Car Stolen from Presque Isle Recovered in Mars Hill, 2 Arrested

Two people from Presque Isle are behind bars and a stolen vehicle has been recovered in Mars Hill on Wednesday morning.

According to Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall, Sheriff’s Lieutenant Ross McQuade spotted a 1996 Geo Prism in a Mars Hill parking lot at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning that had been reported stolen in Presque Isle the previous day. McQuade approached the vehicle and the two occupants. The man and woman in the car fled on foot, but the female passenger was promptly caught and taken into custody.

Several additional Deputy Sheriffs responded to assist, as did a State Trooper and the Limestone Police Chief, who were in the area. Presque Isle Police also sent their K-9 unit to the area in case it was needed.

People living in the area of Silver Street saw the male suspect running behind their homes and reported his location, by phone, to Sheriff’s dispatchers in Houlton. Using that information, Deputies narrowed their search to the north end of Silver Street and found 29- year-old Robert Helstrom hiding behind a home. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Helstrom is from Presque Isle, and is on probation for domestic assault. The female, who was uncooperative and combative, initially refused to identify herself. However, once she arrived at the jail, corrections staff had no trouble identifying 24-year-old Trishia Willette of Presque Isle. She had just been released from the jail on January 9th, for a probation violation. A passport, check and other items that were possibly stolen were taken from her at the jail as well.

Both suspects remain at the Aroostook County Jail. For now, the pair is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Additional charges may follow.

Deputies turned the recovered vehicle over to the Presque Isle Police Department for processing and the eventual return to the owner.

Sheriff Darrell Crandall says, "I want to thank the people of Mars Hill for being aware of their surroundings and being willing to pick up their phones and let us know what they were seeing. It made this pursuit far less time consuming and safer for all involved. We have come to expect this kind of cooperation and assistance from our neighbors here in Aroostook County, and we place great value on that relationship."