Waterboro man arrested, charged with dragging Limington landowner with ATV
Waterboro ATV Driver Arrested After Alleged Assault on Limington Landowner
A 21‑year‑old man from Waterboro was taken into custody on Tuesday night for allegedly striking and dragging a Limington resident on an ATV. The incident took place on Pequawket Lake Road near the town line and prompted a swift investigation by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Warden Service and the state police.
According to a news release from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the confrontation began around 8:30 p.m. on June 2 when the landowner—a Limington resident whose name has not yet been released—approached the ATV and asked the driver to slow down. While the driver was operating his vehicle, the landowner tried to take a photograph of the vehicle and its registration, according to the release.
The driver allegedly refused to comply and continued to accelerate. The landowner then stopped the vehicle, reportedly telling the rider to “slow down on the trail.” At that point, the rider struck the landowner and dragged him approximately 75 feet along the trail. The victim sustained abrasions and contusions and was taken to a hospital that night. He was released from care the following morning.
Devin Lafrance, the 21‑year‑old from Waterboro, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless operation of an ATV and failure to stop and identify himself to the landowner. He was booked into York County Jail and released later that day. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the arrest followed a search of Lafrance’s property, authorized by a warrant that was issued after game wardens and state police reviewed trail‑camera footage that identified the make and model of the offending ATV.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of conflict between ATV riders and local residents. Over the past months, landowners in Limington have voiced growing frustration with what they describe as disruptive behavior on the public trails. The Limington Wheelers ATV Club has responded by installing trail cameras and petitioning for additional patrols to curb the problem.
The Maine Warden Service has been working closely with the state police to investigate all recent ATV incidents on public lands. “Our priority is ensuring that trails remain safe for all users,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “We appreciate the cooperation of local communities and the support of law‑enforcement partners as we address these incidents.”
The investigation into the June 2 incident is ongoing. Law‑enforcement officials have not released the name of the landowner involved, and no further details about the vehicle or the circumstances of the confrontation have been made public.
Maine’s ATV laws require riders to operate vehicles responsibly and to stop and identify themselves when requested by a landowner or property owner. Violations of these statutes can result in fines, license suspension and, in cases involving injury, criminal charges. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is reminding all ATV riders to observe posted speed limits, stay on designated trails and respect private property.
