FARMINGTON — A charge is pending against a local man who was injured severely after he fell 40 feet from the roof of a University of Maine at Farmington building earlier this week, according to campus police.

Devon Pease, 21, of Farmington, fell from the Emery Community Arts Center while trying to escape from police after he and another man were spotted on the roof of a university gymnasium early Tuesday, Interim Chief of Campus Police Brock Caton said in a statement.

Pease was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman, and later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The Portland hospital’s nursing supervisor said Thursday evening that Pease was listed in fair condition.

Caton said the investigation is ongoing and Pease will be charged after his release.
The two are not UMF students, Caton said.

The second man, Joshua Farthing, 25, of Panama City, Fla., was summoned on a charge of criminal trespass and released after the Fire Department used a ladder truck to help him get off the building.

Caton said the two men were spotted on Dearborn Gymnasium’s roof about 2 a.m. Tuesday by Deputy Cole Sleaster, who ordered them down.

He said the two ran from Sleaster and jumped onto the roof of the arts center, which is attached to the gymnasium.

Pease tried to climb down, but he lost his grip and fell 40 feet to the pavement, according to the release.

Kaitlin Schroeder— 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com