Town office burglarized

HEBRON —  A Lewiston man was arrested after breaking into the Hebron Town Office and breaking three doors in a vain attempt to find a safe, said selectmen at their meeting Monday.

Daniel Ouellette, 48, is accused of breaking into the town office on Saturday, but has been released on personal recognizance.

According to selectmen, police had received an anonymous tip that Ouellette was en route to the town office with the intent of burglarizing the building and its safe, which he never found.

"Damage was done to three doors," said Selectman Dick Deans, pointing to one in sight during the meeting. "That one there, he kicked that one in, broke the lock out of it. He broke into the door in front of the stairs, and he tried to get into the door to the back of the kitchen. This one will have to be replaced."

Troopers Thomas Welch, Adam Fillebrown, and Sgt. Don Shead responded to the scene.

"Two state troopers came out and waited down in the bushes," said Deans. "The other one [Trooper Welch] came along and went down to the fire station and his [Ouellette's] vehicle was parked down there."

According to Deans, police noticed Ouellette breaking into the office's back door using a pry bar. When he exited a short time later, Trooper Fillebrown and Sgt. Shead tackled him, said Deans.

"They had him right there on the lawn."

"I guess he can't trust his friends because they squealed on him," said Selectman Jim Reid.

Dean reported that Ouellette has a history of breaking into town buildings.

Selectman Dan Eichorn said that there is no safe in the building.

"It's not worth anyone's time," he said.

Board members agreed that they would look into getting a security system. They said this was the first time anyone has broken into the building.

"It's not like we are plugging in a security system because there was something he could've got at," said Eichorn. "It's more we don't want people coming in and doing potential damage because they are frustrated there's nothing here."

Ouellette's case will go before a Grand Jury to see if he will be indicted on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and violating bail, reported the Sun Journal.

According to the Sun Journal, Ouellette is not allowed to have contact with the town of Hebron or any of its municipal buildings. He was ordered to stay away from town halls, but may visit Lewiston City Hall during business hours.

Calls were made to state police but were not returned as of presstime.

In other news, the board:

• Heard from the highway department that some of the town's trucks need maintenance before they can operate in the snow. It was reported that Truck Number Two has been inspected; Truck Number Four has a new sander chain and is back in service; the one-ton truck now has a new plow control, but it still needs new tires.

• Discussed doing some grading on the Lane Road, along with other town roads, while the weather is still warm.

• Announced that it will be reviewing job applications for new road crew members on November 17 at 7 p.m. All applicants must have a Class B license.