FARMINGTON -- A man who police say was involved in a plot to steal cars and rob stores in Farmington was arrested Wednesday after he met with his probation officer to fill out paperwork.

Jacob Hastings, 20, of Penn Avenue in Augusta was arrested on a warrant on felony charges of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon enhancement, namely a vehicle, and theft by unauthorized use of property.

Police say that on the night of Oct. 20, several people carried out a plan to steal vehicles from remote residences in Farmington, Wilton and Temple and drive them to businesses they planned to burglarize. The scheme backfired when two of the cars' owners spotted their vehicles being driven off and called police, who tried to set up road blocks on Route 43 in Temple.

The keys to all five cars, trucks and vans stolen that night had the keys left inside.

Hastings allegedly drove one of the stolen vehicles, turned the headlights off as he approached a Wilton Police cruiser and then deliberately rammed it. Officer Nathan Reid had minor injuries and the 2009 patrol car was destroyed.

Police said all the suspects fled into the woods and split up. Two additional vehicles were stolen from nearby homes later that night and one was recovered in Farmington the next morning.

Police are still looking for Robert Lacroix, 22, of Clinton Avenue in Winslow on charges of passing a roadblock and theft by unauthorized use of property.

Franklin County Sheriff's Det. Tom White said they believe Lacroix is in the Winslow/Waterville area. Waterville Police have been assisting the investigation and White was in the area Wednesday following up on leads.

Hastings had been released from the Maine State Prison in Warren four days before the recent incident. As part of his release conditions, he was required to report regularly to his probation officer.

"The probation people knew we were looking for him so when he showed up to report, they called and we picked him up," White said.

He said the arrest caught Hastings by surprise.

Warrants are being obtained for other men and women from Farmington and Augusta on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and hindering a police investigation, White said. He declined to release their names at this time.

Hastings is being held without bail at the Somerset County Jail.

Forensic evidence recovered in the stolen vehicles and examined at the Maine State Police Crime Lab in Augusta has been connected to a break-in that night at Rick's Market on Depot Street in Wilton, White said. The burglary was caught on a surveillance video that showed a man breaking into the store but being unable to pry open the cash register before police arrived. He left moments before officers arrived, police say.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com