Updates Oct. 26, 2024 — Three fires under investigation and a possible link to three stolen vehicles are keeping officials busy in Thomaston.

An 8:40 a.m. fire call to Thomaston FD that marked the departments’ third call of four in 24 hours was due to a furnace malfunction on Beechwood Street and was not related to the other three calls still under investigation by local officials and the Fire Marshal’s Office. It does, however, add to the significance of the personal and Town resources consumed by the volunteer fire service. After the two calls from the prior evening, and the furnace malfunction, some personnel were still impressed by the number of firefighters who again abandoned their regular jobs and home lives a short time later for the 9:26 a.m. report of a shed fire on Dexter Street.

The Fire Marshals’ Office also came to Thomaston, twice: first for the evening incidents on Oct. 24, and then again for the shed on Oct. 25. Prior to the second fire call, the FD considered contacting Maine Forestry, due to the proximity to the woods. However, when the second call came in, the FMO took the case.

At 6:21 p.m., Oct. 24, fire crews responded to an outside blaze at Flagship Cinema, where they found and extinguished a 3 x 10 ft brush fire. While still on scene, they were alerted at 6:51 p.m. to the former Patriot Builders building, to which a call to 911 believed that from a distance, the building appeared to be on fire, according to interim fire chief Jamie Leo. Crews responded from Flagship, and upon scene, found some hay burning outside, with no damage to the structure.

The next morning, fire and police encountered the shed fire on private property on Dexter Street.

“Human element is related in those 3 fires, as with the house fire on Booker Street on October 12,” said Leo. “The Fire Marshals Office and Thomaston PD are investigating.”

At the shed fire, Thomaston PD opted to call for a K9 search of the area, which Rockland PD’s Tim Davis and Marek conducted, having been called in from home.

Meanwhile, two road vehicles and a golf cart were reported stolen at various different times during the midday hours of Oct. 25. A road vehicle was reported stolen from Lowe’s just after noon. The golf cart had been stolen from a business some time during the morning, though not reported until after the Lowe’s theft, and an Enterprise rental car was reported stolen from that business’s lot at 1:20 p.m.

David Atwood, 55, Transient, was identified as stealing all three vehicles. He was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail by Thomaston Police. Atwood was charged with 3 counts of Theft, 1 count each of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief, and Burglary.

Reports of sightings of the stolen vehicle were tracked into Rockland, bringing Rockland PD into the mix.

Atwood returned the stolen vehicle to the Lowe's parking lot where witnesses observed Atwood leave the vehicle and flee on foot, said Thomaston PD.

“The vehicle was returned to the owner and the owner reported there had been significant damage done to it while it was missing,” said TPD. “The owner also reported that there had been cash in the vehicle that was now gone.”

Reports followed of Atwood subsequently being seen at McDonalds restaurant where he was taken into custody.

Atwood was then interviewed by investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a person of interest in the recent suspicious fires in the area. That investigation remains active.

Atwood was transported to the Knox County Jail, where he remains in custody.

“A reminder to all to please ensure that you remove the keys from, and lock your vehicle when leaving it unattended,” said TPD.

Shed fire marks 4th Thomaston fire call in 24 hours

THOMASTON (Oct. 25, 2024) — A shed fire on Dexter Street, in Thomaston, Friday morning, Oct. 25, 2024, now marks the fourth fire call in less than 24 hours for Thomaston FD and PD. 

The night prior, the departments responded to two calls within half an hour of each other, both easy walking distance from each other, along New County Road. Because of department meetings and active investigations, this reporter has not yet gotten the details of the third fire call, which was said to be very minor and occurred this morning prior to the shed fire around 9 a.m. 

Along with notifying the Fire Marshal's Office, police and fire authorities opted to request a K9 search of the area surrounding 63 Dexter Street, where the shed fire occurred.

Meanwhile, a vehicle was also reported stolen from the Lowe's parking lot after noon. Because the vehicle was believed to have been driven to Rockland, Rockland police have been drawn into the case.

As well, a golf cart was reported to have been stolen at some point today from Dexter Street Extension. 

See info regarding the first two fires: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/concern-grows-after-two-small-fires-extinguished-thomaston-within-30-minutes/251837

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com