Maine State Police re-arrested a Wales man March 23 for stealing electricity from a Central Maine Power pole and transformer.  According to news release from the Maine Dept. of Public Safety, Nicholas Gagne, 36, was arrested in January on the same charge, near his home at 237 Oak Hill Road.  Acting on a tip, Trooper Tyler Plourde caught Gagne climbing the same pole. Gagne spotted the trooper and fled into an outbuilding, where he was arrested without resistance.  Gagne was arrested for Violation of Bail from the previous arrest as well as new Theft and Criminal Mischief charges.  He is being held without bail at the Androscoggin County Jail.  CMP was called to the site to inspect their equipment.

In January, State Police and CMP’s investigation indicated that Gagne was climbing up the power pole outside of his house and connecting what amounted to jumper cable clamps to the transformer and then running a power line to his house, the release said. CMP had attempted to disconnect the power at the residence a number of times but Gagne kept reconnecting it.