CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou police say they confiscated loaded guns and drugs from a Mapleton man on Tuesday, Dec. 4, after he drove his truck off the road and fled the scene of the accident.
Police arrested 43-year-old Daniel Easler of Mapleton on multiple charges in connection with the incident.
An individual called police at about 10:02 p.m. on Dec. 4, to report that a man who had driven his car off the road on Route 89 just past the Madawaska Road in Caribou approached him and asked for a ride, stating that he “needed to get out of there fast,” according to a press release issued Wednesday by Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan.
Caribou police report confiscating two loaded guns along with drugs and drug paraphernalia from Daniel Easler, 43, of Mapleton when they arrested him on Tuesday, Dec. 4. (Chris Bouchard)
The caller said he refused and the man walked away on foot. When Officer Eric Depner arrived to investigate, he found a 1995 GMC pickup “registered to an individual out of Mapleton” in the ditch, according to the release. The officer followed footprints in the snow and located the suspected driver on the Belyea Road, Gahagan reported.
The officer noticed a shotgun sticking out of the suspect’s coat and immediately took him into custody, according to the release. Depner also found a loaded handgun, drugs and drug paraphernalia on the suspect.
The man refused to give his name, but after Depner transported the suspect to the Caribou Police Department and with the help of Maine State Police Troopers Adam Stoutamyer and Patrick Pescitelli and a portable fingerprint scanner, the officers were able to identify Easler. Police also determined that there were several warrants out for his arrest and that he “was out on six different bails,” according to the release.
The officers also checked the guns and found that the handgun had been reported stolen out of Presque Isle.
Police then charged Easler with two counts of illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of scheduled drugs, operating after revocation-habitual offender, violation of conditions of release, and failure to give correct name, date of birth and address.
According to the police, Easler was not able to make his new bail of $10,000 cash or $25,000 double surety and will be incarcerated at the Aroostook County Jail until his Jan. 10 court date on the most recent charges.
The release indicates that Easler “has an extensive criminal history,” but provided no additional information about the previous or ongoing cases against him.
