The chef for two Damariscotta eateries has been charged with felony theft after allegedly stealing more than $3,000 worth of food and alcohol from a Hannaford supermarket.
Cristian Ariza-Padilla, 49, was arrested by the Damariscotta Police Department on July 17 and charged with a Class C count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.
Ariza-Padilla, a Canadian citizen, is being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset under an immigration detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as he is “unlawfully present” in the country, according to the federal agency.
The morning of July 17, the Damariscotta Police Department was called to Hannaford Supermarket, at 469 Main St., for reports of a shoplifter, according to Damariscotta Police Chief Jason Warlick. Employees told police the man, later identified as Ariza-Padilla, paid for $100 of food at a self-checkout kiosk then tried to leave the store with $500 worth of frozen lobster tails and meat.
Smith originally arrested Ariza-Padilla on a misdemeanor theft charge. Further investigation by Hannaford’s loss prevention team allegedly found other instances over the past month of Ariza-Padilla stealing items by using the self-checkout, including alcohol, lobster tails, deli meat, and other “food-related items,” Warlick said. The charge was subsequently upgraded to a felony.
Police later learned of a warrant for Ariza-Padilla’s arrest out of Florida for a charge of armed robbery with a firearm on April 18, 2018, according to information provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ariza-Padilla had also been arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida on April 1, 2017, for grand theft, according to the federal agency.
The Damariscotta Police Department charged Ariza-Padilla as a fugitive from justice.
On Thursday, July 25, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Boston field office lodged an immigration detainer against Ariza-Padilla. Detainers request that local police notify the ICE as early as possible before a “removable noncitizen” is released and hold them for up to 48 hours to allow the agency to assume custody, according to the agency.
While Ariza-Padilla entered the U.S. lawfully at Laredo, Texas, in October 2016, “he violated the terms of his admittance,” according to the federal agency.
The Damariscotta Police Department is continuing its investigation, Warlick said.
Ariza-Padilla is the chef at Ann’s Book Bistro, at 17 Back Meadow Road, and Koko’s Sandwich Bar, at 603 Main St., both in Damariscotta. In previous interviews with The Lincoln County News, he identified himself as Chris Padil.
A message left with Ann’s Book Bistro seeking comment had not been returned at the time this article was published. An outgoing message at Koko’s Sandwich Bar says the business is closed through Friday, Aug. 2.
LCN Editor Maia Zewert, Associate Editor Sherwood Olin, and reporter Molly Rains contributed to this article.
