WATERVILLE — A woman who had been treated for minor injuries following a car accident Monday night was caught with her boyfriend stealing items from the emergency room, police said.
Faith O’Connor, 37, and Griffin Ringle, 21, both of 9 Walnut St., Waterville, were summoned on charges of theft by taking or unlawful transfer, a Class E misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
The couple is scheduled to appear in Waterville District Court on Feb. 21.
Waterville Police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said O’Connor and Ringle were crossing Armory Road Monday at about 6:10 p.m. when O’Connor was struck by a car driven by Donald Robbins, 54, of Vassalboro.
O’Connor suffered minor injuries and was driven by ambulance to the emergency room at MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus on North Street, Rumsey said.
At 9:50 p.m., officer Robert Bouley was dispatched to MaineGeneral after emergency room nurses reported seeing O’Connor and Ringle stuffing items into a backpack.
Rumsey said the nurses confronted the pair, who returned the items — gauze pads, tape, a flashlight, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, large bandages, alcohol prep wipes and a digital thermometer — valued at about $55.
“It was obvious when officer Bouley arrived that the hospital, staff was not happy about these people stealing from them while they were in the act of trying to render medical assistance, and wanted them charged with theft,” Rumsey said. “You don’t mess around with ER nurses.”
Rumsey said Robbins does not face any charges, because an investigation of the accident found the driver could not reasonably have stopped in time. Rumsey declined to speculate on whether the accident was a purposeful attempt for the couple to get in the emergency room.
“They weren’t using a crosswalk and they were both wearing dark clothing,” Rumsey said.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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