WATERVILLE, Maine — A three-month investigation of a burglary has concluded with the arrest of a local man after DNA testing led police to the suspect.
Damien Fellows of Waterville was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a Dec. 4 burglary at a Goodwill store in the city, Police Chief Joseph Massey told the Bangor Daily News Thursday.
Massey said that Fellows climbed onto the store’s roof, pulled off a small vent and stole some computer equipment. Police found several clues at the scene, including a cigarette butt and footprints on the roof.
“They found another cigarette butt in an employee area where there’s no smoking,” Massey said.
The cigarette butts were sent to the department’s crime lab for DNA testing.
Detective Chris Paradis began searching for Fellows after the tests came back Feb. 6. Additional tests matched Fellows’ footprints to those at the scene, and he was arrested and charged with burglary, unauthorized taking and criminal mischief.
“It was a pretty good piece of police work,” Massey said. “It took [Paradis] a lot of time and legwork trying to track this guy down.”
The criminal mischief charge stems from the damage Fellows caused in breaking into the store.
Massey said the items the suspect took have not been recovered.
“We’re still working on that,” Massey said.
Fellows was taken to the Kennebec County Jail and later released on bail. He is scheduled to appear in superior court on April 24.
If convicted of the Class C felony burglary charge, Fellows could spend up to five years behind bars.
“Fellows was taken to the Kennebec County Jail and later released on bail.” so he can go do it again….argh!
NO ! so the state can make some money when he violates his bail conditions !
Another brilliant criminal!!
Rob the goodwill? Really?
If crime rates get much worse in Maine these types of offenses will probably not get this type of attention in the future. DNA studies for breaking into Goodwill ?
The prices in Goodwill were not low enough for this person it appears. People who are trying to get thier lives back together by working there, people trying to find a deal to stretch the dollar. This guy wants to steal from people like that. What a winner!
Goodwill ain’t what it used to be. Not saying they deserve to be robbed but, they charge some crazy prices for some of their stuff I wouldn’t pay $5 for at a yard sale on Sunday afternoon. They also receive quite a few Federal dollars. Wonder what there executives make.
More than you can count on one hand
You can see what most nonprofits pay their CEOs by looking at their 990 reports at guidestar.org. It’s enlightening… and six figures for senior management in the case of this Goodwill.
This guy must have been a real scumbag if they already had his DNA. He must have robbed a Salvation Army Christmas Kettle or stole some girlscouts cookie money.
Rolled some occupiers maybe
Stealing from the poor the sick and the handicapped.. This guy must be a friend of Paul Lepage.
That was Poetic Justice…and very funny.
Most people on the system are not usually befriended by those of us working to support them, so I doubt he’s a friend of Lepages. Friend of yours perhaps?
That would explain why Paul Lepage used to hang out in dive bars when he was mayor of Waterville.
I love this state and its law enforcement, i really do. Ayla Reynolds goes missing, nobody is brought in, nobody is a suspect. Firefighter goes missing, last two people to see him get outta the state long before cops can question them. Justified shootings everytime an officer in the state pulls his weapon from the holster. Greenleaf gets pushed and killed, nobody gets found guilty of even an assault. Murders, Child molesters get lighter sentences than anywhere else in the country but wait…….wait…….. The cops of Maine have pot smokers filling the prisons and jails, and looky here…they catch a burglar of GOOD-Freaken-Will with DNA evidence from the cigarette butts he drops….Deputy Dawg or what…This state would make one heck of a the show Cops….they could call it Cops Wannabes
He was just trying to climb the corporate ladder, he didnt know it led to the roof !