December 23, 2024
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Fourth suspect nabbed in auction house robbery

PORTLAND – The arrest of a fourth man suspected in the burglary of Gateway Auctions in Lebanon is hoped to shed light on the actions of two former Wells men involved in a gunfight with police in a Chicago train station.

Christopher Parady, 23, of Sanford was arrested in Connecticut over the weekend. He waived extradition to Maine at a Tuesday court appearance.

Maine State Police expect to bring Parady back to the state this week, where he is wanted on a charge of kidnapping and two counts of burglary, according to police Sgt. Matthew Stewart.

State police hope Parady can help them understand the plans of two other suspects in the burglary.

Andrew Ross, 25, and David Wentworth, 26, – both Arizona residents who grew up in Wells – were shot by members of a federal drug interdiction team in Chicago’s Union Station on Dec. 12, three days after the Maine burglary.

The men, who were trying to board a train for Tucson, Ariz., were armed, wearing body armor and had no identification. Police say they also were carrying $15,000 cash.

Ross was killed and Wentworth was seriously injured. Authorities do not believe either man fired their guns, but have charged Wentworth with first-degree murder in Ross’ death, saying his actions were responsible for the shooting.

Wentworth is being held on a $3 million bond, and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 5.

Police believe Parady helped Ross, Wentworth and another man, Michael B. Sales of Broomfield, Colo., during the Dec. 9 burglary of Gateway Auctions. The burglars were interrupted by state police, but escaped with an estimated $30,000 in cash.

Police believe a pickup truck and a rented sport utility vehicle they found are linked to the burglary. The Ford Excursion, rented in Boston by Sales, contained a semiautomatic assault rifle, communications equipment, and handguns. Police said Wentworth’s identification also was in the vehicle.

Sales surrendered to Maine State Police last week. He was charged with burglary and released on $3,000 bail.

Connecticut State Police arrested Parady on the extradition charge after receiving a tip that he was staying at the home of his girlfriend’s parents.

Parady was held at the Danielson State Police Barracks over the weekend. He remains in jail on $100,000 cash or surety bail after appearing in Danielson Court Tuesday, according to Vincent Dooley, senior assistant state’s attorney for the Windham Judicial District.


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