WINTERPORT, Maine — A pickup truck allegedly stolen from a Thomaston repair shop and spotted at the Winterport fire station this weekend ultimately led police to arrest a Vinalhaven man.
Owen Adair, 23, was charged with theft of the truck and several other connected charges after a police investigation that spanned two counties and began on Sunday afternoon. That’s when members of the Winterport Fire Department noticed a pickup truck full of metal that belonged to the Fire Department, according to a news release from Lt. Jason Trundy of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Jonathan Shaw found the owner of the truck, a Warren woman who told police that her vehicle was getting transmission repairs done in Thomaston. She did not know that her truck was missing and more than 50 miles up the coast. Sgt. Timothy Hoppe of the Thomaston Police Department learned that the truck had been stolen Saturday evening from the repair shop, and officials eventually found a suspect.
After interviewing Adair and several witnesses, Shaw said he determined that the Vinalhaven man was responsible for the theft and for attempting to steal metal from the Fire Department. He also learned that Adair’s driver’s license was suspended, that he was out on bail from Knox County Jail and that he was in possession of burglar tools, according to the news release.
Adair was charged with violation of conditions of release, operating after suspension, theft by unauthorized taking and receiving stolen property. Although his bail for the most recent set of offenses was set at $1,000 cash, the bail for his previous offense was revoked, according to the police.
A Waldo County jail official said Adair has been taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, where he remained Monday afternoon.