FRYEBURG

Police want to know if home invasion suspect acted alone

Fryeburg police said Wednesday that their investigation into a string of home burglaries that occurred last fall continues after the arrest a day earlier of one suspect.

Detective Sgt. Joshua Potvin said in a news release that the department’s probe into the East Fryeburg home invasions that last October and November continues because police are not certain that 19-year-old Dylan Thorner of Fryeburg, who was arrested Tuesday, acted alone.

Thorner has been charged with eight felonies, including arson, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, theft and criminal mischief.

“We are still actively involved in this investigation and determined to establish if Thorner acted alone. All those involved in committing these senseless crimes will be brought to justice,” Potvin said in a statement.

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According to police, Thorner’s list of targets included the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter as well as homes on North Elkins Brook Road, Sanborn Road and Baker Circle. He also is accused of setting fire to a home at 64 Belair Estates Road.

The break-ins left residents of the village of East Fryeburg feeling terrorized at the time, police have said.

BRIDGTON

Firefighters battle blaze in Cottage Street residence

Firefighters are battling a fire Wednesday night at a residence at 2 Cottage St. in Bridgton.

A dispatcher for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said there have been no reports of injuries.

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The house is located in a residential neighborhood off Main Street, which is also known as Route 302. The fire was reported at 7:05 p.m.

LEWISTON

Police charge man in two Lewiston bank robberies

Police have charged a man with two bank robberies in Lewiston.

Police say they arrested 30-year-old Brent Roaix of Sabattus on Tuesday afternoon in Lewiston following a robbery at the Rainbow Federal Credit Union. No injuries were reported.

Police said they suspect Roaix also robbed the Lewiston Community Credit Union on Jan. 29.

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Roaix had five unrelated outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.

It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer.

AUBURN

Man pleads guilty to five store, pizza shop robberies

An Auburn man has pleaded guilty to participating in a string of robberies in the area.

Scott Demmons pleaded guilty Tuesday to five store and pizza shop robberies last April in the same courtroom in which he called allegations in the case “a lie.”

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Prosecutors say he claimed to have a gun in some of the robberies, allegedly committed with an accomplice who is awaiting trial.

The Sun Journal reports that in an agreement reached with the district attorney’s office, the most time the 33-year-old Demmons is expected to serve will be five years of a 10-year sentence.

He will be allowed at his sentencing hearing later this month to argue for a shorter prison stint.

Demmons’ attorney says his client never had a gun.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Police identify drowning victim found in brook

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State police have identified the body found Monday morning in Goosefare Brook in Old Orchard Beach.

Steve McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said that the man is 46-year-old Kurt Hoffman of Portland.

The state medical examiner’s office said that Hoffman drowned. The state classified his death as a suicide.

Hoffman had been staying with friends in Portland, who found a note from him on Saturday saying that he did not plan to return.


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