LIVERMORE FALLS — Two 16-year-old boys were charged after police say one stole an 18-pack of beer and both were caught drinking it on the steps of a church Monday afternoon.

Later that evening, the teens were arrested in another alcohol-related incident.

Police received a call just after 4 p.m. Monday from a clerk at the Puffin Stop on Main Street reporting that a boy walked in and stole beer, Livermore Falls police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Tuesday. An officer got a description of the person and went looking for him.

About two hours later, police spotted two teens sitting on the steps at the Eaton Memorial United Methodist Church at Knapp and Church streets. The boys from Livermore Falls and Livermore were issued summonses, Steward said.

The Livermore Falls teen was charged with theft by unauthorized taking and possession of alcohol by a minor; the Livermore teen with possession of alcohol by a minor, Steward said. The beer was confiscated and an officer planned to contact their parents, he said.

Meanwhile, the Livermore Falls teen went to Cumberland Farms and a clerk reported he stole a 24-ounce can of Twisted Ice Tea, an alcoholic beverage, Steward said. The teen was arrested on a second charge of theft by unauthorized taking and a charge of a minor having liquor on his person, he said.

The Livermore teen was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after he started mouthing off to police and making threatening comments, Steward said. Both teens were brought to the police station and parents were contacted.

A juvenile intake officer had the Livermore Falls boy placed on hold, and he was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston for a psychological evaluation. He was then taken to Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn to be transported to a juvenile detention center.

The Livermore boy’s parents refused to pick him up from the station, Steward said. But police were able to contact a third party and he was released into a friend’s custody.

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