WALES — A Freeport man remained in jail Sunday night after being charged with stealing a tractor-trailer rig from a Wales business, driving it through a fence and concrete barriers and then continuing on to Auburn before finally stopping for police.

William Wing, 32, of 10 Independence Drive, Freeport, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, violation of bail conditions and aggravated criminal mischief. He is currently being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on $1,500 cash bond.

Sgt. Rielly Bryant of the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office said that a call came in around 8:45 p.m. Saturday from a motorist traveling on Route 202 near the town line between Leeds and Wales. The motorist reported that a large piece of fencing and concrete masonry barrier were scattered in the middle of the intersection between Route 202 and Leeds Junction and Sumner roads.

Upon investigation, authorities determined that a semi-truck hauling an empty 53-foot trailer had been stolen from Mason Pallet Co. in Wales. Bryant said that investigators were unsure which direction the stolen vehicle traveled and alerted authorities in neighboring towns.

Bryant said that Lewiston police officers attempted to stop the tractor-trailer on Main Street, but that Wing continued driving into Auburn and didn’t stop until reaching Mt. Auburn Avenue.

Bryant said that Wing was taken into custody about 9:45 p.m. While the tractor-trailer received extensive front-end damage from driving through the fence and barrier, the vehicle was still operable and returned to the company’s owner, according to Bryant.

Bryant said that Wing has no connection to Mason Pallet and that the investigation continues into why he stole the tractor-trailer from there. Wing was in the area Saturday night visiting family.

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