Bangor Man Leads Police on Chase

Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Hancock County Sheriff's Department, State Police

BAR HARBOR—On November 6, at approximately 8:02 p.m., Officer Troy Stanwood attempted to stop a vehicle that was travelling west on Eagle Lake Road at 70 mph, in a 45-mph zone. The operator of the vehicle allegedly refused to stop for Officer Stanwood’s blue lights and sirens and a pursuit began. The operator of the vehicle, later identified as Nolan Dickens, 21, of Bangor, turned from Eagle Lake Road onto Norway Drive where Stanwood eventually lost sight of the vehicle.

Other officers responded to the area and began to look for the vehicle which was later spotted on Norway Drive heading back towards Eagle Lake Road, once again at a high rate of speed. Another traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle finally pulled over for officers near the entrance to MDI High School.

Dickens was arrested and transported to the Hancock County Jail. Dickens was charged with alleged eluding an officer class C, alleged operating under the influence class E, alleged operating after suspension class (OUI) class E, and for his alleged original speed of 70 mph.

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

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Monday, November 06, 2023

Officers Judson Cake and Ken Mitchell transported old evidence to Portland, Maine for destruction.

Malcolm Herrick, 32, of Ellsworth, was driving a Ford Transit van and attempting to make a left-hand turn into a driveway off of Sargeant Drive in Northeast Harbor. Robin Freeman, 52, of Ellsworth, was driving a 2019 Nissan Versa and allegedly attempted to pass Herrick on the left when the two vehicles “made contact.” There was no reported personal injury. Herrick’s vehicle suffered damage to the driver’s side front corner and Freeman’s vehicle suffered damage to the passenger’s side.

The Mount Desert Police Department loaned out its live traps to assist with catching loose cats in Northeast Harbor.

At the request of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, an officer checked an address in Bar Harbor for a missing person. The person was not located.

Holly Masterson, 43, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2020 Toyota Tundra north on Route 102 in Mount Desert when a deer entered the roadway and was allegedly struck by Masterson’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and there was heavy damage to the front passenger corner of Masterson’s vehicle.

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Tuesday, November 07, 2023

Peter G. Smith, no age given, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2019 Mazda CX5 north on Route 102 in Bar Harbor when a deer entered the roadway and was allegedly struck by Smith’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and Smith’s vehicle suffered minor front-end damage.

A woman went to the Mount Desert Police Department to relay some information. No further information or disposition was given.

Larry A. Moulton, 56, of Belmont, Maine, was driving a 2015 Volvo VHD84F on Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor when he attempted to go around a FedEx truck parked in the roadway and allegedly struck a utility pole. There was no reported personal injury and Moulton’s vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

A man called the Mount Desert Police Department and stated that he needed help getting into his mailbox. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Lukas Keene is investigating an attempted theft at a laundromat in Bar Harbor.

Bradley G. Hooper, 30, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2002 Chevy Silverado south on Otter Creek Drive when a deer entered the roadway and was allegedly struck by Hooper’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and Hooper’s vehicle suffered minor damage to the front driver’s side corner.

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Wednesday, November 08, 2023

Officer Ted Cake issued a trespass warning to someone for trespassing on private property in Bar Harbor. The person left without incident.

Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier facilitated a meeting between a man who has no place to live and the Bar Harbor town office.

Tozier provided a ride home to an elderly resident in Bar Harbor.

Officer Judson Cake spoke with someone regarding an employee that they had let go in Bar Harbor. The complainant was worried about retaliation by the ex-employee.

Linda Blasen, 70, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2023 Subaru Forester east on Eagle Lake Road when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by Blasen’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and Blasen’s vehicle suffered front grille damage and driver’s side fender and headlight fixture damage.

Officers responded to a report of a disorderly person at a Cottage Street business in Bar Harbor. The person was removed from the business and issued a trespass warning.

Officer Caleb Mora responded to a motor vehicle crash on the Park Loop Road in Bar Harbor. When he arrived, Officer Mora located a 2015 Jeep Cherokee that had left the road to the left, hit multiple coping stones, and was currently unoccupied. The occupants of the vehicle were located nearby and the alleged operator of the Jeep, Mykaylah Doak, 21, of Southwest Harbor, was arrested. Doak was transported to the Hancock County Jail and charged with alleged operating under the influence, alleged leaving the scene of a property damage crash, and alleged failure to report a crash by the quickest means. There were no reported injuries and the Jeep was totaled and had to be towed from the scene.

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Thursday, November 09, 2023

Jesse D. Ford, 34, of Mariaville, was operating a 2019 JLG 800AJ manlift on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor. While maneuvering the manlift out of a parking spot and swiveling the boom, the boom allegedly struck a 2012 Subaru Outback that was legally parked on Cottage Street. The last operator of the Subaru was Carissa Tinker, 33, of Bar Harbor. There was no reported personal injury, the manlift suffered no damage and the Subaru suffered damage to the rear end/trunk area.

Officer Tim Bland responded to a report of a damaged vehicle in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Tozier responded to a Bar Harbor residence for mental health concerns of an occupant.

Officers responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert, located the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for cellphone usage while driving.

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Friday, November 10, 2023

Officer Shelby O’Neil responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.

Officer J. Cake is investigating a report of damage to a vehicle in Bar Harbor. It was determined that the damage was likely caused by another vehicle spinning its tires and kicking up rocks.

Someone called the Mount Desert Police Department because they wanted it documented that somebody has been throwing beer cans on the complainant’s property.

Jill Walker, 54, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek north on Route 102 in Bar Harbor when a deer entered the roadway and Walker’s vehicle struck the deer. There was no reported personal injury and Walker’s vehicle suffered minor damage to the front grille.

Officer Stanwood conducted a well-being check on a Bar Harbor resident. No further information or disposition was given.

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Saturday, November 11, 2023

Officer Elias Burne responded to the MDI Hospital for a report of a disorderly person. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Nathan Formby responded to a lost animal complaint in Bar Harbor, but the animal returned home on its own.

Officer O’Neil performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found the person to be safe.

Officer Stanwood responded to a lost dog complaint in Bar Harbor, but the dog was located before Officer Stanwood’s arrival.

Officer Burne assisted another agency in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

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Sunday, November 12, 2023

Officer Aime Torrey responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. Officer Torrey discovered that the vehicle had been left on the side of the road while the driver biked the rest of the way to work.

A man from Florida, no name or age given, was warned by officer O’Neil for alleged operating without a license in Bar Harbor.

Someone reported an injured seagull in Bar Harbor, but Officer O’Neil could not locate any injured birds in the area.

Officer Liam Harrington performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

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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 or MDI.

Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Fatal Fire in Carroll Plantation

On Monday, November 6, 2023, at approximately 5:40 a.m., the Penobscot County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a structure fire at 1821 Main Road in Carroll Plantation. The Springfield Fire Department and the Lincoln Ambulance Service responded to the scene and located a small residence that was destroyed by fire. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and located human remains. The remains are believed to be the homeowner, 57-year-old Jeffrey Macy, who lived alone in the residence. The deceased has been transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where positive identification will be made. The investigation continues.  

Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Fatal Fire in Windsor

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at approximately 12:40 a.m., the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a 911 call regrading a fire at 762 Ridge Road in Windsor. The Windsor Fire Department responded and determined that one person had died as a result of the fire. The deceased has been identified as 25-year-old Payson Viles who was discovered in a camper trailer (RV) located on the property. The remains have been transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. A second person escaped the fire with minor injuries. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office responded and are processing the scene. There is no indication of foul play at this time. Assisting at the fire scene was the Whitefield, Jefferson, and Somerville Fire Departments, Windsor and Delta Rescue, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.

Four Pounds of Cocaine, Drug Proceeds, and Firearms Seized in Drug Trafficking Investigation

Bangor, Maine––Three Penobscot County men were arrested Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in connection with a joint drug trafficking investigation being conducted by the United State Postal Inspection Service, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. This investigation resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of cocaine, suspected drug proceeds, and firearms.

Over the past several months, U.S. Postal Inspectors have been working alongside MDEA and USDEA agents assigned to the North Central Task Force in Bangor on an investigation involving the suspected distribution of significant quantities of cocaine being distributed throughout Penobscot County and elsewhere. During this investigation, investigators identified 28-year-old Chase Kane, of Bangor, as a main suspect in this trafficking organization.

Early Tuesday morning, a vehicle being operated by Kane was stopped on I-95 just north of Newport. In the vehicle with Kane at the time of the stop was 27-year-old Benjamin Hughes, of Brewer. A subsequent search of Kane’s vehicle resulted in the discovery of over four pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value in excess of $200,000. Both Kane and Hughes were transported to the Penobscot County Jail where they were charged with class A, aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine). This charge was aggravated because of the quantity of cocaine seized. Additionally, Kane was charged with violations of conditions of release as he was currently on bail for an un-related, State of Maine offense.

Following the arrest of Kane and Hughes, investigators executed a search warrant at 315 Griffin Road in Bangor. During the search, agents seized more illicit drugs, firearms, and cash. Arrested during the search was 30-year-old Hayden Taylor, of Brewer, after he was found to be in possession of a backpack containing cocaine, $3000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a loaded semi-automatic handgun. Taylor is a convicted felon and prohibited from carrying firearms.

Taylor was subsequently transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he was charged with class A, aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

All three are currently being held at the Penobscot County Jail and are anticipated to make an initial appearance at the Penobscot County Unified Criminal Court in Bangor later today.

Assisting in the arrests and search warrant were the Maine State Police and the Bangor Police Department.

The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs in the State of Maine.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you suffer with substance use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.

If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.

Crash Responder Safety Week

“PROTECT THOSE THAT PROTECT YOU”

Augusta––The Maine Department of Public Safety joins with the US DOT and
Governor Janet Mills to highlight national Crash Responder Safety Week (#CRSW) with a signed proclamation and the opportunity to bring to light the courageous and often underrepresented stories of our local responders. Every day, these heroes put their lives at risk to ensure our roads are safe and functional.

This year Crash Responder Safety Week (#CRSW), takes place November 13-17, 2023. The Maine Department of Public Safety brings attention to the work of every traffic incident responder and asks every road user to Protect Those Who Protect You. Every minute of every day, law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services, public works, transportation, towing, and other responders work roadside to make roadways safe for all road users.

According to AAA, despite laws being passed in all 50 states, 71 percent of Americans are still unaware of Slow Down and Move Over laws that require drivers to reduce their speed and switch lanes to protect these workers. In some states like Maine, these laws pertain to all motorists of disabled vehicles waiting for help to arrive. This demonstrates that drivers may not realize how risky it is for those working or stranded along highways and roads close to moving traffic.

In keeping roadways safe, a traffic incident responder is struck and killed nearly every week. And many more traffic incident responders sustain life altering injuries. When a traffic incident responder or the response vehicle is struck, the impacts are far reaching – putting a greater long-term strain on limited resources that service far broader community needs. That is why the Department of Public Safety encourages everyone to:

1.     Encourage traffic incident responders in your community to take the free, four-hour National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder training available online through the National Highway Institute, or in person through TIM Coordinators within each State. Nearly 700,000 responders have completed this training to date, yet far more have yet to do so.

2.     Make an extra push this week to inform drivers in your region about your State’s Slow Down, Move Over law, which requires drivers to slow down, and if possible, moving over, when approaching incident response vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, tow trucks, safety service patrols, and municipal or utility vehicles.

3.     If you are a traffic incident responder, share what it’s like to work roadside when drivers do not slow down and move over, using #CRSW. Be sure to share the message “Protect Those Who Protect You.”

4.     And, as a road user, share on social media your appreciation for our traffic incident responders, and stories of when a traffic incident responder came to your rescue, using #CRSW.

CRSW is our opportunity to shift driver behavior, adhering to Move Over laws, and to promote life-saving National TIM Responder Training for all traffic incident responders.

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HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

These are the Hancock County Sheriff Department’s 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 or MDI.

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