DEXTER, Maine — DNA evidence tied a Garland man to a stolen vehicle earlier this month, according to Dexter police.
On May 12, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department discovered a totaled gray 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck on Oliver Hill Road in Garland, said Dexter Police Chief Kevin Wintle on Friday.
After tracking down the owner of the vehicle in Dexter, police learned that the truck was stolen, said Wintle.
Dexter police Officer Todd Lyford and Sgt. Alan Grinnell worked with the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department to discover who stole the truck.
“There was some blood found inside the vehicle. A sample was taken and placed into evidence and sent to the Maine State Police Crime Lab,” said Wintle.
Police conducted numerous interviews over several months and also took a DNA swab from a suspect, said Wintle.
On Oct. 1, Dexter police summoned Edward Woodbury, 31, of Garland for Class C theft, a felony. Other charges could be pending, said Wintle.
Woodbury is scheduled to appear in Penobscot County Superior Court in Bangor on Nov. 14.
“This was a lengthy investigation. I feel that having a sergeant-detective now is playing a big role for our department,” Wintle said, referring to Grinnell. “Both departments worked to put the case together.”
It seemes that dexter has a proactive police force that is getting a grip on crime. Keep up the good work guys, you may have positive influence on other towns, who do not think they have a problem.
A PROACTIVE department is a department that does things to STOP crime. Everything I have read about the Dexter PD lately has been REACTIVE. This was a reactive situation that was initiated by the Penobscot Cty SO. We are talking about an abandoned 14 year old car that had been there for God knows how long. A DNA sample was taken from a suspect and apparently they got a match from blood found in the vehicle. If anything, Dexter got a ground ball thrown to them from the Sheriff’s Office and the crime lab spent a ton of money testing it. Any idea what the blue book value of a 1998 Ford Ranger is? Does it justify a DNA test to determine who was in the vehicle? Just because there was a match does not mean the person committed a crime. I wonder if the blood sample had any alcohol in it- they could have charged him with OUI too (insert sarcasm).
If you actually are a Dexter resident, you should get behind your police department which is now doing an exceptional job as the result of the great jobs being done by every officer there. Either that or move to and become a supporter of some other town’s police department. Most people won’t live in a town where they have little or no faith in their P.D., and you and I both know the names of those towns not too far away. Dexter is not one of them.
Yes, Mr. Gagan, I live in Dexter. Close to 14 years. I have seen our police department in action, or inaction (usually by the DOT or the Airport Rd.at 3 AM) through 3 police chiefs. You, on the other hand, live in Arizona and only came to Dexter to profit from a tragedy that shook our town. Your resume gives you no right to speak as you do about law enforcement. If people only took the time to research you, they would see what a sham you truly are. You have taken advantage of a family looking for answers and supported a police department that committed a mutiny on their former chief.
I wonder how they were able to obtain the DNA sample from the suspect…
he’s already in the system.
woops
he’s already in the system.
I think it’s time that Maine stops using DNA to prosecute people. It was originally designed to help defense attorneys clear their clients of any crime, but here in Maine, it’s become a silly fiasco. Maine cannot read DNA, never did, so if you’re ever caught in an awkward predictament, don’t let the many inept folks at the AG’s office work with your DNA because off to jail you’ll go.
HUH?
You are 100% mistaken. DNA testing is the most accurate biological test that exists now, provided of course that it is a sterile specimen collection, which is now as routine a process as a police officer putting his/her hat on. I hope you can learn at some point that DNA testing clears as many people as it convicts. And yes, theft of a motor vehicle of any value is worth DNA testing bcause in addition to the theft itself being a crime, stolen motor vehicles are used during the commission of following crimes very frequently. And, if I remember correctly from the news this vehicle was also involved in a pursuit (failure to stop) which is yet another crime. BUT, I might be wrong on that. I am not wrong on any other part, however.
Why do you insist on speaking down to people? “I hope you can learn at some point that DNA testing clears as many people as it convicts. ” It is that “I’m better than all of you people” attitude that just annoys me the most. And yes, DNA testing would be a GREAT tool- IF the state was not is the budget crisis it is in. This vehicle was ABANDONED, not part of a pursuit or any other crime- unless you have inside information we regular folks are not allowed to know. DNA testing is only as good as the technician reading the results. Then again, there was a 96% match with OJ Simpson and he walked.
I’m still wondering how the police obtained the DNA from the suspect. The police just can’t take it and the article glosses over that part.
Did I miss something (probably)?
Why an expensive DNA test to find the thief of a 14 year old Ranger?