Teen, Three Juveniles Charged After Lewiston, Maine Vehicle Thefts

An 18-year-old and three juveniles are facing charges after police say multiple vehicles were stolen in Lewiston over the weekend, leading to a pursuit and crash.

According to Lewiston police, three separate vehicle thefts were reported overnight Saturday into Sunday in different parts of the city. Officers later located one of the stolen vehicles being driven on Russell Street.

Police say that discovery led to a chase through the city. The pursuit eventually ended on Sabattus Street when the suspects crashed the stolen vehicle.

After the crash, six people reportedly ran from the vehicle. Police say four of them were captured.

According to WGME, one of the suspects was identified by police as 18-year-old Larando Sweeting. He is facing charges of violation of conditions of release, refusal to submit to arrest, and theft by unauthorized taking with priors.

The other three suspects taken into custody were juveniles. Police say they were charged with refusal to submit to arrest and theft by unauthorized taking. They were later released to their parents, the news station reported.

Police also say the other two stolen vehicles connected to the case have since been recovered.

The investigation remains ongoing as police continue looking into the series of thefts and the two suspects who ran from the crash and were not immediately captured.