Two men were arrested shortly after they allegedly stole copper from an empty Biddeford building.

Jonathan D. Clark, 27, of Pike Street in Biddeford, and Jeremy V. Vincent, 32, of Old Orchard Street in Old Orchard Beach were arrested for burglary May 24 by Biddeford police.

The Biddeford Police Department has received numerous reports of burglaries in vacant buildings where copper pipes, brass pipe fittings and wiring were stolen.

Police received a report May 24 that two men were seen entering a vacant building on Pike Street then leaving in a blue Ford Crown Victoria.

When officers arrived at the scene, they noticed a door had been kicked in and piping appeared to be missing. Officer Jim Penney had the dispatch center immediately contact One Steele Recycling on Route 1 in Arundel to determine if anyone who matched a witness description had been there.

Police said an employee told them two men were just leaving the business after selling piping, brass fittings and wire. The employee told police the men headed toward Biddeford and police stopped the Crown Victoria on Elm Street a short time later.

Biddeford police said the employees of One Steele Recycling have “always been more than accommodating” regarding information needed by police.

Clark and Vincent were charged with burglary, a Class B felony. Police said they have not been linked to other burglaries at this time.

Biddeford man admits hate crime

A Biddeford man pleaded guilty last week to charges he violated the Maine Civil Rights Act, according to Maine Attorney General William J. Schneider.

Adam D. Goodwin, 36, was sentenced by Superior Court Justice G.  Arthur Brennan to nine months in York County Jail on charges of assault, interference with constitutional and civil rights and a criminal violation of a civil rights injunction.

Charges against Goodwin stemmed from a Dec. 18, 2010, incident at Rapid Ray’s on Main Street in Saco. The victim, Carl Donaldson, and a female companion were waiting for an order at the restaurant when Goodwin entered and made a racially derogatory remark to the couple. Schneider said Donaldson is black and his companion is Caucasian.

Schneider said Donaldson replied and turned back to his companion when Goodwin closed his fist and punched Donaldson in the head.

At the time of the assault, Goodwin was under an injunction resulting from a 2008 assault motivated by anti-Semitism against a Jewish man, Schneider said. Maine Superior Court had ordered Goodwin not to violate the Maine Civil Rights Act, which prohibits the use or threat of physical force or violence motivated by bias against race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or mental disability.

“It is unacceptable that acts of violence are committed against complete strangers because of their race or national origin. We will continue to vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit crimes driven by hatred and intolerance,” Schneider said in a prepared statement.

The Maine Attorney General’s Office since 1992 has obtained more than 200 injunctions against individuals under the Maine Civil Rights Act. Violations of injunctions are Class D crimes punishable by up to 364 days in jail. There have been eight criminal violations of civil rights orders, all resulting in significant jail sentences, Schneider said. 

OOB police continue seat belt campaign

 The Old Orchard Beach Police Department will continue stepped-up seat belt enforcement as part of the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin said officers are increasing patrols through Sunday, joining departments across the state and nation to ensure drivers are wearing seat belts at all times.

The department received a grant from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety to allow for extra officers on the road from May 23 to June 5.

Babin said anyone caught in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt will be fined $70 for the first offense and $160 for a second offense. The third and subsequent offenses carry a fine of $310.

Schools will provide meals in summer

  The Biddeford School Department will offer free breakfast and lunch to children throughout summer.

Food Services Director Sandy Lewis said the federal Hunger Act program will allow the school department to offer free meals to children 18 and younger throughout the summer. The district qualifies to be reimbursed for food and staffing costs because of the high number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The program begins June 27 and runs every Monday through Friday until Aug. 26. Breakfast will served from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon at Biddeford Primary School.

Lewis said there are no income qualifications and no need to preregister. She said staff will play music and provide nutritional information to parents.

“We’re so excited we can do this,” she said. “It’s the most wonderful opportunity for parents to make sure their children are nourished.”

For more information, call Sandy Lewis at 282-4134, ext. 4212.