AUGUSTA — An Augusta man who allegedly stole a running, unlocked Augusta police cruiser and drove it to a supermarket where he radioed in to dispatch that he was watching a suspect has been indicted on charges of theft by unauthorized taking and impersonating a public servant.
A Kennebec County grand jury indicted Kyle Joseph King, 27, on those two charges earlier this month.
On Nov. 26, 2022, King took an Augusta police cruiser parked at the police station on Union Street and drove it to Shaw’s Plaza, according to police. While there he apparently left the police car to follow a family into Shaw’s supermarket where he had a confrontation with them. Then he returned to the cruiser, activated its lights and sirens and approached members of the same family at their car, according to a woman involved in the incident. Augusta police then arrived on the scene and dragged King out of the car, onto the ground and arrested him.
King told police he took and drove off in the cruiser — which had an AR-15 rifle inside — “because he wanted to help,” according to an affidavit filed by Aaron Paradis, the Augusta police officer who was using the vehicle when it was stolen. The cruiser was running and unlocked while parked in the rear parking lot of the police station. That area is marked with signs reading “Police Only” but is not secured by a gate or fence.
Paradis, in disciplinary action following an internal investigation, was given a one-day unpaid suspension, according to Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lully.
Police Chief Jared Mills said after the incident last year the department’s policy “dictates that our doors are locked and the keys are not left in the vehicle to prevent something like this from happening.” He also said, at the time without identifying Paradis as the officer involved, that the officer involved is a good officer with an exceptional record.
Police equipment including an AR-15 rifle was inside the cruiser when it was taken, but Mills noted King did not have access to the rifle because it was secured with a gun lock. There was no indication King tried to use the weapon.
King had apparently contacted police earlier, asking that a welfare check be done on a neighbor, and when he grew tired of waiting for an officer to arrive he went to the police station, where he saw the cruiser. He told police he got in and saw a red car leaving the station, which he followed to Shaw’s Plaza on Western Avenue.
While in the cruiser he used its communications system to send a message to police dispatchers. He identified himself as “047” and said he was watching a suspect leave Shaw’s and head toward a white Jeep.
Paradis was taking a report in the lobby of the police station when he walked back out and saw his cruiser had been taken from the parking lot, he wrote in the affidavit.
The theft charge filed against King is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The indictment states the cruiser had a value of more than $10,000. Police estimated the value of the cruiser, a fully marked 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, at between $8,000 and $10,000, but the components inside the cruiser, including the rifle, prisoner divider, radio, siren, emergency lights, modem and camera, are valued at more than $25,000.
A state prosecutor asked that a mental health evaluation be done of King.
King is being held at Kennebec County jail, according to jail records.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt but does indicate enough evidence exists to proceed with formal charges and a trial.
Others indicted recently by a Kennebec County grand jury:
• Brian R. Barter, 33, of Augusta, domestic violence assault, Dec. 20, 2022, in Augusta.
• Danny Bolden Jr., 33, of Augusta, escape, Sept. 7, 2022, in Augusta.
• Brandon Lee Bryant, 35, of Belgrade, criminal operating under the influence, Oct. 23, 2022, in Waterville.
• Donald J. Budzynski, 56, of Hallowell, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation and criminal operating under the influence, Nov. 29, 2022, in Manchester.
• Jamie R. Burgess, 46, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 16, 2022, in Augusta.
• Joseph P. Calvo II., 50, of Vassalboro, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), operating after suspension and violation of condition of release, Sept. 25, 2022, in China.
• John Cedeno, 26, of Waterville, assault on an officer, Oct. 19, 2022, in Augusta.
• Christopher M. Chrysler, 36, of Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing cocaine) and unlawful possession of scheduled drug (cocaine), Oct. 10, 2022, in Waterville.
• Robin M. Coston, 43, of Gardiner, theft by unauthorized taking, July 9, 2022, in Waterville.
• Brian J. Coutu, 33, of Augusta, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and criminal mischief, Dec. 28. 2022, in Augusta.
• Samantha A. Davis, 32, of Livermore Falls, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), Nov. 26, 2022, in Waterville.
• Justin A. Degreenia, 33, of China, operating after revocation, failure to stop for an officer, and violation of condition of release, Sept. 4, 2022, in China.
• Susan M. Doray, 38, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release, Dec. 17, 2022, in Augusta.
• Stephen R. Jordan El, 54, of Sidney, two counts of assault on an officer, criminal trespass and refusing to submit to arrest, April 14, 2022, in Sidney.
• Parker Michael Favreau, 24, of Wayne, domestic violence assault, Oct. 16, 2022, in Wayne, and domestic violence assault, Oct. 19, 2022, in Wayne.
• Reggie C. French, 47, of China, unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing fentanyl powder), Sept. 13, 2022, in Waterville.
• Lisa L. Gagne, 60, of Waterville, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, Sept. 23, 2022, in Waterville.
• Ryan Everett Gay, 43, of Waterville, operating after revocation and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), Sept. 13, 2022, in Waterville.
• Troy S. Glazier, 55, of Farmingdale, criminal operating under the influence and operating after suspension, Nov. 16, 2022, in Augusta.
• Amy Lynn Godbout, 30, of Winslow, hindering apprehension or prosecution, Oct. 16, 2022, in Winslow.
• Alan F. Green Jr., 52, of Winslow, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drug (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing cocaine) and violation of condition of release, Dec. 6, 2022, in Waterville.
• Christopher T. Hanson, 31, of Sidney, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine) and refusing to submit to arrest, May 8, 2022, in Augusta.
• Parker Harris, 20, of Augusta, unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drug (cocaine base), operating after suspension and violation of condition of release, Sept. 1, 2022, in Augusta; and theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release, Nov. 4, 2022, in Augusta.
• Nathan T. Hawes, 32, of Auburn, operating after revocation, Oct. 10, 2022, in Augusta.
• Collin Gregory Hellmuth, 30, of Windham, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (methamphetamine) and operating after revocation, Nov. 26, 2022, in Waterville.
• Brian C. Jones Sr., 54, of Augusta, aggravated criminal operating under the influence and operating beyond license condition or restriction, May 21, 2022, in Augusta.
• Anthony J. Kokernak, 47, of West Gardiner, theft by unauthorized taking, on or between Sept. 15, 2021, and July 28, 2022, in Farmingdale.
• Patrick J. Linteri, 40, of Gardiner, theft by unauthorized taking, July 9, 2022, in Waterville.
• Christopher Paul Lord, 48, of Gardiner, two counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, July 28, 2022, in Vassalboro.
• Liangzhi Mei, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (over one pound of marijuana), Sept. 28, 2022, in Belgrade.
• Astin L. Merry, 37, of Searsport, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), Nov. 7, 2022, in Farmingdale.
• John M. Michaud, 45, of Pittston, theft by deception, on or between Feb. 21, 2017, and June 30, 2018, in Augusta.
• Andrew J. Newberry, 43, of Readfield, aggravated forgery and operating without a license May 13, 2022, in Manchester, and operating without a license, Sept. 1, 2022, in Manchester.
• John R. Poulin, 58, of Fairfield, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, Sept. 23, 2022, in Waterville.
• Craig S. Preo, 59, of Windsor, eluding an officer, criminal speed, driving to endanger, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation and improper plates, Dec. 9, 2022, in Augusta.
• Everett J. Reichert, 63, of Oakland, criminal operating under the influence, unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drug (containing fentanyl powder) and criminal forfeiture, of $781, Oct. 1, 2022, in Waterville.
• Emmanuel V. Rico, 25, of Augusta, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Aug. 5, 2022, in Augusta.
• Stephen H. Sacre, 55, of Pittston, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and obstructing report of crime or injury, Nov. 21, 2022, in Pittston.
• Jacob G. Sharpe, 26, of Sidney, burglary, violation of a protective order, violation of condition of release and theft by unauthorized taking, Dec. 2, 2022, in Farmingdale.
• Mia M. Simeoni, 44, of Augusta, assault on a child less than 6 years old and endangering the welfare of a child, on or between July 1 and July 17, 2022, in Augusta.
• Elliot J. Snow, 33, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking, on or between March 18 and Oct. 24, 2022, in West Gardiner.
• Kelsey R. Strickland, 30, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking and criminal trespass, Dec. 5, 2022, in Augusta.
• Daniel A. Vigue, 43, of Chelsea, aggravated forgery and unsworn falsification, on or between Feb. 7 and Oct. 6, 2022, in Augusta, and violation of sex offender registration, on or between Nov. 1, 2021, and Oct. 6, 2022, in Augusta.
• Joshua Walker, 22. of Waterville, reckless conduct with a firearm and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Oct. 20, 2022, in Waterville.
• Jason M. Waterhouse, 37, of Vassalboro, theft by unauthorized taking, on or between June 23 and Dec. 2, 2022, in Augusta.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
