfield and conducted a felony traffic stop.

All of the occupants complied with his commands, according to Bergan, and all four juveniles were taken to the Presque Isle Police Department.

The male juvenile was arraigned in Presque Isle District Court on Friday on two counts of unauthorized use of property, passing a roadblock, driving to endanger, eluding a police officer, operating without a license, speeding and aggravated criminal mischief.

The other juvenile involved, a female, has been charged with unauthorized use of property.

Heath has been charged with two counts of unauthorized use of property and operating a motor vehicle after suspension.

The two female juveniles who got into the car with the juvenile suspects have not been charged.

Bergan’s cruiser had approximately $1,200 in damage.

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Comments
13 comments on this item
On 10/6/08 at 3:47 AM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Naughty! Naughty! Naughty! When will some people ever learn they cannot outrun a police radio?

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On 10/6/08 at 9:29 AM, southtexaskate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

this is not the first or second time that sam health has been in trouble with the law in the last few months. prehapse its time for him to acctually be serously charged with a crime and to do some time. it is just a matter of time before he does something and some one gets hurt. i would hate for this to happen to a young man, and have his life ruined because of a thoughtless action.

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On 10/6/08 at 10:57 AM, fjcullins wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Does anyone know who the parents of this HEATH CHARECTER , and does he live on the Golden road....

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On 10/6/08 at 11:56 AM, mouser wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree with southtexaskate, this is not the first time for Mr. Heath. If he had been prosecuted when he went to Court 4 weeks ago, maybe this wouldn't have happened again. His case was continued so that he could go back to school and try to become a model citizen. (ha ha) He has victimized many people in Sherman, stealing personal property that people have worked hard to have without any consideration how his actions have effected these people. Sherman was a town where you didn't have to lock your doors at night, and could leave your snowsled or other personal property outside without fear that someone was going to steal it. I believe it is time for Mr. Heath to be accountable for his actions, whether being sent to jail will help, then something. His actions have been going on to long without any accountability. It's time..........

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On 10/8/08 at 6:06 AM, Inmaine2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I lived up there for many years. My son was ALWAYS in trouble with the law when he was a juvenile (to the tune of 2 felony charges that will follow him for the rest of his life), and he only spent a total of 10 days in jail. The courts need to be less lenient the first time a juvenile goes to court because it gives them the wrong impression. Sadly, the system is reactive not proactive and therefore you will probably see Mr. Heath quite a few more times before anything is done.

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On 10/8/08 at 4:49 PM, wspahn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

And people say there's nothing to do in Aroostook County!

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On 10/14/08 at 7:58 PM, outofstater wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Is this Smoky and Carl's younger brother? Let's hope it doesn't take somebody else winding up dead before something is done.

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On 10/14/08 at 9:43 PM, gmse66 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I believe Sam Heath is from a whole different Heath family.

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On 10/16/08 at 3:18 PM, pat1947 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The parents of the young female juvenille should be arrested! That poor girl has been abused physically and mentally for years. I know this for a fact. The parents are getting a lot of sympathy for this one and they deserve to be where she was put.

I am not saying what the girl did was right but I think she finally snapped. The girl tried to call the state police when she ws being abused and they came to the house. The police talked to the mother first and the mother informed them the girl was a pathalogical liar. The police took the girl to her room and told her if she ever called 911 or them for help again she would be in trouble. The parents are hiding a lot of dirt of their own!

DHS should do their job in Houlton and surrounding areas and put a stop to these parents like them and there might not be so much crime.

I hope the girl does not have to go back and live with those screwed up parents!

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On 2/1/09 at 9:02 AM, peacelove_cheer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

alright. for one. this "young female juvenile" happens to be my neice. and she's done a lot of stupid crap in the past, but shes in a group home now and shes doing fine. TWO, her parents HAVE NEVER abused her. her moms my sister, and they love her a lot. so shut up. talk as much crap as you'd like and post it on the internet, but don't accuse the parents of her behavior. she just got in the wrong crowd of people. her parents are not "hiding dirt" either. and, THREE. i was there when she called 911 cause i was with her when it happened. and she did not say her parents were abusing her, we called and hung up. we were like, six. kaythanks. the parents have NOTHING to do with her behavior. they have done EVERYTHING possible to keep her out of trouble, the reason shes in a girls home is to get away from the people here, and ingage on school work, and getting stronger. FOUR. her parents are not screwed up at ALL. they were worried sick when she was missing, and me and my sister looked day to day for her. so shut your mouth. so if you have any more problems, i advise you take it up with me. or say it to there FACE. kthxbye.

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On 2/1/09 at 10:02 AM, peacelove_cheer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

and if that was the pat im thinking it is, you need to keep your comments to yourself. you've cause our family a lot of crap, and y ou have NO idea what the heck your talking about. get a life. and if your gonna talk crap about our family, remember. you're a part of our family too. and if you didn't cause so much crap, then maybe we'd respect you more.

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On 2/10/09 at 11:20 AM, britbrit2012 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

alright PAT1947, i'm the juvinille in this. MY PARENTS HAVE NEVER LAID A FREAKING HANDON ME. your just jealous thatyour no longer a part of myfamily. mine and D.D family. go suck one. you shouuld be in jail your one to talk dumba** you lostall your kids to dhhs besides april so go f*c*i*g suck one! and no my parents don't belong where i am i am fine wherei am i'm doing AMAZING inmars hill so shove it i swear to god if you ever post one thing about me on the internet again i will contact police! UNDERSTAND???? you are nothing to me! or my family. DO WHAT YOU WANT YOU'LLL NEVER BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY AGAIN AND THATS A PROMISE! :D PEACE OUT.

& for the rest that left comments, it was a major mistake but we all have our chance to change.. and i am changing i'm passing all school classes & i no longer have contact with these kids. they didn't tellme that the vehicle was stolen... so i really didnt know until the police started to follow us. The juvinille boy is in juvinille for a long time.. probably alot longer than sam will get andi'm on probaation until April. and i'm at a group home. i'm doing excellent i'm very proud ofmyself... i hope to attend my old school next year. but i've made major supporters at my new school & the best of friends. i don't have a record it was whiped clean and i will never ever make a mistake like that ever again. you won't read about me in the paper again. :)

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On 2/8/10 at 4:08 AM, JamesPopkowski wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
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