LEWISTON — A former commander of the Sons of AmVets in New Gloucester and a 911 dispatcher was arrested Monday and charged with felony theft, police said.

Peter Ross Bragdon, 32, of 25 Main St., Gray, stole more than $8,900 from the veterans’ organization’s bank account, according to Cumberland County Sheriff’s Capt. Donald Goulet, who issued a written release Wednesday.

Bragdon once served as commander of the post at 858 Lewiston Road but had his membership revoked, Goulet said. Even after the revocation, Bragdon’s name remained on a bank account connected to the organization. After leaving the group, he continued to make withdrawals, Goulet said. Deputy Sheriff Brad Rogers’ investigation into the missing money resulted in Bragdon’s arrest.

He was being held Wednesday morning at Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail.

Bragdon worked for seven years as a 911 dispatcher for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department.

In a separate case, he recently pleaded guilty to charges of theft, forgery and tax evasion in Kennebec County Superior Court. The case was moved as a change of venue from Androscoggin County Superior Court. If Bragdon maintains a clean criminal and driving record, the misdemeanor charges are expected to be dropped in March, according to court records.

Bragdon is a 1996 graduate of Gray-New Gloucester High School. He attended Central Maine Community College, where he earned an associate degree in business administration and a certificate as an emergency medical technician intermediate, according to a recent Sun Journal engagement announcement that lists his current residence as Mechanic Falls.

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