FARMINGTON — Two teenagers face robbery charges after a homeowner on Red School House Road returned home Thursday morning to find them in his house, said Bonnie Pomeroy, Farmington Police Department office manager.

Justin Meyer, 18, of Vienna and a 17-year-old Wilton boy were taken into custody just after 2 p.m. between Morrison Hill Road and the Whistle-Stop Trail, both in West Farmington, Pomeroy said.

Both were charged with felony robbery, Pomeroy said.

The homeowner reported that he had interrupted a burglary in progress at about 11:15 a.m., she said.

The homeowner was punched by one of the suspects before they fled the scene, Farmington police Chief Jack Peck said. The suspects fled through the backyard on foot.

Maine State Police Trooper Mathew Casavant and his tracking dog, Marcello, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Chase began to track the suspects down through the yard. The Whistle-Stop Trail is near the property.

The pursuit covered 5.1 miles, Peck said.

Farmington police, University of Maine at Farmington police and sheriff’s deputies assisted in searching and set up a perimeter around the area looking for the suspects.

The Sheriff’s Department brought in its all-terrain vehicle and deputies started searching from the trail head on the Whistle-Stop Trail. The trail runs from West Farmington to Jay with several spurs along the way.

As the officers covered more ground, the perimeter continued to close in on the suspects. They were found between an airstrip and Temple Stream.

The 17-year-old was released to an adult, Pomeroy said.

Meyer was being held on $5,000 cash bail late Thursday afternoon at Franklin County jail in Farmington, a corrections officer said.

NOTE: The article has been modified to reflect the correct name of Trooper Mathew Casavant’s tracking dog, Marcello. It was incorrectly provided to the Sun Journal.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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