PRESQUE ISLE — Two boys from Hartland were arrested Thursday on armed robbery charges after allegedly holding a Bangor taxi-cab driver at knife point in Presque Isle and threatening his life early Wednesday.

The boy, ages 15 and 17, are charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, theft of services and assault, according to a news release Thursday afternoon by Detective Sgt. Wayne Selfridge of the Presque Isle Police Department. The names of the juveniles are not being released because of their age.

A third youth, 17, also from Hartland who was present for the robbery but did not take part, was released to his parents, according to the release.

Authorities in Somerset County were alerted to the heist in a teletype from Presque Isle police shortly after the armed robbery Wednesday morning when an identification card showing the name of a Hartland man was discovered inside the abandoned taxi.

That man was in the Somerset County Jail at the time of the robbery on unrelated charges. Investigators from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department are looking into that case and how it might link to a March 31 theft report, also in Hartland.

Selfridge said the tax-cab driver picked up the three juveniles in Bangor. Once in Presque Isle, one of juveniles brandished a knife and assaulted the 32-year-old cab driver after the group forced the driver to pull over.

The driver escaped to a nearby motel where he dialed 911. He was not hurt, according to Selfridge. Property valued at $450 was reportedly stolen from the cab.

Maine State Police troopers, Aroostook County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted Presque Isle police in their search for the robbers.

Selfridge said both boys have juvenile criminal records. The 17-year-old had a warrant for his arrest for being missing from a youth detention center. He was taken to the Mountain View Youth Detention Center in Charleston.

Selfridge said the 17-year-old also faces burglary, theft and criminal mischief charges from a reported break-in April 3 in Presque Isle.

The 15-year-old is being held at the Aroostook County jail in Houlton. He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Doug Harlow — 474-9534

dharlow@centralmaine.com