Man who allegedly stole Augusta police cruiser, pursued family to supermarket indicted

AUGUSTA — An Augusta man who allegedly stole a running, unlocked Augusta police cruiser and drove it to a supermarket where he radioed that he was watching a suspect has been charged with theft for mistaking and impersonating an officer would have.

A Kennebec County grand jury indicted 27-year-old Kyle Joseph King earlier this month on both of those counts.

On November 26, 2022, according to police, King took an Augusta police cruiser that was parked at the Union Street police station and drove it to Shaw’s Plaza. There he apparently exited the police car to follow a family to Shaw’s supermarket, where he had a confrontation with them. He then returned to the cruiser, activated its lights and sirens, and, according to a woman involved in the incident, approached members of the same family at their car. Augusta police then arrived at the scene and dragged King out of the car onto the ground and arrested him.

King told police he took the cruiser — which contained an AR-15 rifle — and drove away “because he wanted to help,” according to an affidavit from Aaron Paradis, the Augusta police officer who used the vehicle , when it was stolen. The squad car drove and unlocked while parked in the rear lot of the police station. This area is marked with “Police Only” signs but is not secured by a gate or fence.

Paradis was given a one-day unpaid suspension as part of a disciplinary measure following an internal investigation, according to Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lully.

Police Chief Jared Mills said after last year’s incident the department’s policy “dictates that our doors be locked and keys not left in the vehicle to prevent something like this from happening.” He also said without Paradis as to identify the officer involved that the officer concerned is a good officer with an exceptional record.

Police equipment, including an AR-15 rifle, was in the cruiser when it was removed, but Mills noted that King did not have access to the rifle because it was secured with a gun lock. There was no indication that King attempted to use the gun.

King had apparently contacted police earlier and asked for a welfare check to be done at a neighbor’s house, and when he got tired of waiting for an officer to arrive, he went to the police station, where he saw the squad car. He told police he got in and saw a red car exiting the train 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 saw a suspect exit Shaw’s home and head toward a white Jeep.

Paradis recorded a report in the police station lobby when he walked back and saw his squad car had been pulled from the parking lot, he wrote in the affidavit.

The theft report against King is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The indictment states that the cruiser was valued at more than $10,000. Police estimated the cruiser, a fully marked 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, to be worth between $8,000 and $10,000, but the components inside the cruiser, including the gun, prisoner divider, radio, siren, emergency lights, modem and camera, are estimated at more than $25,000.

A prosecutor called for an investigation into King’s mental health.

King is being held at the Kennebec County Jail, according to prison records.

An indictment is not a guilty verdict, but indicates that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.

Others recently indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury:

• Brian R. Barter, 33, of Augusta, assault for domestic violence, December 20, 2022, in Augusta.

• Danny Bolden Jr., 33, of Augusta, escaped September 7, 2022, in Augusta.

• Brandon Lee Bryant, 35, of Belgrade, under the influence of drug-operating criminals, October 23, 2022, in Waterville.

• Donald J. Budzynski, 56, of Hallowell, aggravated activity after revocation of habitual offender and criminal activity under the influence, November 29, 2022, in Manchester.

• Jamie R. Burgess, 46, of Augusta, theft by trespasser, November 16, 2022, in Augusta.

• Joseph P. Calvo II, 50, of Vassalboro, illegal trafficking in planned drugs (fentanyl powder), illegal possession of planned drugs (containing methamphetamine), operation after suspension and violating the condition of release, Sept. 25, 2022, in China.

• John Cedeno, 26, of Waterville, assault on officer, October 19, 2022, in Augusta.

• Christopher M. Chrysler, 36, of Fairfield, Unlawful Possession of Lawful Drugs (including cocaine) and Unlawful Possession of Lawful Drugs (cocaine), October 10, 2022, in Waterville.

• Robin M. Coston, 43, of Gardiner, theft by trespasser, July 9, 2022, in Waterville.

• Brian J. Coutu, 33, of Augusta, criminal threat maker with dangerous weapon and criminal mischief, December 28, 2022, in Augusta.

• Samantha A. Davis, 32, of Livermore Falls, intensified trafficking in proposed drugs (methamphetamine), November 26, 2022, in Waterville.

• Justin A. Degreenia, 33, of China, acting under revocation, failure to stop for an officer and violating the condition of release, September 4, 2022, in China.

• Susan M. Doray, 38, of Augusta, robbery by takeaway and eligibility violation, December 17, 2022, in Augusta.

• Stephen R. Jordan El, 54, of Sydney, two assaults on an officer, criminal trespassing and refusing to submit to arrest, April 14, 2022, in Sydney.

• Parker Michael Favreau, 24, of Wayne, Domestic Violence Assault October 16, 2022, Wayne, and Domestic Violence Assault October 19, 2022, Wayne.

• Reggie C. French, 47, of China, unlawful possession of contemplated drug (containing fentanyl powder), September 13, 2022, in Waterville.

• Lisa L. Gagne, 60, of Waterville, two counts of theft by trespassing, September 23, 2022, in Waterville.

• Ryan Everett Gay, 43, of Waterville, acting on revocation and unlawful possession of proposed drug (cocaine base), September 13, 2022, in Waterville.

• Troy S. Glazier, 55, of Farmingdale, criminal operating under the influence and on suspension, November 16, 2022, in Augusta.

• Amy Lynn Godbout, 30, of Winslow, avoids arrest or prosecution, October 16, 2022, in Winslow.

• Alan F. Green Jr., 52, of Winslow, aggravated trafficking in planned drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of planned drugs (containing cocaine) and violating the terms of release, December 6, 2022, in Waterville.

• Christopher T. Hanson, 31, of Sydney, of illegal possession of contemplated drugs (including methamphetamine) and refusing to submit to arrest, May 8, 2022, in Augusta.

• Parker Harris, 20, of Augusta, unlawful possession of contemplated drug (containing fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of contemplated drug (cocaine-based), operating after suspension and violating condition of release, September 1, 2022, in Augusta; and theft by unauthorized take and breach of release condition, November 4, 2022, in Augusta.

• Nathan T. Hawes, 32, of Auburn, acting after revocation October 10, 2022, in Augusta.

• Collin Gregory Hellmuth, 30, of Windham, aggravated trafficking in proposed drugs (methamphetamine) and operated in Waterville after revocation on November 26, 2022.

• Brian C. Jones Sr., 54, of Augusta, serious criminal operating under the influence of license terms or restrictions, May 21, 2022, in Augusta.

• Anthony J. Kokernak, 47, of West Gardiner, theft by trespasser, on or between September 15, 2021 and July 28, 2022 in Farmingdale.

• Patrick J. Linteri, 40, of Gardiner, theft by trespass, July 9, 2022, in Waterville.

• Christopher Paul Lord, 48, of Gardiner, two counts of criminal threats with a dangerous weapon, July 28, 2022, in Vassalboro.

• Liangzhi Mei, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, unlawful possession of planned drugs (over a pound of marijuana), September 28, 2022, in Belgrade.

• Astin L. Merry, 37, of Searsport, unlawful possession of contemplated drugs (including cocaine), November 7, 2022, in Farmingdale.

• John M. Michaud, 45, of Pittston, robbery by deception, on or between February 21, 2017 and June 30, 2018 in Augusta.

• Andrew J. Newberry, 43, of Readfield, major counterfeiter and operating unlicensed 13 May 2022 in Manchester and operating unlicensed 1 September 2022 in Manchester.

• John R. Poulin, 58, of Fairfield, two counts of theft by trespassing, September 23, 2022, in Waterville.

• Craig S. Preo, 59, of Windsor, evades an officer, criminal speeding, dangerous driving, aggravated activity after habitual offender revocation and improper license plates, December 9, 2022, in Augusta.

• Everett J. Reichert, 63, of Oakland, criminal acting under the influence of $781, October 1, 2022, Illegal Possession of Legal Drugs (contains methamphetamine), Illegal Possession of Legal Drugs (contains fentanyl powder) in Waterville.

• Emmanuel V. Rico, 25, of Augusta, criminal threatener with a dangerous weapon, August 5, 2022, in Augusta.

• Stephen H. Sacre, 55, of Pittston, domestic violence offender, threatening with a dangerous weapon, reckless domestic violence behavior with a dangerous weapon and reporting a felony or injury, November 21, 2022, in Pittston.

• Jacob G. Sharpe, 26, of Sydney, burglary, breach of protection order, breach of eligibility condition and theft by vandalism, December 2, 2022, in Farmingdale.

• Mia M. Simeoni, 44, of Augusta, assaulting a child under the age of 6 and endangering the well-being of a child on or between July 1 and July 17, 2022 in Augusta.

• Elliot J. Snow, 33, of Augusta, stolen by trespasser, on or between March 18 and October 24, 2022 at West Gardiner.

• Kelsey R. Strickland, 30, of Augusta, theft by eminent domain and criminal trespass, December 5, 2022, in Augusta.

• Daniel A. Vigue, 43, of Chelsea, committed gross counterfeiting and unsworn counterfeiting on or between February 7 and October 6, 2022 in Augusta and sex offender registry violation on or between November 1, 2021 and October 6, 2022 in Augusta.

• Joshua Walker, 22nd of Waterville, reckless conduct with a firearm and criminal threat with a dangerous weapon, October 20, 2022, in Waterville.

• Jason M. Waterhouse, 37, of Vassalboro, theft by trespasser, on or between June 23 and December 2, 2022 in Augusta.

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