After a pursuit through the woods by detectives and a K-9, Koda, Lincoln County Sheriff Office arrested Jeffrey Luce, 36, of Whitefield on Tuesday, May 20.

This arrest stemmed from an investigation into a theft of several batteries on May 6 at Bartlett's Auto Sales 385 Mills Road Whitefield. The batteries were located and identified as the stolen items at a redemption center in Jefferson. The redemption center owner said he purchased the batteries from Luce.

On the morning of May 20, Det. Sgt. Ronald Rollins went to Luce's residence on Hollywood Boulevard in Whitefield. After a brief interview, Luce admitted his involvement, saying it was all a mistake and that he would return the batteries to the owner.

Luce was informed he was under arrest and would be transported to the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

Luce was allowed to go into another room to get dressed as he was still in his pajamas.

Luce's wife, Naomi Luce, engaged Rollins and became argumentative, questioning why her husband was being arrested. After she calmed down, it was determined that  Luce had escaped from the residence through the basement.

Detective Scott Hayden and K-9 Koda responded to the scene along with several other deputies. As the deputies spread out, talking with neighbors and checking several miles of nearby roads, Hayden and K-9 Koda, assisted by Rollins, began a track from the basement door that led them out into a densely wooded area.

After about a mile and a half long track through the woods, Luce was captured and taken into custody. Luce was transported to the Two Bridges Regional Jail where he was booked on a felony theft charge based on prior convictions, felony escape and misdemeanor violating conditions of release.

LCSO was assisted in this search by the Maine Warden's Service.

Luce was also charged with the additional charges of burglary, felony theft, criminal trespass and forgery based on an investigation by Officer Larry Hesseltine of the Waldoboro Police Department.