PORTLAND — A Waterboro man has been charged with terrorizing after he allegedly ordered a 10-year-old boy walking home from school to get into a truck.

Christopher S. Bennett, 23, remained at Cumberland County Jail on Friday.

According to Portland Police Lt. James Sweatt, the boy was walking home from Ocean Avenue Elementary School about 3:45 p.m. Thursday when he noticed an unusual truck making its way down Ocean Avenue toward him.

Sweatt said the pick-up truck, which was occupied by two men, had an attached trailer full of brush and tree limbs. The boy turned around, headed back toward the school and moved behind a tree, but the truck stopped and both men got out, said Sweatt in a telephone interview Friday afternoon.

Bennett, the passenger, yelled at the boy to get into the truck, and the boy ran away, shedding his backpack as he fled, Sweatt said. He was not injured.

Sweatt said a passing motorist saw what was happening, stopped and helped the boy find a neighbor and staff from Ocean Avenue Elementary. Another person flagged down a passing police officer, who was able to find the truck and stop it on Forest Avenue, about half a mile away.

“We don’t know (Bennett’s) motivation,” said Sweatt. He said the boy didn’t know Bennett or the driver of the truck.

After an investigation, Bennett was arrested along with the truck’s driver, Nathan Defosses, 26, of Shapleigh. Bennett was charged with terrorizing and violation of bail conditions. Defosses was charged with operating after suspension.

Sweatt said the boy did the right thing by running away. “We’re very proud of him,” he said.

The incident was safely resolved by a combination of the quick and appropriate responses of the victim and the aid of adults passing by, he added.

“A true community response to this incident ultimately ensured the safety of the victim and apprehension of the perpetrator,” Sweatt said in a statement.

He advised parents to review safety tips with their children, and recommended they visit the website kidsmartz.org.

Bennett was to make a first court appearance in Cumberland County Friday afternoon. He is no stranger to York County law enforcement: his history includes charges ranging from theft to disorderly conduct, refusing to submit to arrest, assaulting an officer and similar charges.

“We’ve had a lot of dealings with him,” said York County Chief Deputy Tom Baran.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].