Alcohol-Related Incidents Cause Busy Week for Officers

Again

Jul 09, 2024

BAR HARBOR––On Sunday, June 30, Officer Judson Cake arrested James W. Phelps, 34, of Seminole, Florida for alleged operating under the influence in Bar Harbor. Phelps was also charged with alleged refusal to sign a criminal summons. Phelps was transported to the Hancock County Jail.

On Monday, July 1, following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Nathan Formby arrested Sarah Alley, 38, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence and alleged operating without a license.

On Monday, July 1, Officer J. Cake arrested Roberto Matista Ramirez, 37, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for alleged operating under the influence in Bar Harbor. Hancock County Deputy Alan Medina assisted Officer Cake with language translation during the incident.

On Thursday, July 4, Officer Lukas Keene took a report of someone who was unconscious in the doorway leading to Fogtown Brewing’s basement in Bar Harbor. The person was extremely intoxicated and Officer Keene transported them to the hospital for treatment.

On Thursday, July 4, after conducting a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Keene arrested McKenzie Paradis, 19, of Bangor, for alleged operating under the influence and alleged violation of conditions of release. Paradis also had an active arrest warrant and was transported to the Hancock County Jail.

Following a July 4 complaint of a vehicle driving erratically and cans being thrown out the window, Officer Justin Burnett located and stopped the suspect vehicle in Bar Harbor. As a result of the vehicle stop, Keegan Sack, 18, of Milbridge, was charged with alleged minor transporting liquor and marijuana and an additional charge for allegedly having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Another subject, David West, 22, of Milbridge was charged with alleged littering and a third person, a 15-year-old juvenile, of Milbridge, was charged with alleged minor possessing liquor and marijuana.

On Friday, July 5, Officer J. Cake located an intoxicated man lying in the roadway in Bar Harbor. The man was transported to the hospital.

On Saturday, July 6, Officer Formby handled a complaint of a person passed out next to a vehicle in Bar Harbor and gave them a ride home.

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.

NOTE: Due to the increased volume of calls during the summer, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Officer Formby provided a ride to some people in Bar Harbor.

Sgt. Chris Dickens gave someone a ride from Bar Harbor to Seal Harbor.

Officer Burnett responded to a report of a tree blocking a lane of traffic on the Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor. The tree was removed with the help of a local resident.

Officers responded with the Bar Harbor Fire Department to a medical call on Cottage Street.

Officer Formby responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor and was able to get the noise quieted down for the night.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Officer Elias Burne assisted another agency by locating a vehicle in Mount Desert and performing a well-being check on an occupant of the vehicle. The person in question did not require any assistance.

An officer responded to Kennebec Street in Bar Harbor for a dogs in a hot car complaint but was unable to locate the vehicle.

Officer Kline received a complaint regarding a stray dog in the area of Seabury Drive in Bar Harbor. He caught the dog and reunited it with its human.

Officer Burne responded to a traffic hazard complaint on South Shore Road in Mount Desert and found the hazard to be roadkill. He removed it from the roadway.

Officer Liam Harrington took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Liam Harrington took a second motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

A complaint was made regarding a vehicle parking on Ledgelawn Avenue in Bar Harbor. An officer found the car to have a valid on-street parking permit that was registered to a nearby residence.

Officer Formby performed a well-being check at the request of a Bar Harbor business and found the subject of the check to be okay.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier met with a Bar Harbor community member to discuss distressing events.

Officer Ted Cake conducted a keep the peace in Bar Harbor.

Officer T. Cake spoke with someone in Mount Desert about a civil issue and provided the complainant with contact information for another agency after it was determined to be in another jurisdiction.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took possession of two firearms for a passenger travellng to Nova Scotia on the CAT Ferry.

Officer T. Cake responded to a dog in a car complaint in Mount Desert, but the owner arrived and left with the car before Officer Cake arrived.

Officer T. Cake took a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert, but there were no officers available to address it.

Officer Harrington served paperwork to someone in Mount Desert on behalf of the Ellsworth District Court.

Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to report some information.

Officers attempted to locate a vehicle in Mount Desert for another agency. No further information or disposition was given.

An electric rental vehicle broke down on Holland Avenue in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Jerrod Hardy was able to get it out of the roadway and called for a tow truck.

Officers tried to locate the cause of an animal noise complaint in Mount Desert but were unable to.

Officer Harrington handled a noise complaint in Bar Harbor and found it to be unsubstantiated.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Officer Keene moved along a group of teenagers who were discovered to be camping in an unauthorized area in Bar Harbor. The teenagers were warned for a town ordinance violation.

Officer Zack Kline transported someone in Bar Harbor to the hospital for an evaluation.

Sgt. Soren Sundberg responded to a complaint of a vehicle blocking the roadway in Bar Harbor, but the vehicle had been moved prior to his arrival.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took a motor vehicle complaint, but officers were unable to locate the vehicles.

Officer Kline escorted someone in Mount Desert while they retrieved their belongings.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of someone writing on sidewalks with chalk paint. No further information or disposition was given.

Someone in a vehicle was making a right-hand turn from Rodick Street into the Backyard Parking Lot in Bar Harbor and struck a pedestrian. The driver fled the scene without checking on the pedestrian. The pedestrian did sustain some unspecified injuries and there are charges pending.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took a parking complaint, but the vehicle left before an officer arrived.

At the request of another agency, Officer Caleb Mora notified a Bar Harbor resident that their property had been located in another jurisdiction.

Sgt. Dickens took a complaint of vehicles failing to yield for pedestrians in Hulls Cove and added the complaint to the Bar Harbor Police Department’s roster for focused patrols.

Officer Mora took a complaint of an e-bike being stolen in Bar Harbor. The bike was located in another location, undamaged, a couple hours later.

A dog was located in Bar Harbor and reunited with its owner.

Officer Kaleb Payson took a suspicious vehicle complaint in Mount Desert and determined that it belonged to hikers who had parked near a trailhead.

Officer Burne gave someone a ride home in Bar Harbor.

Officer Payson responded to a fireworks complaint in Mount Desert and learned that the fireworks display was permitted through the State of Maine.

Officer Payson located a disabled vehicle on Sound Drive in Mount Desert. The owner already had a tow truck in route.

An officer spoke with a person in Bar Harbor regarding items that they had left at a former rental home and that other residents had taken because they thought that the items had been abandoned.

Sgt. Dickens found a group of people shooting off fireworks at Hulls Cove Beach in Bar Harbor and advised them of the town’s ordinance prohibiting fireworks.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Officer Keene transported someone home in Bar Harbor from the hospital.

Officers assisted with traffic and pedestrian control in Bar Harbor for the fourth of July parade.

Three vehicles were towed from the fireworks-restricted zone near Ells Pier in Bar Harbor.

Officer Amie Torrey received a parking complaint in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Mora attempted to respond to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, but the vehicle was off the island before he could get to the area.

Officer Torrey handled a complaint of a possible domestic situation in Mount Desert, learned that it was verbal, and warned the involved parties for disorderly conduct.

Officer Formby served paperwork to someone in Bar Harbor.

A parking problem was reported in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Payson assisted the Bar Harbor ambulance with a medical call.

Officer Burne called an ambulance for a person who had fallen down in a Bar Harbor parking lot.

Officer Mora handled a complaint of a firearm that was left behind in a Bar Harbor business. After investigation, Officer Mora returned the firearm to its owner without any criminal charges being issued.

Officers received a complaint of a vehicle doing burnouts in the parking lot of a Bar Harbor business but could not locate the vehicle.

Officer T. Cake took a report of a possible missing person in Bar Harbor, but the parties were all reunited at the police station a short while later.

Sgt. Dickens took a report of a vehicle off the road in the area of the Bluffs in Bar Harbor. The vehicle was pulled back onto the road by a tow truck.

Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of a lost and/or confused person on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Dickens located the juvenile and reunited them with their parents whom they had become separated from.

Friday, July 5, 2024

Officers responded to a report of people fighting at a Bar Harbor business. No further information or disposition was given.

The Bar Harbor Police Department received a 911 call regarding a missing man. It was learned that the man had been transported to the hospital earlier for treatment and was accounted for.

Officer Keene assisted a couple with getting back to their vehicle in Mount Desert.

The Bar Harbor Police Department received another 911 call regarding a missing person. The person was located a short while later and given a ride back to their hotel.

A Bar Harbor business called the police department to inform them that they had fired an employee and would be calling if there were any issues.

Officer Burnett performed a keep the peace in Mount Desert.

Someone in a boat in Mount Desert reported being threatened by an unknown person on the shore.

The Bar Harbor Police Department was provided information regarding suspicious activity.

Officer Burne took a report of vandalism in a public restroom in Bar Harbor. The vandalism was removed.

Officer Burnett assisted a motorist on Peabody Drive in Mount Desert.

Officer Burne responded to a report of two dogs running in the road in Mount Desert. With the help of another person, the dogs were collected and returned to their owner.

The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments both received calls of unrelated vehicle operation complaints. Both vehicles were heading off island and another agency was notified in each case.

Sgt. Dickens responded to a barking dog complaint in the area of Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Dickens found the area to be quiet upon his arrival.

Officer Torrey received a residential burglar alarm in Mount Desert. The alarm was determined to be false.

Officer Keene responded to a report of fireworks in Bar Harbor, but they had ceased by the time he arrived.

Officer J. Cake responded to a report of fireworks in Mount Desert but could not locate anyone shooting fireworks off.

Officer Burnett assisted a Bar Harbor resident with a plumbing issue.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Officer Kline responded to a call of a low hanging wire on Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor but determined that the wire was not impeding any traffic and was a cable wire rather than a power line.

Officer Burnett removed an unruly customer from a Bar Harbor business.

Officer Kline responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.

A Bar Harbor resident called to report harassment but did not want the suspect confronted at this time.

Officer Burnett responded to a report of dogs in a vehicle on Main Street in Bar Harbor but determined that the dogs were fine.

Officer Torrey handled a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but found the vehicle parked with nobody around it.

Officer Torrey assisted Acadia National Park rangers with locating a vehicle that failed to stop for them in Mount Desert.

Sgt. Hardy responded to a fireworks complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the source of the fireworks.

A Bar Harbor business contacted the Bar Harbor Police Department regarding vehicles being turned in late.

Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to report some information.

Officer J. Cake investigated the theft of a watch in Bar Harbor.

Officer Formby took a report of an animal problem in Bar Harbor and passed it along to the animal control officer.

Officer J. Cake performed a well-being check on an intoxicated person and found them to be fine and in the company of friends.

Officer Formby investigated a report of a family fight in Bar Harbor and determined that no assaults had occurred.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Officer Troy Stanwood responded to a report of a party at Blackwoods Campground in Mount Desert and as a result, warned six men for disorderly conduct and littering.

Officer Kline handled a complaint of a bus parked in the middle of Main Street in Northeast Harbor and got the bus to move.

Officer Harrington assisted a citizen in need in Mount Desert.

Sgt. Hardy completed a sex offender registry verification with a Bar Harbor resident.

Officer Torrey received a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Formby handled a fireworks complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate the source of the fireworks.

Officer Harrington took a report of a vehicle stuck in a ditch in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Formby gave a ride to two people from Bar Harbor to Mount Desert.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT

The following incidents occurred in Southwest Harbor last week according to the Southwest Harbor Police Department police log, which is publicly released information.

NOTE: Due to the increased volume of calls during the summer, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Officer Ryan Blakeney assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with getting back into their apartment after having locked themselves out.

After receiving a complaint of harassment from a man in Southwest Harbor, Officer Blakeney spoke with the alleged offending person and warned them for harassment and told them not to have any contact with the complainant or his family.

Officer Blakeney attempted to locate someone in Tremont who has active arrest warrants but was unsuccessful.

Officer Blakeney attempted to locate a deer in Southwest Harbor that a caller had said may have been hit, but he was unable to locate the deer.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Officer Bradley Russell fingerprinted someone in Southwest Harbor for employment purposes.

Officer Russell spoke with a woman in Tremont who was concerned about her property getting damaged and he gave her some options to pursue if it did get damaged.

The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a compliant regarding an injured animal in Tremont and referred the caller to the Maine Warden Service.

Officer Russell responded to a report of a car off the road in Tremont, but the vehicle was gone when he arrived.

Officer Russell received a complaint in Southwest Harbor regarding an ongoing harassment issue and after speaking with everyone involved, they were able to come to a resolution.

Officer Russell spoke with someone in the Southwest Harbor Police Department lobby regarding an issue the person had been having.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Officer Russell performed an escort in Southwest Harbor at the request of the person being escorted.

After receiving information about a local resident in Southwest Harbor operating a motor vehicle without a license, Officer Blakeney attempted to locate the vehicle without success.

Officer Blakeney performed a well-being check on a local resident in Tremont and found them to be okay.

The U.S. Coast Guard base reported to the Southwest Harbor Police Department that they had a suspicious man enter the base and when they went to confront him, he ran towards Clark Point Road. Officer Blakeney was unable to locate the man.

Officer Blakeney handled a report of an unattended death in Southwest Harbor.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

After receiving a 911 call about a man on Main Street in Southwest Harbor who was not wearing a shirt or shoes and who seemed out of breath, Officer James Kamorski was not able to locate the man.

The Maine State Police asked Officer Kamorski to do a well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor. Upon checking, he spoke with person’s mother who said that they had just recently been dropped off in Ellsworth.

Officer Kamorski responded to a 911 call from a hiking trail in Southwest Harbor and found it to be a dispute between a father and a son. Kamorski then cleared the area.

Officer Russell responded to a call regarding an animal in the roadway in Southwest Harbor and another agency took care of the complaint.

Friday, July 5, 2024

Officer Kamorski spoke with someone on the phone in Southwest Harbor regarding a months’ old complaint. Officer Kamorski spoke with all of the involved parties and was able to resolve the issue.

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Officer Russell responded to a complaint of an erratic driver in Tremont. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Russell responded to a complaint of an erratic driver in Southwest Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Russell responded to a complaint of a stranded car on the side of the road in Southwest Harbor and called a tow truck.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Officer Russell handled an illegal fireworks complaint in Southwest Harbor and spoke with the person shooting off the fireworks about the town’s ordinance prohibiting fireworks.

Officer Blakeney took a loose dog complaint in Southwest Harbor. The dog was located by somebody else and returned to its owner.

Officer Blakeney received a report about someone at a Southwest Harbor business who appeared to have injuries that needed attention. Officer Blakeney was unable to locate the person and put out a BOLO for the individual, who was eventually located. Officer Blakeney then made contact with the person.

Officer Blakeney took a report from a motorist with a child in their vehicle in Southwest Harbor who said that they were concerned because the driver behind them was operating erratically. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Russell handled an illegal fireworks complaint in Southwest Harbor and spoke with the person shooting off the fireworks about the town’s ordinance prohibiting fireworks.

Officer Russell responded to a barking dog complaint and spoke with the dog’s owner about the issue.

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 in Bar Harbor.

Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Crash on Turnpike

GRAY/CUMBERLAND—On Monday, July 1, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 on the Gray/Cumberland line. The initial investigation indicates that a 2021 GMC Sierra towing a camper trailer was traveling northbound when the driver’s side rear tire of the GMC Sierra (not the trailer) became dislodged. The tire traveled over the median guardrail striking a 2018 Mercedes sedan that was traveling southbound on I-95.

The driver of the Mercedes, 49-year-old Justin Nsenga of Old Orchard Beach, was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the GMC Sierra, 43-year-old Jean-Francois Chartrand of Saint-Hubert, Quebec, and his four passengers were not injured. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076 and ask to speak with Trooper Tom Welch.

While this crash was being investigated, a secondary crash happened southbound on I-95 when a motorcycle driven by 31-year-old Tiffany Bowden of South Paris lost control in the slowing traffic and skidded before coming to rest in the roadway. Bowden was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crashes are being investigated by Maine State Police Troop G and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU).

Maine State Police Assisting Biddeford PD with Baby Death

BIDDEFORD—On Saturday, June 15, 2024, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Biddeford Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to 37 Emery Street in Biddeford, for an unresponsive one month old boy. The baby was transported to Southern Maine Hospital in Biddeford and later transferred to the Maine Medical Center. Due to the age of the baby and is standard protocol, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South were called into assist the Biddeford Police Department.

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the baby died. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta on Friday, June 21, 2024. Cause and Manner of death are being withheld at this time. The Biddeford Police Department and the State Police Major Crimes Unit South continue to work together on the investigation surrounding the child’s death.

Maine State Police Investigating Crash in Parsonsfield

PARSONSFIELD—In the early morning hours of July 4, 2024, the Augusta Regional Communications Center began receiving calls about an abandoned pick-up truck and boat in the travel lane of State Route 160 in the town of Parsonsfield. Troopers Travis Doughty and Nate Jamo with the Southern Field Troop responded to the crash and determined that the driver of the pick-up, a 2009 blue Chevy 1500 with a 12-foot aluminum boat in the truck bed, was traveling on State Route 160, missed a turn and crashed into a parked vehicle and garage of a residence in Parsonsfield. The driver than backed up and left the scene.

Due to the extent of damage to the offending vehicle, the driver of the pick-up left a debris field to include the boat which fell out of the truck. The driver continued driving, subsequently shredding the front driver’s side tire until it was completely separated from the rim. It was at this time that the operator abandoned his pickup and fled the scene.

Trooper Jamo identified the driver as 23-year-old Joshua Hermance of Parsonsfield, who is cooperating with the investigation. Hermance has been charged with failure to give notice of accident by quickest means, failure to notify owner of property damage accident, failure to produce or return to the scene of an accident, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Hermance and the homeowner were not injured.