CARIBOU, Maine — Six law enforcement agencies collaborated to apprehend three local young adults after a series of car thefts last week that resulted in high-speed police chases.
Dodd, 20, of Caribou, was apprehended on May 28 by the Old Town Police Department; Nathan Morrow, 21, of Woodland was arrested later that same day by the Waterville Police Department. Emily Graves, 20 of Presque Isle, also received a summons as of Tuesday morning.
While the three face charges pending elsewhere for the alleged crimes that transpired from Caribou to Waterville, Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan explained on Monday that Dodd and Morrow will both be charged locally with four counts of unauthorized use of property (which used to be called motor vehicle theft) and four counts of aggravated criminal mischief. Gahagan said that they’re also looking to charge Graves with hindering apprehension.
“Most of these vehicles were damaged quite extensively, and not just from the joyrides,” Gahagan said, describing how some windows were smashed out after the vehicles had been parked.
Investigation of the spree started on the morning of May 26, when Caribou Police Department Patrolman Keith Ouellette recovered a damaged 2006 Honda CRV at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, located in Caribou. The vehicle was stolen from its 16-year-old owner in Presque Isle.
A second vehicle, also reported stolen on May 26, was recovered one road over on the Thibodeau Road. The 1996 black BMW was stolen from Edwin Walker of Caribou; Detective Dan Robertson of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department assisted CPD with the recovery of the vehicle.
The third vehicle recovered was a beige 1999 BMW, stolen from David Sleeper of Caribou; the vehicle was recovered also on the Thibodeau Road. A fourth vehicle, a 2010 black Toyota pick-up truck, owned by Gary Malenfant of Caribou, was driven out of the county by the trio and was later spotted by deputies with the Penobscot Sheriff’s department.
“The Penobscot Sheriff’s department had them in sight, tried to stop them on I-95, and that led to a chase,” Gahagan outlined.
When the deputies confronted all three in Hermon on May 27, as reported by the Bangor Daily News, Dodd and Graves fled the authorities in the stolen Toyota, while Morrow fled in a Dodge Ram pick-up truck he’d stolen from the Ramada Inn in Bangor.
Detective Andrew Whitehouse of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department told the BDN that deputies pursued each vehicle separately in different directions, and speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour at certain times during the chase.
Dodd and Graves ditched the Toyota in Old Town and fled on foot; they were apprehended by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department the morning of May 28 when the duo attempted to catch a bus back to Caribou.
Morrow ditched the stolen Dodge Ram in Etna, after losing control of the vehicle, and made his way down to Waterville in another stolen vehicle. He was located and arrested the same day by the Waterville PD.
Gahagan cautioned the public that most of the vehicles stolen locally had their keys in the cars.
“Don’t leave your valuables in your car, and take the keys out,” the chief advised. “Unfortunately these individuals are mobile, they get around, they’re looking in vehicles that are unlocked and they’re taking things.”
Dodd, for instance, had been charged in Caribou with unauthorized use (motor vehicle theft) just days prior to this latest spree.
The Caribou Police Chief stated “it’s the collaboration with the community that actually helps us solve these crimes.”
While there is a pile of paperwork for the PD from these thefts, Gahagan commented that folks who witnessed the thefts have come forward with statements.
“It’s that good collaboration with our community that makes a difference,” he said.
While the Caribou Police Department does have a Facebook page for community convenience, there’s the new MyPD app has just rolled out for all corners of The County.
Chief Gahagan explained that funding for the app was paid through an underage drinking prevention grant, and it can be downloaded onto smartphones without a purchasing fee.
