St. Albans man accused of burglary, criminal mischief in dispute

ST. ALBANS – An irate local man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with burglary and criminal mischief in what police are calling a civil dispute over who actually owns the home on Snow Road.

Adrian Keirstead, 43, was arrested by Deputy Michael Knight of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department after he allegedly entered a home next to his cabin, threw the belongings of the people renting the dwelling outside, smashed a fence, and then took a chain saw to a vehicle and pumpkins sitting on the doorstep.

Keirstead maintains he still owns the home in question, but he apparently lost the residence to a finance company, Knight said. The identities of the tenants were not available.

Keirstead has been living in a small, seasonal cabin next to the home, and recently “he got cold and decided he wanted to move back in the house,” Knight said.

Keirstead, who had been paying the Central Maine Power bill, had the utility turn off the electricity to the house on Monday and apparently became enraged when CMP arrived at the home Tuesday morning to turn the power back on in the tenants’ name.

The tenants reported to police about 10:45 a.m. that Keirstead was threatening to burn down the house, and then they left. Keirstead reportedly threatened the CMP workers as well.

Knight said Keirstead was charged with burglary for allegedly entering the home and criminal mischief for the damage done. He remained Wednesday in Somerset County Jail, unable to post bail.