HODGDON, Maine — A 31-year-old Danforth man has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes in connection with the theft of a vehicle and a hit-and-run incident involving a pedestrian.
Benjamin Barnes has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief and failure to report a personal injury motor vehicle accident, according to a press release issued Friday by the Maine State Police.
State police became involved in the case after an individual reported that he had been walking on Corner Road in Hodgdon at about 1 a.m. Thursday when a vehicle drove past him and he was struck in the arm by the side view mirror.
The pedestrian, who suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, told police that the driver did not stop and kept heading toward Danforth, Trooper Chuck Michaud said in the press release.
Several hours later, Trooper Adam Bell was informed that a 2002 GMC Yukon had been stolen from Walker Road in Hodgdon. In his investigation of both incidents, Bell was led to the Washington County town of Danforth where he and Trooper Kim Sawyer located the stolen SUV in a gravel pit.
Evidence collected from the Corner Road incident linked the stolen GMC to the crash scene, and further investigation ultimately lead to the arrest of Barnes, according to the press release.
Barnes is being held at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton and is scheduled to appear in Houlton District Court on Dec. 22.