RUMFORD – A Rumford man was arrested at Hannaford’s Sunday evening after a store employee spotted him allegedly sampling liquors and placing the bottles back on the shelf.

Daniel D. Wentzell, 35, was charged with theft and released on $200 unsecured bail. He is slated to be arraigned in Rumford District Court on Jan. 6.

Officer James Bernard said the incident began at 6:45 p.m. when a customer tipped off the employee about seeing a man drinking liquor and putting the bottles back on the shelves.

“The employee went to the liquor aisle and saw Wentzell sipping whiskey and putting the bottles back on the shelves,” according to Bernard.

An off-duty officer happened along and advised the employee to contact police, which she did.

She then followed Wentzell, watching him allegedly take a bottle of Jagermeister liquor off a shelf, open it, drink some and spit some on the floor before replacing the bottle on the shelf and walking away, Bernard said.

The employee then grabbed the bottle and brought it to the front of the store as officers arrived.

After questioned, Wentzell, who “was extremely intoxicated but apologetic, admitted to taking a couple of drinks from bottles in the store and offered to pay for them,” Bernard said.

Arresting officer Daniel Garbarini said it was too late at that point, $21.79 later.

Car totaled

after catching fire

RUMFORD – A 1996 Nissan Altima registered to Mark Brennick, 39, of Rumford caught fire and burned Saturday, Dec. 6, at 178 Andover Road.

Officer James Bernard said that when he arrived, “the hood was open and there were flames in the engine compartment. I grabbed the fire extinguisher from the cruiser, approached the vehicle and extinguished the fire.”

The blaze, which totaled the Altima, reportedly ignited after Brennick tried to start the car using starter fluid spray, Bernard said.

Not the time

to make doughnuts

RUMFORD – A Rumford man trying out a repaired all-terrain vehicle Saturday, Dec. 6, got a summons for operating on a public road.

Adam Robin, 22, was summoned after Pine Street residents notified police at 10:05 a.m. that a man on an ATV was spinning in circles “in a dangerous manner,” said Officer James Bernard.

Investigating officer Michael Halacy checked the area, spotted the 360-degree skid marks made by a three-wheeler, and located the ATV at a Pine Street residence.

At the residence, the officer found Robin, who admitted to operating the bike in the roadway, Bernard said.

Drive-through

grocery store

RUMFORD – A Greenwood woman was transported to Rumford Hospital Saturday after sustaining injuries in a bizarre wreck at the Hannaford store on Waldo Street.

Florence Melville, 62, and her son, passenger Jay Melville, 24, complained of pain after her vehicle struck a concrete support post near the entrance.

Both were treated by Med-Care Ambulance medics, but the young man didn’t require transport.

Snow had just begun to fall at 9:47 a.m. Saturday when the elder Melville, who was driving a 1997 Pontiac Transport van, tried to slow down while in the parking lot’s center aisle, said officer James Bernard.

“She mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brake and two citizens, who were right in her path, jumped out of the way to avoid being struck before the van slammed into the support post,” he said.

The van was totaled and the post sustained $5,000 damage.

Beer seized,

teen summoned

RUMFORD – A routine traffic stop on Spruce Street for an inspection sticker violation netted police a case of beer, and a teenager a summons.

After approaching the stopped vehicle, officer Paul Casey noticed a cardboard case of Budweiser on the floor near the 17-year-old Rumford boy’s feet. Two of the beer cans had been opened.

The teen was subsequently summoned for illegal transportation of alcohol by a minor and the beer seized.

Too much gas

wrecks truck on icy lot

RUMFORD – An icy, rough parking lot and too much acceleration caused a rollover last Friday at Black Mountain ski area.

Eric Hamann, 17, of Peru, who was driving a 1988 Ford Ranger, and Danielle Driscoll, 16, of Rumford, suffered minor injuries when the pickup truck rolled one-and-a-half times, said officer James Bernard.

“He had been working on the truck and was putting it together, when he decided to take it for a ride with his girlfriend,” Bernard said. “He drove to Black Mountain’s parking lot and turned around, but he got on the gas too much and the truck went sideways and rolled.”

The teens sustained cuts and bruises. Med-Care Ambulance medics treated Hamann at the scene but transported Driscoll to Rumford Hospital.

The truck was totaled.

Three-wheel truck

at large?

RUMFORD – While out on patrol at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3, officer Michael Halacy came across a bizarre scene on Route 232 near the Rumford/Milton Township line.

According to his report, he spotted a hole in the road, beside which was a pile of shredded rubber, a wheel rim and what remained of a truck tire.

“It looked like someone spun the tire from their vehicle until it shredded, then they took the rim off and left it there,” Halacy stated.

He has yet to learn who did the deed, but when he does, his report stated that the driver would either be summonsed or arrested on charges of criminal mischief and littering.

Arrests

• Scott B. Pike, 20, of Mexico, on charges of disorderly conduct and violation of conditions of release, on Dec. 6. He was transported to Oxford County jail in Paris.

• Raymond Monte, 53, of Rumford, on a charge of domestic assault and a warrant, on Dec. 4. He failed to post $800 cash bail and was transported to Oxford County jail.

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