Again, Two Vehicles Leave the Road in Two Separate Crashes
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
BAR HARBOR—On Thursday, November 14, Dell Bush, 39, of Marrero, Louisiana, was driving a 2004 Subaru Forester south on Route 102 in Bar Harbor at what, according to the police department’s press release written by Officer Shelby O’Neil, was a high rate of speed.
Richard Cohen, 90, of Tremont, was driving a 2020 Volvo V60 and allegedly pulled the Volvo out into the southbound lane from a parking lot in front of Bush’s vehicle. Bush tried to bring the Subaru around Cohen to the right side but the Subaru was struck by Cohen’s vehicle which caused Bush’s vehicle to strike a mailbox and tree before the vehicle rolled onto its side in a ditch.
At least one person involved in the crash, who was unidentified in the report, was injured but declined further medical treatment on scene.
The Forester sustained damage to all sides of the vehicle, was considered to be totaled, and was towed form the scene by DC Towing. The Volvo sustained damage to the passenger side mirror and passenger side front quarter panel.
BAR HARBOR—On Monday, November 18, at approximately 2:37 p.m., Donald Sexton, 25, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was driving a 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor.
According to the police department’s press release written by Officer Caleb Mora, Sexton allegedly fell asleep while driving. The truck drifted across the centerline, increased speed, then drifted across the fog line, and went off the roadway striking multiple trees in the area of 571 Eagle Lake Road.
Both Sexton and his unnamed passenger sustained injuries and the passenger was transported to the hospital by Bar Harbor ambulance.
The truck sustained major front-end damage, was considered totaled and was towed from the scene by Acadia Towing.
BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT POLICE LOGS
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor and Mount Desert last week according to the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department police logs, which is publicly released information.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Officer Zack Kline documented an incident for a Bar Harbor resident.
A man reported a deer stuck in a fence on the Crooked Road in Bar Harbor. The deer was able to free itself without any assistance.
Officer Kline performed a VIN number verification for a towing company in Bar Harbor.
Officer O’Neil removed a traffic hazard from the roadway in Bar Harbor.
Officer Kline looked for a vehicle in Bar Harbor that was the subject of a traffic complaint but could not locate it.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy received a motor vehicle complaint in Town Hill regarding a vehicle heading off island but all officers were out of position and the complaint was passed on to the agency covering Trenton.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a fall alert emergency call. The dispatcher was able to make contact with the person who owns the device and the person said that it was an accidental activation.
Someone reported a non-emergency situation caused by high winds at a business in Bar Harbor and representatives of the business were made aware of the situation.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Officer Caleb Mora investigated a report of a possible protection order violation in Bar Harbor and deemed that no violation had occurred.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier met with a person in Bar Harbor at the person’s request to discuss mental health concerns.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg assisted another agency with identifying a suspect in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Chris Dickens transported a patient from MDI Hospital to the person’s residence.
Officer Justin Burnett received a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
Someone reported some information to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Sgt. Sundberg received information regarding a potential fraud case in Bar Harbor.
Officer Troy Stanwood responded to a motor vehicle complaint of erratic operation in Bar Harbor, stopped the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for their operation.
Officer Stanwood attempted to locate a possible impaired driver in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Dickens attempted to locate a possible impaired driver in Mount Desert but was unsuccessful.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Sgt. Sundberg warned a driver for speeding in the Eden Street school zone in Bar Harbor.
After receiving a harassment complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer O’Neil issued a cease harassment warning and a no trespass warning to the suspect.
Officer Amie Torrey received a parking complaint in Mount Desert and was able to have the offending vehicles moved.
Officer Nathan Formby responded to an erratic operation of a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, and determined that there was no impairment of the driver.
Officers assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call in Bar Harbor.
While conducting a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Lukas Keene developed a concern that a violation of protection order may be taking place but subsequent investigation determined that there was no violation occurring.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Keene issued Andrez Crew, 40, of Bar Harbor, a citation for alleged operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Officer Formby responded to a report of an open door at a Bar Harbor business but found the door to be secure upon his arrival.
Officer Kline received a report of two gunshots in Mount Desert but after investigation, determined that it was a power transformer that had blown up. Versant Power was notified.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department issued a no trespassing notice to someone on behalf of Officer Judson Cake and a Mount Desert entity.
Officer Formby arrested Stephen Hudson, 24, of Mount Desert, for alleged operating after revocation.
After receiving a complaint from a Bar Harbor resident that someone had been banging on their door, Officer J. Cake located a group of juveniles and warned them for their behavior.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of suspicious activity in Bar Harbor but failed to locate anything suspicious in the area of the complaint.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Officer Stanwood took a report of online harassment in Bar Harbor.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb assisted the Town of Mount Desert by disposing of expired 2024 dog tags.
Officer Liam Harrington assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call.
Officers responded with the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT
The following incidents occurred in Southwest Harbor or Tremont last week according to the Southwest Harbor Police Department police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, November 11, 2024
Chief John Hall responded to a complaint by a Southwest Harbor resident that their neighbor had cut the complainant’s shrubs. The complainant had video of the neighbor cutting the shrubs and text messages to the neighbor telling them not to cut the shrubs. After speaking with Chief Hall and calming down, the complainant decided not to pursue charges via the police department.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a report of the gravel filled trench in the road at the intersection of Main Street and Apple Lane in Southwest Harbor getting deep. R.F. Jordan was contacted and they said they would send a crew to fill it back in.
Chief Hall responded to a report of a deceased deer on the side of the road at the Tremont Elementary School. Chief Hall met someone there who removed the deer.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney responded to “a local school” in Southwest Harbor and stood by while school staff and the parents of a student who was having an issue at the school worked through the issue.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to Tremont for a report of a vehicle parked on a road and blocking an intersection. Sgt. Blakeney found that the vehicle was parked on private property and not blocking the intersection.
Sgt. Blakeney did a school visit at the Pemetic School in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Blakeney assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with gaining access to their residence.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Officer Bradley Russell spoke with a Tremont resident regarding another individual whom the resident was concerned would come onto their property when the complainant was out of town. Officer Russell discussed concerns and options with the complainant.
Officer Russell fingerprinted someone at the Southwest Harbor Police Department for non-criminal reasons.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney responded to Tremont for the report of someone being inside a residence who does not belong there. Sgt. Blakeney found the residence to be secure with no sign of anyone inside.
Sgt. Blakeney received a report from someone in Southwest Harbor that they had found a dog on the side of the road, the dog had led them to a house and scratched at the door, and the person who found the dog let the dog into the house. Sgt. Blakeney then went to the residence where the dog had been let in to follow up with the homeowner.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a possible protection order violation that was made by a Tremont resident.
Sgt. Blakeney attempted to locate a vehicle in Southwest Harbor at the request of another agency but was unable to locate the vehicle.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to Tremont for a residential burglar alarm but was called off by the alarm company while in route.
Friday, November 15, 2024
A Tremont resident went to the Southwest Harbor Police Department to report a civil issue and. after speaking with Chief Hall, was advised to contact an attorney.
Chief Hall responded to Tremont for a 911 crash alert from an iPhone and could not locate a crash. Chief Hall did locate the phone’s owner who had lost their phone off their vehicle. Chief Hall and the phone owner searched for the phone but could not locate it. The owner later located the phone farther down the road.
Officer Russell responded to a Southwest Harbor residence because the resident had found a dog and brought it home. Before Officer Russell could arrive, the dog’s owner had been located and had retrieved the dog.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Officer Russell served some paperwork in Tremont at the request of another agency.
Officer Russell responded to Tremont for the report of an injured deer on the side of the road. Officer Russell dispatched the deer after determining that it had most likely been struck by a vehicle.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney spoke with a Southwest Harbor resident regarding a document that the resident had received in the mail and determined that it was not a police issue.
After receiving a complaint regarding a vehicle that had passed several cars at once in Southwest Harbor, causing one of them to have to pull over to the side of the road, Sgt. Blakeney located the suspect vehicle and stopped it. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Blakeney assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with gaining access to their residence.
STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASES
These are the Maine State Police press releases from the last few days. The Bar Harbor Story will include this each week though most (and sometimes all) do not occur on Mount Desert Island.
Fire Marshal’s Office Arrests Rumford Man for Aggravated Attempted Murder and Arson
RUMFORD—On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (FMO) responded to Rumford to assist the Rumford Fire Department with a report of a structure fire at 61 State Route 232.
As a result of that fire and related police incident, 59-year-old Billy Morvent, of Rumford, was detained by Rumford Police and subsequently transported to the hospital for medical treatment. After further investigation, the FMO placed Morvent under arrest Thursday evening, November 14, 2024, for three counts of aggravated attempted murder (class A), one count of arson (class A), three counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon (class C), and one count of aggravated criminal mischief (class C).
Morvent remains hospitalized as he recovers from his injuries. The investigators from the FMO worked closely with both the Rumford Police Department and the Oxford County District Attorney’s Office throughout this investigation.
Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Benton
BENTON—On Sunday, November 17, 2024, at approximately 4:17 p.m., troopers responded to the area of mile-marker 134, north-bound on I-95 in Benton, for the report of a single vehicle crash off the right side of the roadway. Upon arrival, troopers confirmed that the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle, 20-year-old Isaiah Mathieu, of Clinton, was deceased.
The initial investigation indicates that Mathieu failed to negotiate a bend in the roadway, before going off the right side and striking the guardrail. After striking the guardrail, the vehicle, a 2004 Chevy Trax, sustained substantial damage before entering a ditch near the tree line. The exact reason why Isaiah left the roadway is unknown; however, speed and failure to negotiate the roadway are contributing factors. The crash remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted on scene by MaineDOT, Clinton Fire Department, and Blanchard’s Towing.
HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
The following are the public releases from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Each image can be clicked on and expanded.
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