WATERVILLE — A woman who had been treated for minor injuries following a car accident Monday night was caught with her boyfriend stealing items from the emergency room, police said.

Waterville Police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said Faith O’Connor, 37, suffered minor injuries in a car accident and was driven by ambulance to the emergency room at MaineGeneral Medical Center.

At 9:50 p.m., Officer Robert Bouley was dispatched to MaineGeneral after emergency room nurses reported seeing O’Connor and boyfriend Griffin Ringle, 21, stuffing items into a backpack.

Rumsey said nurses confronted the pair, who returned the items – gauze pads, tape, a flashlight, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, large bandages, alcohol prep wipes and a digital thermometer – valued at about $55.

“It was obvious when officer Bouley arrived that the hospital staff was not happy about these people stealing from them while they were in the act of trying to render medical assistance, and wanted them charged with theft,” Rumsey said. “You don’t mess around with ER nurses.”

O’Connor and Ringle, both of Waterville, face charges of theft by taking or unlawful transfer, a Class E misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com