Maine Man Allegedly Crashed 2 Vehicles That Were Not His

It was a bad night for a Sullivan man who allegedly crashed two vehicles that were not his own.

Have the Police Identified the Suspect?

Bruce Dieter, 22, of Sullivan is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and reckless conduct. He would face more charges as the morning went on.

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Did Anyone See the Suspect Take the First Vehicle?

Both incidents on Tuesday morning. Dispatch with the Ellsworth Police Department got a call from a local resident who told them her car had just been stolen. The female was inside her house when she heard her vehicle start and she rushed outside to investigate. When she saw a man in her vehicle, she tried to stop him and he allegedly tried to run her over as he left the driveway and continued onto the road. But the suspect only made it a few hundred feet before going off the gravel road and crashed into a grove of trees.

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The woman would later tell the police that the man exited the vehicle and ran into the woods. She was able to give investigators a description of the man and, while a search of the area didn't immediately turn up any sign of the suspect, he was caught about an hour later and identified as Bruce Dieter. He was arrested and taken to the Hancock County Jail.

How Did Dieter Obtain the Second Vehicle That Crashed?

Just over an hour later, at 7:51 Wednesday morning, an employee of a local construction company reported that a vehicle had crashed through the road closure barricades and was left along the roadway. After speaking with the owner of the vehicle, the police learned that it had been lent to Bruce Dieter, the same man located in the woods after the other vehicle was stolen.

At this point, Dieter was also charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Officials say more charges will be levied once the investigation is complete.