BELFAST — Belfast Police and the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the theft of a Central Maine Power truck in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, according to Detective Bryan Cunningham of the Belfast Police Department.

Deputy Jordan Tozier of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a single vehicle accident on Town House Road in Swanville, which happened following the theft of a CMP truck from the Belfast location.

Tozier determined that the vehicle, which was found abandoned, came to a corner at a high rate of speed causing the operator to lose control. The rear tires of the truck came loose as the vehicle exited the roadway and traveled sideways down the road on its front tires — “riding a snowbank,” according to an accident report.

The truck then re-entered the road sideways, rolled over, and came to rest on the driver’s side. 

Detective Cunningham said Waldo County Dispatch received two calls early Feb. 27. The first call came in around 4:41 a.m., reporting the crash, and a second call minutes later reported a vehicle being stolen from Town House Road in Swanville. 

“The first call was the crash,” said Cunningham. “The second call was regarding a second stolen car.” 

That vehicle, a Jeep, was left behind Tire Warehouse, where it was discovered at the open of business. 

Cunningham said police have a “strong suspect,” in a Massachusetts resident.

“Deputy Tozier processed and swabbed the vehicle,” Cunningham said, of the ongoing investigation.

While vehicle theft typically comes with charges of unauthorized use of property, the location of the CMP truck may allow steeper charges.

“The truck was stolen from a fenced in area [of CMP],” Cunningham said, which could result in a burglary charge since the theft involved entering into a structure. 

Belfast police and Waldo County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating because the theft occurred in Belfast, and the crash occured in Swanville. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com