Two juveniles, ages 13 and 15, have been charged in connection with two commercial burglaries at the 45 Degree North Cannabis store in Turner.
The arrests stem from a three-week investigation by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office into a spike in commercial burglaries and vehicle thefts that began in late April and spread across central and mid-coast Maine. The two juveniles were among five individuals — one adult and four juveniles — taken into custody Monday, May 18, following a police pursuit that began in Hancock County and ended with a crash in Waterville.
According to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, the juveniles are linked to two separate break-ins at the 45 Degree North Cannabis location. Physical and digital evidence collected from crime scenes and recovered vehicles played a key role in identifying the suspects. Residential search warrants were executed under the direction of the Augusta Police Department, which had also been targeted by similar burglaries earlier in the spree.
The two juveniles were taken into custody in Waterville after the vehicle they were in crashed following the Hancock County incidents and a related police pursuit earlier that morning. A detective from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to file charges. Each juvenile faces the following charges in Androscoggin County.
This case is part of a larger, coordinated investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies across the state. Other agencies continue to investigate the suspects’ possible involvement in additional burglaries, vehicle thefts, and several incidents in which the suspects allegedly failed to stop for officers and threw items at police vehicles during attempts to evade capture.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office investigation remains active, and additional charges are expected.
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