Police recently arrested a man for allegedly stealing $780 worth of diesel from a trucking company in East Millinocket, Maine.
On January 31, the East Millinocket Police Department (EMPD) responded to Timberland Trucking after a trucker arrived for work to discover that a large amount of diesel fuel had been stolen from his truck.
Additionally, the trucker reported damage to the fuel components of his truck.
“Due to the damage and missing fuel, this worker and trucking company was unable to complete their scheduled load for the day,” EMPD said in a news release.
After reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses, EMPD obtained images of a suspect and a suspect truck in the Timberland Trucking lot on the night before the theft was reported.
“With the help of the local hard working trucking community, and employees of the local trucking companies that fell victim to this crime they began sharing information on social media to try and identify the suspect and suspect truck. Soon, Chief McDunnah began receiving multiple tips from area truckers, which led to information regarding the whereabouts of the truck and possible destination,” EMPD said.
Shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, February 2, police received information that the suspect truck was traveling south on I-95 passing Medway. A witness stayed with the suspect truck until EMPD arrived near the Lincoln Exit on I-95 south.
The suspect in the truck refused to pull over for the police lights and sirens for about four miles before coming to a stop.
Texas-based truck driver Erik Beltran-Alvarez, 34, was arrested and charged with Theft, Criminal Mischief and Failure to Stop for Law Enforcement.
EMPD said that the total loss to the victim as $780 worth of diesel fuel and $1200 in damages to the truck.
“We would like to truly thank all the citizens that helped solve this case and very eagerly provided us information so we could locate the suspect and suspect truck involved in this incident,” EMPD said.