ROCKLAND — The town of South Thomaston filed a civil suit Feb. 13 in Knox County Superior Court, alleging that two men failed to turn over nearly $15,000 that was designated by the South Thomaston Firemen’s Association to be donated to the town.

Former Fire Chief Wayne A. Brown and former firefighter Colin Grierson were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

According to court documents, the funds were held in bank accounts controlled by the South Thomaston Firemen’s Association, which dissolved in 2007. At that time, the association voted that any money in their bank accounts would go toward the purchase of a new fire truck.

The suit further states that Brown withdrew nearly $15,000 from the association’s bank accounts. The town is seeking the full sum be returned, as well as payment of legal fees and punitive damages as warranted by the evidence presented and approved by the court.

The issue of the missing funds was publicly discussed at a South Thomaston Select Board meeting in 2010. Since then, town officials and the town’s attorney have made numerous attempts in verbal and written requests to the association’s representatives, asking that the money be returned to the town.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants have avoided the issue and denied any knowledge about the money.

The state Attorney General’s Office is currently investigating criminal charges, since bank records show that Brown personally withdrew the money in 2012 from Camden National Bank.

Attorney James Strong of Thomaston is representing the town in the lawsuit. Attorney Walter McKee of Augusta is representing Brown and Grierson.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com