Search for robbery suspect yields 5 more arrests at Mapleton home

MAPLETON – When Maine State Police acted on an anonymous tip that led them to a Main Street residence Thursday evening, they didn’t discover only a Presque Isle man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a Woodland garage in January.

Besides the suspect, 24-year-old Brian Saunders, police also nabbed three other individuals who are now charged with crimes ranging from felony burglary to obstructing governmental administration.

And then, when investigators returned to the scene a few hours later, they arrested two more individuals.

Maine State Police Sgt. Thomas Pelletier said Friday that police went to the Mapleton home owned by Patrick Rodgerson, 25, after receiving an anonymous tip that Saunders, Blaine Wilkins and Dustin McGillan were hiding out there.

After arriving at the scene, they quickly found the trio hiding inside the house.

Saunders was wanted for robbery and aggravated assault and also was charged with felony burglary and violation of condition of release.

Police obtained a warrant for his arrest more than two weeks ago but had been unable to locate him.

Investigators allege that Saunders and an accomplice entered the Roland Fortin used-car dealership garage in Mapleton on Jan. 12. The two masked men reportedly demanded money from two people inside the building and then beat them on the head with wooden clubs before fleeing with between $11,000 and $12,000.

Police said they had turned up DNA evidence linking Saunders to the crime scene.

He is being held at the Aroostook County Jail.

Rodgerson was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension and obstructing governmental administration.

Wilkins, 22, was arrested on outstanding warrants, felony burglary and violation of condition of release. He is being held at the Aroostook County Jail.

McGillan, age unavailable, is being held on probation violations.

State police later returned to the Rodgerson residence and discovered Brian Holmes, 27, and Tony Clayton, 28, removing items from the home.

Holmes was arrested on outstanding warrants from Maine and Colorado. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, burglary, theft and violating condition of release for a bail violation related to charges stemming from an armed robbery in Caribou. He is being held at the Aroostook County Jail.

Clayton was been charged with theft.

Pelletier said a number of firearms were recovered from the residence. It was determined the firearms had been stolen during a burglary of a Presque Isle home sometime earlier. The investigation is continuing, and further charges may be filed, police said.