Police charge man they say drove car into Sunday River ski lift
Mar. 13—NEWRY — A Mexico man is facing criminal mischief charges after police say he caused significant damage to ski slopes and equipment at Sunday River resort in the early morning hours Sunday.
Jesse Bates, 33, was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated criminal mischief and violation of conditions of release, the Oxford County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Thursday.
On Sunday at about 6:30 a.m., sheriff's deputies were called to Sunday River on a report that someone had damaged the property in the early morning hours. On the ski slopes behind the South Ridge Lodge, deputies observed deep ruts "made by a vehicle that had also crashed into the ski lift scan gates before fleeing the scene."
Damage to the property and the scan gates was estimated to be more than $45,000, the release said.
Deputies worked with Sunday River security to quickly identify a suspect by identifying the vehicle involved, a dark-colored 2022 Subaru Impreza. The car was located at Bates' residence in Mexico and had extensive damage, deputies said.
After several unsuccessful attempts to find and arrest Bates, deputies were able to locate Bates at his home at about 8 p.m. Wednesday. He was arrested without incident and taken to the Oxford County Jail.
Police are still investigating.
Anyone with additional information about this incident should call the Oxford County Sheriff's Office at 207-743-9554.
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