STANDISH – The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating possible connections to a string of burglaries in the Standish area following a home invasion Sunday morning that netted a North Carolina fugitive and sent one man to the hospital.

The victim, 55-year-old homeowner Richard Carlson, awoke at 2 a.m. being assaulted by a masked intruder who broke into his Shore Road home. Investigators later arrested and charged Ephriam Bennett, 46, of Raliegh, N.C., with elevated aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, all Class A felonies.

Bennett was being held Sunday without bail in the Cumberland County Jail. In addition to the Maine charges, the convicted felon from North Carolina is being held on a fugitive from justice warrant from that state in connection with a warrant issued in October 2008. According to a news release issued by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the warrant stems from a probation revocation on a felony theft conviction.

The sheriff’s office reported Sunday that Carlson was surprised in his bed and lost several teeth as a result of the initial attack. Police say he was then tied up with duct tape and then repeatedly kicked and beaten by Bennett. Investigators say Bennett also stabbed the Standish man twice over the course of the six-hour ordeal, once in the back once in the left arm.

Following the attack, Bennett stayed in Carlson’s home until 8 a.m., using Carlson’s washer and dryer to clean blood stains off his clothes. Soon after Bennett fled from his home, Carlson managed to free himself and made his way to a neighbor’s home and called police. Investigators reported Sunday afternoon that Carlson was transported to Maine Medical Center and treated for two stab wounds, cuts to the face and head and broken ribs.

Bennett was taken into custody after being found exiting the woods approximately a quarter mile from the crime scene following a search led by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office that also involved the Maine State Police and police departments from Buxton and Gorham. Detectives also recovered the mask, gloves and knife used in the stabbing at the Carlson home that had been hidden at another location.

Bennett’s connection to Maine is that he is a former resident of Searsmont. Detectives are also attempting to establish his connection to three other burglaries in the immediate vicinity.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Sheriff Mark Dion at (207) 774-1444 ext. 2115.