Alleged Puppy Thieves Charged in Ellsworth
POLICE LOGS
THREE ACCUSED OF STEALING PUPPY AND TAKING IT TO WALMART
This first story appears through a media partnership with the Bangor Daily News.
By Bill Trotter/Bangor Daily News
Three people were arrested and charged with felony burglary and theft after they allegedly stole a puppy from a parked car in Ellsworth.
They also have been charged with shoplifting at the local Walmart, where they took the dog and allegedly stole $100 worth of pet supplies, according to police. The dog, a longhaired dachshund, was not harmed and was reunited with its owner a few hours after it was taken.
Jasmine Gauthier, 22, of Fryeburg, Jordan Burnell, 23, of Ellsworth and Marietta Lawson, 70, of Ellsworth were arrested Friday on class C charges of burglary of a motor vehicle and theft, according to Troy Bires, interim chief of the Ellsworth Police Department. The theft of the dog is considered a felony because its estimated value is $2,500, he said.
Bires said each also was charged with class E theft for allegedly shoplifting a dog bowl, a dog bed and a couple other pet-related items from Walmart. He said he did not know the dog’s age but that it was “not very old.”
Police responded to Walmart on Friday afternoon after the owner posted information about the dog-napping on Facebook. Walmart customers who saw the owner’s post recognized the dog as the alleged thieves were carrying it around the store and called police, Bires said.
“When someone posts a picture of a stolen dog or an abused dog, we get a million responses,” he said.
The owner told police she left the dog for a few minutes in her vehicle in a parking lot on Water Street, but the engine and air conditioning were running and the doors were locked. When she returned to the car around noon, it was unlocked and the dog was gone, Bires said she told police.
Bires said it is unclear how the alleged thieves got into the vehicle, but speculated that the dog may have stepped on an unlock button after the owner walked off. He said there was no damage to the vehicle.
City Councilor Steve O’Halloran praised the department Monday night for safely reuniting the dog and its owner.
“This is equal to a child abduction in our city,” O’Halloran said at the council’s monthly meeting. He then led a round of applause.
“It is the power of social media and Facebook,” Councilor Nancy Smith said.
CRASH TAKES LIFE OF BAR HARBOR WOMAN
BAR HARBOR—As reported on previously, on June 13, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the Bar Harbor Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a serious personal injury crash in the area of Route 102 and Gilbert Farm Road in Bar Harbor involving a truck and a Vespa scooter.
Initial investigation revealed that the truck that was involved in the crash was stopped in the roadway waiting for another uninvolved vehicle to make a left-hand turn. It was reported that the scooter operator came up from behind the truck quickly. The driver of the truck, Roger Ranco, 35, of Waltham, who was uninjured in the crash, attempted to pull over to the right-hand side of the road to avoid a collision, but the scooter impacted the driver’s side rear of the truck. The operator of the scooter, Anita Burdzel, 52, of Bar Harbor, was ejected from the scooter.
Bar Harbor police, fire, and rescue personnel responded to the scene and Burdzel was transported by the Bar Harbor ambulance to MDI Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Initial observations show speed and driver inattention to be the cause of the crash with the added possibility that Burdzel could not see the stopped truck due to the crest of the hill.
Bar Harbor resources were assisted on the scene by the Ellsworth Police Department, the Maine Marine Patrol, the Bar Harbor Highway Department, and citizens. The crash is still being investigated.
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.
Monday, June 10, 2024
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier responded to a Bar Harbor residence to assist a person in distress.
Officer Zack Kline responded to a complaint of a vehicle that was not stopping for people in crosswalks in Bar Harbor but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Deborah B. Bujnocki, no age given, of New Vineyard, Maine, was driving a 2015 Subaru Impreza east on Pretty Marsh Road in Mount Desert when the Subaru allegedly crossed the road into the westbound lane and went off the road, striking the guardrail. Bujnocki’s vehicle traveled the length of the guardrail until the end where it returned to the roadway. There was no reported personal injury. The vehicle was damaged along the entirety of the driver’s side.
Someone reported some information to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Officer Elias Burne assisted an outside agency in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy responded to a complaint of erratic vehicle operation in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Troy Stanwood gave two people a ride home in Bar Harbor.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Sgt. Doug Brundrett gave 19 relinquished firearms to the Rockland Police Department as part of the Gun Give Back Program sponsored by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition Foundation.
Officer Ted Cake assisted a construction company with traffic control in Bar Harbor.
Officer Kline responded to a report of a car coming off a tow truck in the area of Mount Desert Street and Eden Street in Bar Harbor but could locate anything to verify this occurred.
Officer Kline received a report of two loose dogs in Bar Harbor. A local resident was able to collect the dogs and bring them to the police department where they were reunited with their owner.
Officer Kline assisted the Maine State Police with locating a Bar Harbor resident so that they could deliver a message to the resident.
A Mount Desert resident called the Mount Desert Police Department to make a complaint regarding an issue with a neighbor. Officer Kline advised the caller that it was not a police issue, but that the complaint would be documented.
Officer T. Cake spoke with someone on the phone in Bar Harbor. The caller would not give any information on why they were calling but said that they would call back it they needed the police.
Officers responded with the Bar Harbor Fire Department for a medical event in Bar Harbor.
MHL Tozier assisted someone with distressing life circumstances in Bar Harbor.
Officer Liam Harrington spoke with a Bar Harbor resident regarding an ongoing neighbor dispute.
Sgt. Hardy assisted the Maine Marine Patrol with an investigation in Bar Harbor.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Officer Harrington provided an intoxicated man a ride home in Bar Harbor.
An officer responded to Main Street in Somesville for a report of an abandoned vehicle in the roadway. The vehicle was gone upon the officer’s arrival.
A caller in Bar Harbor wanted to report a possible protection order violation but only wanted it documented for now.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb fingerprinted a man in Mount Desert for employment purposes.
Sgt. Brundrett assisted the Maine Marine Patrol with a shellfish violation in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Brundrett summonsed Robbie Smith, 33, of Milford, for alleged clamming without a town commercial license.
Lt. Edgecomb helped a Cranberry Island resident by locking the person’s car, which was parked in the Mount Desert Cranberry Island parking lot by the police station.
Officer Kline handled a child custody disagreement in Bar Harbor, during which he advised the complainant that it was a civil dispute but did get to observe that the 13-year-old child was fine.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint about a vehicle on the Beech Hill Road in Mount Desert but no officers were in a position to locate the vehicle.
Officer Kline handled a complaint about a school bus swerving in Bar Harbor. Officer Kline discovered that when the bus was stopping to let children off, they would partially block the oncoming lane to prevent people from passing.
Sgt. Hardy responded to a complaint of a motorist and a pedestrian arguing in Bar Harbor. The pedestrian allegedly kicked the car and put a dent in it but the motorist and pedestrian agreed to handle between themselves.
Sgt. Chris Dickens assisted an out-of-state agency with an investigation.
Someone reported some information to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Sgt. Hardy attempted to locate a man who was allegedly pointing a blue laser at people in Bar Harbor but could not locate the man.
Officer Judson Cake and Sgt. Hardy checked on a man in Bar Harbor and ended up warning him for disorderly conduct.
Officer Stanwood assisted the Mount Desert Fire Department with a medical call in Mount Desert. Thomas McIntire, 42, of Mount Desert, was transported to MDI Hospital with self-inflicted injuries sustained during an altercation. After being released from the hospital, McIntire was arrested by Officer Stanwood for alleged domestic violence assault, alleged criminal mischief, and alleged violation of conditions of release. McIntire was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Harrington provided a ride to several people in Bar Harbor.
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Sgt. Sundberg took information regarding a civil matter in Bar Harbor.
Officer Caleb Mora is investigating a possible violation of protection order complaint in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Sundberg took a complaint regarding ongoing overnight parking at Hadley Point beach in Bar Harbor. The highway division will place “no overnight parking” signs at the beach and officers will perform directed patrols there at nighttime.
Sgt. Sundberg advised some Mount Desert property owners on how to handle unauthorized vehicles parking on private property.
Officer T. Cake spoke with a Mount Desert resident about speeding issues and will be trying to get a speed trailer placed in the area.
Officer Mora responded to a complaint of a verbal altercation in Bar Harbor but observed no altercations upon his arrival in the area.
MHL Tozier assisted a person in Bar Harbor who was in a disregulated mental state.
Bar Harbor officers were requested to try and stop a vehicle that passed a stopped school bus in Trenton but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
The Bar Harbor Police Department was provided with some information regarding suspicious activity.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of an Acadia GEM vehicle operating in a restricted area and contacted the company, which said it would be addressing the matter.
The Mount Desert Police Department took a report of a vehicle being operated in an unsafe manner, but all officers were busy on other calls and unable to locate the vehicle.
Officer Elias Burne attempted to locate a vehicle in Bar Harbor that had been heading toward MDI and was involved in a motor vehicle complaint. Officer Burne was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Burne provided traffic control on Main Street in Bar Harbor for a truck that was making a delivery.
Officer Burne helped locate a person that was self-reporting being lost in Bar Harbor and provided them with a ride home.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood arrested Mikalia Macner, 28, of New York, for alleged operating under the influence and alleged endangering the welfare of a child.
Friday, June 14, 2024
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a missing juvenile who was safely located in Missouri. The case is currently under investigation.
Officer J. Cake warned multiple people for camping at Hadley Point Beach in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake was advised of a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but was not able to locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Mora was advised of a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was not able to locate the suspect vehicle.
A local business reported a possible scam to the Bar Harbor Police Department because it wanted it on record. The business did not lose any money.
Sgt. Sundberg handled a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert which was passed on by the Maine State Police. Sgt. Sundberg located the suspect vehicle. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Amie Torrey received a complaint of speeding vehicles in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Torrey responded to a complaint of men fighting in Bar Harbor. The men were separated. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Torrey took a complaint of an abandoned scooter in Bar Harbor, but it was gone upon her arrival.
Officer Torrey received a complaint of threatening in Bar Harbor, which she is investigating.
Officer Torrey took a report of a residential burglar alarm in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
A Bar Harbor man reported a package that had been delivered to him was missing. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Stanwood received a traffic complaint, stopped the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for their poor operation.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Officer T. Cake warned a man for sleeping in his vehicle, in public, in Mount Desert.
Officers responded to a report of a disorderly person on Rodick Street in Bar Harbor. The person fled the area on foot prior to officers arrival and was not located nor identified.
Officer Mora assisted on a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora assisted on a second medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora is investigating a report of vandalism in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora responded to a dog in a car complaint in Bar Harbor and found the dog to be fine.
A woman reported an attempt at pickpocketing in Bar Harbor.
Officer Harrington took a motor vehicle complain in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Harrington took some information from a man in Bar Harbor but during discussion learned that the matter took place in another town, so he referred the man to the appropriate agency.
Officer Harrington took a vehicle complaint in Somesville but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
A Bar Harbor woman reported mail tampering to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Lt. Edgecomb contacted a Mount Desert resident on behalf of the Southwest Harbor Police Department regarding some found property.
Officer Mora took a complaint of theft in Bar Harbor but could not pursue criminal charges due to a lack of evidence.
After receiving a report of a possibly deceased person on the Village Green in Bar Harbor, officers responded and found the person to be sleeping.
Sgt. Dickens responded with an Acadia National Park ranger to the area of Ikes Point to help with locating a man who was reported to be engaging in lewd behavior. The man was not located.
Officer Harrington took a report at the Bar Harbor Police Department regarding a person expressing intentions of committing self-harm. The person was in another jurisdiction and Officer Harrington made the appropriate referrals.
Sgt. Dickens added the area of Route 102 and Gilbert Farm Road in Bar Harbor to the police department’s roster of traffic enforcement.
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, June 10, 2024
Officer James Kamorski responded to a complaint of a trailer being parked half in the roadway on Seawall Road and was able to get someone to move the trailer to a safer spot.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Chief Hall spoke with someone on the phone from out of state who had discovered a short-term rental listing on both VRBO and Craigslist that was a scam. The residence was determined to actually be in Tremont so Chief Hall gave the caller the contact information for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a request from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department to respond to a domestic disturbance in Tremont. Officers Kamorksi and Ryan Blakeney responded to the address and spoke with the individuals until a sheriff’s deputy arrived and took over the investigation.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Officer Bradley Russell is investigating a complaint made by a person who says that their car was damaged due to construction in town.
Officer Russell responded to a family member requested well-being check and found the subject of the check to be okay.
Officer Kamorski is investigating a report of theft of prescription medication from someone’s car.
After responding to a report of a car in the ditch on Seal Cove Road, an officer arrested Natalie Hinckley, 44, of Southwest Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence of alcohol and alleged endangering the welfare of a child.
A Bar Harbor resident went in to the Southwest Harbor Police Department to report a domestic violence incident that they had just been involved in. Officer Kamorski spoke with the person and notified the Bar Harbor Police Department who is continuing the investigation.
Thursday, June 13, 2024
The MDI High School called the Southwest Harbor Police Department to make them aware of a possible harassment situation that involves students who live in Southwest Harbor. The high school will be keeping the police department updated on the situation.
Friday, June 14, 2024
Chief John Hall responded to a local business alarm but was called off prior to his arrival.
Chief Hall received a complaint regarding vehicles hindering travel on North Causeway Lane and made contact with the workers who own the vehicles and had them pull the vehicles into a driveway.
Officer Russell and Lt. Franklin Burke responded to a report of trespassing, responded to the location and spoke with everyone involved.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
A local business owner called the police department to report that a lost dog with no collar had run into their business. The business owner was able to locate the dog owner.
Lt. Burke and Officer Russell responded to a complaint of two people arguing in their driveway. The individuals were spoken to.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Officer Russell took a report of two people having a dispute, determined that no crime had been committed, and advised both people not to speak with each other.
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 Assisting Office of the Maine Attorney General With Investigation of Officer -nvolved Shooting in Dexter.
DEXTER—On June 13, 2024, at approximately 2:04 a.m., the Dexter Police Department was called regarding a man acting erratically. Dexter Police Chief Kevin Wintle and Sgt. Gary Morin responded and spoke with 34-year-old Christopher Hongo.
Hongo was yelling and acting aggressively. Officers tried to take Hongo into custody and he resisted and assaulted both officers. Hongo pushed Sgt. Morin over a rock wall and then got on top of him and continued to assault him. Sgt. Morin shot Hongo, who is currently being treated for his injuries at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
Chief Wintle and Sgt. Morin were transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield for treatment and have both since been released. Both officers are being placed on administrative leave as is standard practice in police involved shootings.
The Office of the Attorney General will investigate the use of deadly force by Dexter police. Any further questions should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General.
Maine State Police Searching for Two People Who Fled Scene of School Bus Crash in Limington
LIMINGTON—On Friday, June 14, 2024, at approximately 2:18 p.m., the Maine State Police and Limington Fire Department responded to the area of 419 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for a car crash involving a school bus. Troopers arrived on scene and discovered that the school bus had been heading southbound on Sokokis Avenue prior to the crash. As the bus approached Axelsen Road, it began to slow down. The vehicle behind the bus, a four-door sedan, failed to slow down in time and crashed into the back side of the bus. The damage to both the bus and the sedan was severe and both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.
Troopers also learned that the occupants of the sedan, two white males who appeared to be in their twenties or thirties, exited the sedan and fled the scene on foot, heading into the woods nearby. A K-9 track was conducted and an article of clothing belonging to one of the suspects was located. However, the males are still at large.
The school bus was transporting thirteen children at the time of the accident. No children were reported to have been injured during the incident. The bus driver was also not injured.
This is an ongoing investigation with criminal charges pending.
Body Found in Burned Home in Auburn After 911 Call
AUBURN—On June 15, 2024, at 12:57 a.m., the Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman on Russell Avenue in Auburn reporting her significant other was in a fight with a subject trying to break into her residence with a gun. While on the phone with the caller, the dispatcher could hear shots being fired and the Auburn Police Department responded. The woman fled the residence when she heard the shots being fired.
At approximately 1:09 a.m., Auburn police located the woman hiding on Russell Avenue and observed a residence on fire on Russell Avenue and could hear yelling coming from inside the residence. The woman was able to identify the man who was breaking into the house as 43-year-old Leein Hinkley. The officers could hear smoke detectors going off in the residence at this time and could see fire coming from the windows and engulfing the building.
Deputies from the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department arrived to assist and at 1:15 a.m., Auburn officers report that Hinkley is shooting at them.
At 1:23 a.m., Hinkley could be heard yelling from inside the residence and at 1:25 a.m., Auburn officers request the Maine State Police Tactical Team to respond to the location.
Auburn officers next reported that Hinkley was shooting at them again and a second residence was on fire at 1:27 a.m. Hinkley fled the residence and sought shelter in a nearby garage on Russell Avenue but the homeowner alerted police and Hinkley fled to yet another residence on Russell Avenue where he started to yell and scream from the rooftop while armed with a firearm.
At approximately 5:36 a.m., tactical team members located Hinkley on the rooftop of 33 Russell Avenue, still in possession of a firearm. Moments later, Troopers Scott Duff and Patrick Hall, both tactical team members fired at Hinkley, killing him.
Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit will be investigating the underlying criminal conduct and the Office of the Attorney General will be investigating the police-involved shooting. Both troopers are being placed on administrative leave as is standard practice in police involved shootings.
Later in the day on June 15, the State Fire Marshal’s Office located human remains in the fire debris at a home on Russell Avenue. This is the same location where the 911 call originated from earlier that morning. The deceased will be identified pending testing and formal identification from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta.
Hinkley was released on bail on June 12. He had been in custody on a probation violation involving a 2011 conviction for crimes of domestic violence elevated aggravated assault as well as a recent arrest for a crime of domestic violence.
Initially, he was held without bail on the probation violation, but over the objection of the District Attorney’s Office, the court reduced his bail to $1,500 concurrent, with conditions including house arrest at a residence in Lewiston.
The Maine State Police said it would like to thank all of its public safety partners and commends them on their quick response to keep the public safe.
Maine State Police Arrest Two in Knox Drug Seizure and Warrant Execution
KNOX—On Friday, June 14, 2024, the Maine State Police Central Field Troop executed a drug search warrant at the residence of 31-year-old Caleb Woodward and 34-year-old Ryann Kenny at 51 Flatt Road in Knox. Attention was brought to the residence after Woodward’s arrest following a traffic stop the morning of June 14th. Drugs were seized during the traffic stop which gave probable cause to investigating troopers to search his home.
In addition to 30 grams of fentanyl, troopers located crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and 10 different unprescribed pills, including suboxone, oxycodone, and Xanax. Troopers also seized two firearms. Three minor children reside in the residence and the Department of Health and Human Services was notified as a result of the investigation. Woodward and Kenny were both transported to the Waldo County Jail.
Woodward was charged with the following offenses:
Aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs, fentanyl,
Furnishing schedule W drugs, methamphetamine,
Unlawful possession of schedule W drugs, cocaine base,
Unlawful possession of schedule W drugs, Suboxone,
Unlawful possession of schedule W drugs, Oxycodone,
Unlawful possession of schedule Z drugs,
Endangering the welfare of a child,
Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Kenny was charged with the following offenses:
Aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs, fentanyl,
Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person,
Endangering the welfare of a child.
Truck Pulled From Penobscot Bay in Lincolnville Belonged to Deceased Union Man Found on Beach
LINCOLNVILLE—The body of a man reported missing by his family on May 18, 2024, was discovered on Lincolnville Beach on June 3, 2024. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) identified the deceased as 30-year-old Jonah Farley, of Union. The OCME determined the death was not suspicious.
Following the discovery, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central. On June 17, 2024, the State Police Dive Team located and recovered Farley’s vehicle, a 2010 Chevy Silverado near the Ferry Terminal in Lincolnville. The investigation has ruled the death a suicide.
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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