Woman unhurt in Richmond car fire

RICHMOND — A local woman escaped injury Tuesday when her sport-utility vehicle caught fire as she was driving on Main Street.

A local homeowner and passers-by helped Sharon Carter from her 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche and then used extinguishers to try and douse the fire, said Richmond Police Officer Josh Staples.

Carter was driving on Main Street around 7 a.m. when she noticed smoke emerging from underneath the passenger’s-side dashboard. As Carter neared White Road she noticed flames had erupted, Staples said.

“There were flames coming out from the dash by the passenger seat when she pulled over,” he said.

Carter pulled over and was helped from the vehicle. She was not injured.

Firefighters extinguished what remained of the fire. The Avalanche was likely destroyed and had to be towed away, Staples said.

Farmingdale man faces robbery charges

AUGUSTA — A Farmingdale man is facing charges after allegedly robbing a woman at gunpoint over the weekend.

Thomas J. Rodriguez, 30, was arrested Tuesday at the Kennebec County jail and charged with robbery, criminal threatening and assault. He also was held on warrants out of Machias charging him with unpaid fines, said Augusta Police Lt. Christopher Massey.

Rodriguez was held at the Kennebec County jail Monday without bail.

Massey declined to offer specifics about the incident because police are still investigating. He said around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, on the east side of the Kennebec River, Rodriguez approached a woman who he knows and demanded money. Rodriguez assaulted the woman and the victim suffered minor injuries, he said.

Kennebec County Superior Court documents indicates Rodriguez displayed a handgun during the event.

The documents do not say whether Rodriguez left with any money.

Augusta

Tuesday

At 12:15 p.m., there was an accident on Western Avenue.

12:22 p.m., shoplifting was reported at Famous Footware on Stephen King Drive.

12:48 p.m., there was an accident on Xavier Loop.

1:51 p.m., there was an accident on East Chestnut Street.

2:29 p.m., there was an accident on Western Avenue.

3:06 p.m., there was a report of a hit-and-run accident on Cony Street.

4:12 p.m., there was an accident on Whitten Road.

4:26 p.m., there was a 911 hang-up at the University of Maine Augusta Katz Library on Jewett Drive.

4:48 p.m., there was an accident on North Belfast Avenue.

5:35 p.m., trespassing was reported on Northern Avenue.

5:35 p.m., there was an accident on Western Avenue.

6:27 p.m., there was a report of a hit-and-run accident on Bangor Street.

7:38 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Western Avenue.

10:34 p.m., a 20-year-old Gardiner man was charged with assault by police responding to a complaint at MaineGeneral Medical Center on East Chestnut Street.

Wednesday

At 8:11 a.m., firefighters responded to an alarm on Water Street.

11:20 a.m., there was an accident on Stephen King Drive.

12:54 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Water Street.

1:48 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported at Cony High School on Pierce Drive.

1:51 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Water Street.

3 p.m., theft was reported at Damon’s on Western Avenue.

4:33 p.m., there was a report of a recent burglary on Riverside Drive.

Farmingdale

Tuesday

At 3:59 p.m., theft was reported on Kennebec Drive.

6:02 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Hasson Street.

Gardiner

Tuesday

At 10:10 a.m., there was a 911 hang-up on Highland Avenue.

11:47 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on High Street.

8:05 p.m., there was a report of a suicidal person on Neal Street.

10:29 p.m., theft was reported at Irving on Highland Avenue.

Thursday

At 12:45 a.m., a burglar alarm sounded at Preferred Pump & Equipment on Water Street.

1:27 a.m., a burglar alarm sounded at Tiger Town Discount on Maine Avenue.

Hallowell

Tuesday

At 8:32 p.m., there was a report of a recent burglary on Spring Street.

Litchfield

Tuesday

At 12:52 p.m., theft was reported on Oak Hill Road.

Manchester

Tuesday

At 10:17 p.m., a burglar alarm sounded at Augusta Country Club on Hammonds Grove.

Sidney

Tuesday

At 1:06 p.m., a burglar alarm sounded on Field Road.

Winthrop

Wednesday

At 5:31 a.m., there was an accident on Route 41.

7:01 a.m., there was an accident on Highland Heights.

Arrests

Augusta

Tuesday

At 5:53 p.m., Thomas Rodriguez, 20, of Farmingdale, was arrested on warrants at the Augusta Police Department on Union Street.

9:42 p.m., William F. Moulton, 19, of Augusta, was arrested on a charge of criminal mischief and violating conditions of release by police responding to a complaint on Riverside Drive.

Wednesday

At 1:59 p.m., Benjamin Michael Peterson, 27, of Chelsea was arrested on a warrant by police responding to a report of a disturbance on Mill Street.

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