Alleged Attempted Car Robberies Foiled
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Hancock County Sheriff and Police Logs
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BAR HARBOR—On October 29, at approximately 12:56 p.m., the Bar Harbor Police Department received a call from a Dewey Street resident that a man was attempting to steal a vehicle from Dewey Street. By the time officers arrived, the man was gone.
At approximately 1:32 p.m., a second call was received by the police department from an Applewood Lane resident stating that a man was opening their (the caller’s) neighbor’s vehicle doors. Applewood Lane is in very close proximity to Dewey Street.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb and Officer Troy Stanwood had responded to the complaint and according to scanner traffic, Lt. Edgecomb had a subject detained on Gazebo Way, which abuts Applewood Lane, that matched the description given by one of the callers shortly thereafter. Also, according to scanner traffic, the subject was in close proximity to an orange Saturn that had front end damage.
Once again, according to scanner traffic, the orange Saturn’s vehicle registration stated that it belonged to the York County Shelter Programs. As of press time, an email and a phone call to the York County Shelter Programs to verify that the Saturn belonged to them and had been stolen were unreturned.
The man was eventually identified as Casey McDonald, 36, no residence town given , and placed under arrest by Officer Stanwood. McDonald was charged with alleged unauthorized use of property class C (two counts), alleged burglary of a motor vehicle class D (two counts), alleged criminal attempt class D, alleged operating a motor vehicle while license revoked—habitual offender class D, and alleged violation of conditions of release class E.
Officer Stanwood transported McDonald to the Hancock County Jail and where McDonald was being held without bail pending a court appearance.
The vehicle was towed from the scene and moved to a secure facility. Interim Police Chief/Captain David Kerns said that the police department had applied for and received a search warrant for the vehicle after McDonald’s arrest.
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor last week according to the Bar Harbor police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, October 23, 2023
Officers responded to Southwest Harbor to assist with a “possible emergency call.” No further information or disposition given.
Officer Elias Burne responded to a disabled motorist in Bar Harbor. The disabled vehicle was out of the roadway and the motorist did not require any assistance.
Officer Amie Torrey handled a parking complaint in Mount Desert which turned out to be people illegally camping and the campers were moved along.
Officer Ted Cake responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Amie Torrey handled a report of a possible broken-down vehicle in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition given.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb took a late report of Mount Desert Fire Department Engine 2 allegedly hitting a rock wall on private property while responding to a fire alarm. The engine had damage to the driver’s side rear.
Someone reported a suspicious bag to the police in Bar Harbor. Officer T. Cake located the bag and determined that it was trash and disposed of it.
Lt. Edgecomb documented a complaint regarding a civil land dispute issue in Bar Harbor.
Officer Troy Stanwood responded to a report of a dog left unattended in a vehicle in Bar Harbor. The vehicle was gone upon Officer Stanwood’s arrival.
Officer Stanwood took a report of people acting suspiciously in Bar Harbor. Upon investigation, it was determined that the people were searching for sea glass on the beach.
Donna Meyerbach, 84, of Tremont, was driving a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek and heading west on the Pretty Marsh Road in Mount Desert when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by Meyerbach’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury. The vehicle sustained moderate front end damage.
Officer Stanwood assisted someone who had locked themselves out of their apartment in Bar Harbor.
An officer helped a person with a disabled vehicle on Prospect Avenue in Bar Harbor. The vehicle was later towed at the owner’s request.
Officer Burne responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor and located the vehicle but could not locate the driver.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Officer Burne arrested Joseph MacQuinn, 56, of Bar Harbor, for an active arrest warrant. MacQuinn was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officers assisted the Maine Fire Marshall’s Office with a traffic stop in the area of Eden Street in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition given.
Officer T. Cake responded to a report of illegal camping in Mount Desert. Officer Cake located the camping van, advised the occupants of the issue, and gave them a copy of the town’s ordinance prohibiting sleeping in vehicles.
Nolan Sawyer, no age given, of Mount Desert, was driving a 2006 Nissan north on Route 102 in Mount Desert when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by Sawyer’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and Sawyer’s vehicle suffered minor front-end damage. The deer ran away from the scene.
Officer Judson Cake handled a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Erica Maestle, 60, of Steuben, was driving a 2018 Ford coach bus and was exiting a parking spot at Hannaford’s in Bar Harbor when the bus allegedly struck a 2014 Nissan Rogue, which was last operated by Theodore Kueljes, 57, of Mount Desert. Kueljes’s vehicle was allegedly parked partially in the bus’s parking spot. There was no reported personal injury. The bus received no damage and the Nissan received rear passenger’s side damage.
Officer T. Cake fingerprinted someone, at their request, at the Mount Desert Police Department.
Officer J. Cake spoke with someone regarding suspicious phone calls that he was receiving at his Bar Harbor business.
A stray dog was turned in to the Bar Harbor Police Department. No further information or disposition given.
Lt. Edgecomb responded to a suspicious activity complaint in Bar Harbor. He is investigating the complaint.
A second stray dog was brought to the Bar Harbor Police Department. Its owner was notified and reunited with their dog.
Officer Stanwood was present at a Town of Mount Desert meeting to keep the peace.
Officer J. Cake assisted a motorist who was having issues with their vehicle in Bar Harbor.
Officer Lukas Keene took a fraud complaint from someone who felt that they were scammed in Bar Harbor.
Officer J. Cake responded to a report of a man passed out on some granite rocks in Bar Harbor but could not locate anyone.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Officers warned someone for trespassing on private property in Bar Harbor and the individual moved along without issue.
Officer Chris Dickens located a person sleeping in their vehicle in a cemetery in Bar Harbor. The person was advised of the state statute that prohibits being in a cemetery after dark and was moved along.
In Bar Harbor, Officer Tim Bland took a report of harassment. No further information or disposition given.
While on patrol, Officer T. Cake located some debris in the roadway on Route 102 in Mount Desert. Officer T. Cake moved the debris from the roadway.
Officer Bland responded to an unsecured door complaint at a Bar Harbor business and deemed it to be non-criminal.
Officer J. Cake assisted a motorist in Bar Harbor whose vehicle was having battery issues.
Officer J. Cake assisted a motorist in Mount Desert whose vehicle was having brake issues.
Officers performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found no issues.
A motor vehicle complaint that began on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor and extended onto Sound Drive in Mount Desert resulted in officers not being able to locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Stanwood responded to a trespassing complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate anyone upon arrival.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier spoke with a Bar Harbor resident. No further information or disposition given.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
After conducting a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Nathan Formby arrested Elijah Grey, 21, of Brewer, for alleged operating under the influence.
Officers responded to the Grand Hotel in Bar Harbor for a report of people being loud in the area. Officers located two intoxicated males who were both warned for disorderly conduct.
Officers responded to a Bar Harbor hotel for a report of a disturbance but could not locate any disturbance.
Officer Stanwood spoke with a person regarding a civil matter in Mount Desert.
Officer Jerrod Hardy took some information from someone in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition given.
Someone reported a motorist speeding on the Old Bar Harbor Road. No further information or disposition given.
Officer Keene took a report of harassment from a Bar Harbor business and as a result, one person was warned for harassment.
Someone reported a suspicious person in Bar Harbor and Officer J. Cake determined that it was a person on a video conference call and was not suspicious.
Officer Keene handled a report of a motor vehicle accident that occurred on private property in Bar Harbor.
Officer J. Cake received a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officers assisted Bar Harbor’s ambulance personnel with a well-being check. No further information or disposition given.
Officers J. Cake and Keene responded to a report of a fight in Bar Harbor and upon arrival, discovered that it was only verbal.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg received some information regarding someone who is traveling to Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition given.
Friday, October 27, 2023
Officer Formby investigated a report about gunshots in Bar Harbor and determined that no guns had been fired in the area of the complaint.
Officer Stanwood responded to a compliant that a young child was walking by themselves on Route 102 in Mount Desert. By the time Officer Stanwood arrived, the child had been returned to the parents and the child was safe and uninjured. No further information or disposition given.
Officer Stanwood investigated a report of an unattended child’s bicycle in Bar Harbor and determined that there was no suspicious activity.
Officer Hardy performed a well-being check on a person in Bar Harbor who is part of the police department’s Good Morning program. The person was all set.
Officer Hardy handled a complaint in Bar Harbor of a motor vehicle being operated outside the area of the operator’s restrictions. Officer Hardy spoke with the vehicle owner about the matter.
Someone in Bar Harbor reported that they were being stalked. After investigation, Officer Hardy determined to this was a mental health issue of the complainant’s, who is going to speak with their psychiatrist about the matter.
Officer Stanwood responded to a report of suspicious activity by a man at a Bar Harbor business. Officer Stanwood determined that there was no criminal activity and the man was moved along.
Officer Stanwood arrested Luis Rojas, 36, of Bar Harbor, for an active arrest warrant.
Officer Stanwood assisted the Bar Harbor ambulance on a medical call.
Officer Stanwood took a report of a vehicle speeding through Town Hill but was not in position to try and locate it. He learned that another agency had stopped the vehicle later.
While in the area of Crooked Road and Norway Drive in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood received a complaint of gunshots in the same area. Officer Stanwood had heard the sounds and thought that they sounded like fireworks. No further suspicious sounds were heard in the area by Officer Stanwood.
The police department took a report of suspicious activity in Bar Harbor but no issues were found. No further information or disposition given.
The police department took a second report of suspicious activity in Bar Harbor but no issues were found. No further information or disposition given.
Officer Dickens took a barking dog complaint in Mount Desert. The barking dog was brought inside by its owner.
Officers conducted bar checks at several Bar Harbor bars and found no issues.
The police department received a complaint about the noise coming from a Bar Harbor business. The complaint was deemed unsubstantiated.
Officer Burne responded to a domestic altercation in Bar Harbor which was a verbal disagreement only.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Officer Bland pushed a disabled vehicle out of the roadway in Bar Harbor.
Officer Hardy arrested Leonie R. Chambers, 26, of Hancock, in Bar Harbor for alleged criminal mischief. Chambers was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a call from a woman reporting suspicious activity on the Long Pond Trail. No further information or disposition given.
Officer Bland gave someone a ride home in Bar Harbor.
Officer Bland assisted with a parking complaint in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood took a report of a road rage incident in Bar Harbor but the vehicle was gone when he arrived.
An officer assisted the Southwest Harbor Police Department on an assault complaint.
Someone reported a theft in Bar Harbor to Officer J. Cake. The incident is under investigation.
Officers responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was performed based on a traffic violation. The driver was warned for their operation and released from the stop.
Officer Burne handled a verbal domestic altercation in Mount Desert and the individuals involved were separated for the night.
Sunday, October 29, 2023
A person went to the Bar Harbor Police Department to report that they were concerned for their safety.
Officer Hardy responded to a domestic disturbance in Bar Harbor which was found to be a verbal argument only.
An officer went to a Bar Harbor business to check on the well-being of a woman from Blue Hill. She was found to be fine.
Officer Liam Harrington responded to a report of a person who had been sleeping outside for several days in Bar Harbor. After meeting with the person, Officer Harrington was able to utilize community partners to secure housing for them for several days.
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.
Sports wagering update
Gambling Control Unit
The Department of Public Safety (DPS), Gambling Control Unit (GCU) is pleased to announce that the rules have been adopted for sports wagering. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, November 1, 2023, licensed operators and their management service providers and suppliers will be able to start pre-launch advertising to accept registrations and account deposits up to the go-live date this Friday, November 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. EST.
Milton Champion, Gambling Control Unit’s Executive Director would like to thank the dedicated staff at DPS, GCU, AdCare Maine Problem Gambling Services, the Attorney General’s Office, and the sports wagering industry for their input and patience in the rulemaking process.
You must be 21 or older to wager. If you or someone you know may have a problem with gambling, please contact 211 Maine. 1-800 GAMBLER will direct you to 211 as well.
HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The most recent press releases from the sheriff’s office are below.
