ROCKLAND – A man who’d attempted to steal DVDs from Maritime Farms on Park Street by hiding them in his pants was eventually arrested and charged with theft, possession of crack cocaine, and failing to stop for an officer.

On Monday, April 16, at about 4:59 p.m., Rockland Police Officers received a complaint from a clerk at the Maritime Farms Store on Rte.1 in Rockland, regarding a male who had just left the store after stealing DVDs. The subject attempted to conceal them in his pants but was spotted by store employees, according to a news release issued by the police department.

When the subject was confronted by store employees, he fled the store with the DVDs. It was reported that the suspect had fled the scene in a silver jeep and was last seen traveling into Rockland on Rte.1. The store clerk making the complaint was able to provide responding officers with the registration number on the jeep and also advised that the incident occurred about five minutes prior to the complaint being made.

Just after receiving the complaint, a Rockland Police Officer observed the vehicle traveling north on Camden St. (Rte.1). The officer attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his emergency lights and siren but the operator refused to stop and was observed moving around inside the vehicle. After traveling approximately half a mile at speeds below the posted speed limit, the vehicle turned into a shopping plaza where it eventually came to a stop.

The operator of the vehicle was compliant with officers instructions and just before exiting the vehicle officers observed a DVD case fall out of the suspects pant leg and onto the floor of the vehicle. Officers also observed other DVDs in the backseat of the vehicle.

The suspect exited the vehicle and was taken into custody at this time. After securing the suspect in the backseat of a cruiser, officers returned to the vehicle and at this time observed two baggies on the ground where the suspect had been standing prior to being taken into custody. Both of these baggies contained a white powdery substance. It was determined that one of the baggies contained approximately five grams of heroin and the other baggie contained approximately 3 grams of crack cocaine.

As a result of this investigation, Brian Caggiano (35) of Veazie, ME was arrested for Theft (Class C because of prior convictions), Trafficking in Fentanyl (Class B), Possession of Crack Cocaine (Class D) and Failing to Stop for an Officer (Class E).