UPDATE: Multiple agencies help arrest Rockland man after hours-long standoff

Tue, 11/20/2018 - 4:00pm

    UPDATE/ROCKLAND — Joshua Ellis, 34, of Rockland, made his initial court appearance in Knox County Unified Court Nov. 19 before Judge Susan Sparaco.

    Ellis was charged with operating after revocation, creating a police standoff, operating with a suspended registration and violation of a condition of release. He will not be prosecuted for eluding an officer due to insufficient evidence, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

    The judge set his bail at $5,000 cash and he currently remains at the Knox County Jail.

    According to the police affidavit filed in court by Rockland Police, at the time of his arrest, Ellis’ license had been revoked and he was already under two sets of bail conditions for previous charges. His bail set on Nov. 19 is concurrent to the previous bail amounts.

    Ellis will appear in court again Jan. 17, 2019.


    ROCKLAND — Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including the Maine State Police Tactical Team, assisted in the arrest of a Rockland man, Saturday, Nov. 17, at his residence after he eluded an officer during a traffic stop, according to a news release from the Rockland Police Department.

    For almost three and a half hours, police attempted to draw the man from his home, which was also occupied by three other individuals at the time.

    According to the PD news release, officers were actively looking for Joshua Ellis, 34, of Rockland, because of an arrest warrant. That warrant was issued after Ellis failed to report to a correctional facility in order to serve a sentence for prior crimes.

    At approximately 1:45 p.m., Ellis was observed by Rockland Police operating a motor vehicle on the Bog Road, said Rockland Police Chief Chris Young in the release. Officers then conducted a motor vehicle stop.

    Ellis pulled his vehicle over and initially complied with the stop. As the officer approached Ellis and instructed him to show his hands, Ellis refused and drove away, police said.

    Officers followed Ellis to his residence on the Bog Road. Ellis was already inside the residence and refused to comply with Officers’ orders to come out, police said. Two adults and one juvenile that were inside the residence did come out and complied with officers instructions. They were not charged with any crimes.

    Based on Ellis’ prior criminal history and investigative intelligence on his involvement in current criminal activity, the Maine State Tactical Team was called to assist in removing Ellis from the residence and taking him into custody.

    At approximately 6:20 p.m., Ellis surrendered to members of the tactical team without incident, police said. Ellis was taken to the Knox County Jail where he was booked on the underlying charge of Failing to Report to a Correctional Facility.

    He was also charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Registration (Class E), Operating a Motor Vehicle After License Revocation (Class C), Eluding a Police Officer (Class C) and Creating a Police Standoff (Class E).

    Rockland Police were assisted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, Rockport Police and Rockland Fire and EMS.