12/13/2007 Crime Spree in Farmington

My quaint little town had an unusual series of crimes in the past two weeks. The front page of today's paper (Thursday 12/13/07) had two headlines about them:

Farmington bank robbed
and
Assault suspect arrested

There was a mugging on campus Sunday night and the bank was robbed in downtown on Wednesday. Pretty scary. But they do have the suspect in the assault arrested and it looks like they know who robbed the bank. It is unusual to have any crime in Farmington, much less two big ones in the same week.

Here are the stories:

Jailed teen allegedly tried to rob student at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007

FARMINGTON -- Three days after a University of Maine at Farmington student was beaten and kicked in a robbery attempt near the UMF student center, Farmington police arrested a man they believe is the assailant.

On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested Caleb Hupper, 18, of 439 Zions Hill Road in Chesterville on charges of robbery and aggravated assault, both felonies.

According to an intake worker at the Franklin County Jail, Hupper is being held on $25,000 cash bail.

The mugging of the 18-year-old freshman from Duxbury, Mass., occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday as he was walking in front of the Education Center on High Street on his way to the Olsen Student Center.

Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III said Wednesday evening that police followed up on several leads and arrested Hupper at his home earlier in the day.

He declined to comment on whether Hupper has a juvenile criminal record.

Caton said he has no idea why the student was attacked. In an interview Monday, UMF Director of Public Safety Ted Blais called it a random act of violence.

The victim was attacked after he refused to hand over his wallet, police said.

He suffered cuts on his face and bruises on his body where the attacker punched and kicked him and continued to strike him while he was lying on the sidewalk.

The attacker ran off to a waiting car when another student who witnessed the attack from his dorm room at the Mallett Residence Hall rushed out to help, police said.

The student was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by NorthStar EMS where he received stitches for facial cuts. He also was treated for a mild concussion, according to UMF officials.

Wednesday was a busy day for Farmington Police. Caton said that as a press release on the Hopper's arrest was being prepared, he and his officers had to rush off to respond to a robbery at TD Banknorth on Broadway at 3:25 p.m.

"We were all excited about the arrest and I was planning on getting the information out when the robbery call came in," Caton said.

Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560307.html

AND:

Farmington bank robbed
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007


FARMINGTON -- Police are looking for a man who robbed the TD Banknorth branch on Broadway Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect, whose image was captured in a surveillance photo although his face is partially covered by sunglasses, is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a husky build. He was wearing a brown jacket with a hood, according to Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III.

"He passed a note to a teller indicating he had a firearm and to give him money," Caton said.

After pocketing an undisclosed amount of cash, the man left the bank on foot, police say. The bank's doors were immediately locked and the staff called 911. Caton said police were there within minutes, including officers with a tracking dog.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Farmington police at 778-6311.

This is the second robbery of a Farmington business this fall. On Oct. 5, a man claiming to be armed demanded narcotics from the Rite Aid pharmacy in West Farmington and then escaped on foot.

Wednesday's robbery was disconcerting to local employees and merchants.

"It was pretty scary, being so close to home," said Patty Bessey, an employee at the Renys department store on Broadway, who also works across the street at the Farmington Thrift Shop. "A lot of the girls are upset because they have to walk home after dark."

Ron Gelinas, owner of Mainestone Jewelry next door to the bank, said he had been in the bank a few minutes before the robbery.

"It shocks you and makes you nervous. I am just thankful no one was hurt," he said. "The police did a very good job controlling the situation and kept a low profile. People on the street and in the shops didn't even know there was anything the matter."

Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560089.html