Police arrest man for theft of computer, his mother’s car

A 21-year-old transient man who spent at least several nights in the basement of a University of Maine dormitory even though he wasn’t a student, was charged this week in connection with the theft of a laptop computer from the campus and with stealing his mother’s car.

Orson A. Hager’s mother said her car had been missing since January, although it wasn’t until Wednesday night that she reported it stolen to the Newport Police Department. One day later, Veazie police Officer Ryan Welch stopped Hager in the missing car, which had no visible license plates on it.

What it did have that was visible was a lot of mud and extensive damage, with Welch noting that the car was missing its rear quarter panels and bumper.

Welch arrested Hager after learning from dispatch that the car was stolen. He and other police officers searched the car. Among the personal belongings in the car, police seized a mason jar containing gasoline and rock salt, something Hager would only say was an experiment he was working on. The police also seized a glass marijuana pipe with marijuana residue on it, according to the police report.

Also seized was a new backpack, school supplies bearing the University of Maine name and a laptop computer with a UM decal. Welch contacted the UM Department of Public Safety and learned that someone matching Hager’s description had been seen on campus staying at Knox Hall, although Hager said he is not a registered student.

Hager spoke cryptically about the backpack, computer and other items, telling UM public safety Officer Michael Burgess that when he left an elevator on campus the backpack was empty and that when he returned, the backpack was full. He also told Burgess that he took the laptop because he thought it belonged to him.

The police in Veazie and at the university each charged Hager with one count of felony theft.

Veazie police were sent to a Thompson Road residence Monday night after the Penobscot Regional Communications Center received eight calls on its emergency line from the home, and each time the line went dead before a dispatcher could make contact.

Officer Ryan Welch, on his way to the apartment, was told that a domestic fight had occurred there and the woman involved had been bitten by her one-time boyfriend, identified as Richard A. Spencer, 35. Spencer drove off in a black pickup truck and was headed out State Street where Welch located the vehicle and pulled it over.

Spencer denied assaulting his girlfriend, telling Welch he was just trying to get out of the home, later saying he was trying to avoid the very thing he was being accused of. Welch took Spencer into custody and searched him, with assistance from Orono police. A marijuana pipe with marijuana still in it was found in Spencer’s left jacket pocket.

While he was stopped by Welch, Spencer received a call on his cellular phone, which Welch answered. On the other end was the alleged victim who was calling to let Spencer know that he was “in big trouble.”

Back at the home, the 43-year-old woman told Welch that Spencer pushed her and bit her on her right arm. Welch noted that the woman had a superficial wound on her right biceps. The woman also told police that she repeatedly called for help, but that each time Spencer ended the call.

Spencer was charged with domestic assault, obstructing the report of a crime, possession of a usable amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli