Second suspect charged in stolen vehicles case

FARMINGTON — A Waterville man was arrested Friday on charges connected to a string of vehicle thefts in Farmington and Temple, and a burglary at Rick's Market in Wilton in October.

Robert Charles Lacroix, 22, of Winslow was arrested on charges of felony passing a road block and misdemeanor theft by unauthorized use of property, Franklin County Sheriff's Lt. Niles Yeaton said Friday.

Lacroix is one four people police believe were involved in the theft of five vehicles and burglary the evening of Oct. 19 into early Oct. 20.

Waterville Police Department received information about Lacroix's whereabouts and went to the residence and picked him up on the Franklin County warrant, Yeaton said. Franklin County Detective Tom White arrested Lacroix on the charges and brought him to the Franklin County jail in Farmington.

Another suspect in the case, Jacob Hastings, 20, of Augusta appeared in Farmington District Court on Franklin County charges of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and unauthorized use of property. He also has a Kennebec County charge of probation violation.

A judge ordered Hastings held without bail on the latter charge and on $10,000 cash or $100,000 worth of real estate on the Franklin County charges.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson told the court Thursday that a witness has told police that Hastings was the driver of the van that struck a Wilton police cruiser and injured officer Nate Reid during the melee.

dperry@sunjournal.com