LEWISTON – A city police officer is being credited for solid gumshoe work in tracking down a man with a long criminal record who was wanted on warrants and in connection with a Sunday afternoon theft.

Officer Danielle Murphy located David A. Moody at a Lisbon Street motel Monday and arrested him on two charges of theft, a charge of failing to give his correct name, a charge of violating conditions of release, and warrants.

Lt. Tom Avery said Murphy was following up Monday on a shoplifting complaint from the Sears store on East Avenue. Avery said that on Sunday the store’s security camera had caught Moody on tape, and police recognized him from earlier cases.

Murphy began checking places where Moody might be, and found him at the motel.

Sunday wasn’t Moody’s first visit to the Sears store.

Security guards chased him from the store in 1996 after spotting him allegedly stealing an automotive part.

He got away in a waiting car. He eventually answered to that theft charge and others filed in Androscoggin, Cumberland and Kennebec counties after turning himself in to Jay police in 1999.

Since then he has faced other charges. Most recently, in January, he was arrested and charged with driving without a license after being declared a habitual offender. Moody was picked up that time while driving a suspect in a crack cocaine trafficking case away from a Lisbon Street motel.

He was being held at the county jail Monday night in lieu of $4,500 cash bail. He has an Aug. 14 court date.

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