A report of a stolen truck led to the arrest of two people Tuesday at an Arundel campground.

An investigation into the theft of a 1997 GMC Sierra pick-up truck from a business in Arundel led Deputy Rachael Horning of the York County Sheriff’s Office to Nelson Cooper, 52, of Saco and Jerri Souliere, 27, of Waterboro, who were arrested following an encounter with the deputy that included an attempt by the pair to avoid police.

Horning was investigating the theft of a 1997 GMC Sierra pick-up truck from a business in Arundel and identified Cooper as a suspect. Horning found Cooper and Souliere at a campsite at Bentley’s Campground. Horning saw the pair “walked briskly to a bathhouse” as the deputy approached them, according to Sheriff Bill King.

Souliere emerged alone from the bathhouse minutes later and ignored Horning’s commands to stop, King said. The deputy was eventually able to get Souliere to stop and brought her to a cruiser to speak with her.

“Souliere became argumentative, refused to provide any identification and was disruptive,” King said in a news release. “It was apparent to the deputy that Souliere was attempting to distract her away from the bathhouse.”

As Horning was interviewing Souliere, Cooper left the bathhouse and walked toward the wood line in an apparent attempt to elude police, King said. Horning told Souliere to stay next to the cruiser while the deputy tried to apprehend Cooper, but Souliere ran off toward Portland Road.

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When Souliere was later found on Limerick Road by a different deputy, she gave him a false name, King said.

Souliere was arrested for violating conditions of release, failure to submit to arrest and failure to give name. She is being held at York County Jail on $600 bail. She is scheduled to appear in Springvale District Court at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Cooper was arrested on two warrants for failure to appear in court on previous charges from Biddeford and a warrant from Alfred Superior Court for unpaid fines. He is being held at York County Jail on $390 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Springvale District Court at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The owner of the stolen truck refused to press charges.


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