Update 5/10/2024: The driver of a stolen vehicle that led police on a pursuit prior to crashing into a South Thomaston garage, Wednesday, May 8, has been located and arrested.

On Thursday, May 9, deputies from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male inside an unoccupied home in South Thomaston. In the residence, deputies found David Beal, 52, of Washington.

Beal was charged with Criminal Trespassing, Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention and several outstanding warrants.  

Beal was one of several male occupants who were in the stolen pickup at the time of the pursuit and crash before fleeing the scene, according to KCSO Chief Deputy Curt Andrick.

The accident, and stolen vehicle case are still under investigation.  Numerous other charges are anticipated.  

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Rockport Police Department, Rockland Police Department, and Thomaston Police Departments.   

SOUTH THOMASTON — A Thomaston police officer had just announced that he was shutting down a high speed pursuit when, a minute or so later, the offending pickup truck crashed into a garage at the intersection of Westbrook Street and Route 131 at approximately 11:35 p.m., Wednesday, May 8.

After two hours of searching, law enforcement agents from multiple agencies still had not found the driver.

The chase began when a Rockport officer witnessed the pickup truck blow through a traffic light in West Rockport. A pursuit began when the officer attempted to pull it over, yet the driver chose to flee, clocking speeds over 90 miles per hour on Route 17 as it made its way past Chickawaukie Pond and into Rockland. Rockland police attempted to catch it, but lost sight of it after it turned onto Main Street at the Route 17-Route 1 intersection. It was next seen on Old County Road, heading toward Thomaston, and then onto Route 131 at Montpelier.

The truck, which was missing a rear license plate, missed the driver’s apparently desired turn at Westbrook Street, drove over a lawn, and crashed through a garage at 358 St. George Road (Route 131). The driver then got out and ran. The remaining license plate came back to a different vehicle. Knox County Sheriff’s deputies, who joined the incident, had already known of a report of a stolen pickup truck matching this truck. 

Two Rockland police officers continued to the crash site, joining attempts to track the fleeing driver, and, it happens that the K9 was on duty at that time as well.

South Thomaston Fire and Ambulance were called to the scene immediately following the crash. Police finished their assessment of the garage and truck, and interviewed the homeowners. When they were finished, FD was allowed to do their own assessment of the integrity of the structure. They needed to determine whether the remaining garage posed as an immediate safety hazard and needed to demolished immediately, or if teardown could wait and/or be left to the owners’ discretion. 

Creek Hill towed the vehicle.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com