Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Logs

Maine State Police and Hancock County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Feb 06, 2024

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.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Lt. Kevin Edgecomb responded to a report of a vehicle off the road on Sound Drive in Mount Desert. The vehicle driver had already contacted a tow truck and there was no damage, so Lt. Edgecomb cleared the scene.

Jessica McElvogue, 39, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2014 Ford SUV on the Crooked Road in Bar Harbor when she allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to snowy conditions. The vehicle traveled down a steep embankment and came to rest in a marshy area. There was no reported personal injury and the vehicle sustained damage to the exhaust system and steering assembly and was towed from the scene.

Lt. Edgecomb responded to a report of a car off the road on Route 102 in Mount Desert, but the vehicle was gone by the time he arrived.

Officer Caleb Mora conducted a well-being check on a participant in the Good Morning Program in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Chris Dickens handled a loose dog complaint on County Road in Bar Harbor. The matter is under review.

Captain Chris Wharff stopped to assist at a minor vehicle crash in Trenton.

Officer Mora stopped a vehicle that was being operated by Jeremy Smith, 39, of Hancock, in Bar Harbor and issued Smith a summons for alleged failure to register a motor vehicle and alleged attachment of false plates. Smith and his passenger were also issued a “handful” of warnings for additional motor vehicle laws.

Officer Elias Burne took a report of a missing child in Bar Harbor. The child was safely located.

Officer Amie Torrey is assisting the Maine Computer Crimes Unit with a case.

Giorgia Paliaga-Mills, 25, of Italy, was driving a 2009 Ford Focus north on Route 102 in Bar Harbor when a deer entered the roadway and was allegedly struck by Paliaga-Mills’ car. There was no reported personal injury. The vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s side and passenger’s side front corner panels, the front, the hood, the passenger’s side door, and passenger’s side rear corner panel.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Officer Mora took a report of a vehicle allegedly passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Mora handled a delayed vehicle crash report that took place on private property in Bar Harbor, and he facilitated the proper exchange of information.

Officer Mora took a report of a dog bite in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Lt. Edgecomb responded to a complaint of a construction vehicle blocking the road in Bar Harbor. After looking at where the vehicle was parked and the cautionary signage, Lt. Edgecomb determined that the construction vehicle was in a safe place.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Lt. Edgecomb received a traffic complaint that was passed on by the Maine State Police regarding a vehicle in Trenton heading toward the island. Lt. Edgecomb was already at the head of the island and never saw the vehicle.

A woman in Bar Harbor reported an attempted scam to Officer Mora. No further information or disposition was given.

After stopping a vehicle in Bar Harbor, Officer Mora summonsed Ralph Hetherington III, 49, of Saint Albans, for alleged operating after suspension.

Officer Ted Cake filled in as the crossing guard at the elementary/middle school in Bar Harbor.

Officer T. Cake fingerprinted someone at the Bar Harbor Police Department.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Officer Dickens took a report of unsafe motor vehicle operation in the area of Sound Drive and Route 102 in Mount Desert. Additional patrols of the area have been added to address the issue.

Officer Jerrod Hardy responded to a report of a line down on Pleasant Street in Bar Harbor. It was determined to be a phone line and Consolidated Communications was advised.

Officer Hardy performed a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Program in Bar Harbor and found them to be OK.

Officer Lukas Keene warned someone for trespassing in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Someone requested information be documented by the Bar Harbor Police Department. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Keene assisted the ambulance crew with a patient in Bar Harbor.

Officers responded to a report of an overdose in Otter Creek and found the report to be unfounded.

Althea Anderson, 40, of Ellsworth, was driving a 2010 Dodge Journey south on Route 3 in Bar Harbor when she allegedly struck black ice and left the road, striking a telephone pole. There was no reported personal injury. The vehicle sustained disabling damage to the front end and was towed from the scene.

Friday, February 2, 2024

Ronnie Fowler, 74, of Dedham, was driving a 2006 Kenworth T800 east on Peabody Dive in Mount Desert when the vehicle allegedly skidded due to icy road conditions, left the roadway, broke through a guardrail, and came to rest in a body of water. There was no reported personal injury. The truck was pulled out of the water and removed from the scene by multiple tow trucks.

Officer Tim Bland fingerprinted somebody at the Bar Harbor Police Department for employment purposes.

Officer Bland responded to a non-reportable motor vehicle crash. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Shelby O’Neil responded to a Bar Harbor residence for a harassment compliant and determined that no harassment had taken place.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Officer Hardy gave a Bar Harbor resident a ride home from MDI Hospital.

Officer Hardy checked on a member of the Good Morning Program in Bar Harbor and found them to be all set.

Officer Burne investigated a possible identity theft complaint in Mount Desert.

After responding to a call for service and a pursuant investigation, Officer Burne arrested Nathan Harkins, 40, of Bass Harbor, for alleged violation of a protection order in Mount Desert.

A Bar Harbor resident reported some type of fraud to Officer Hardy. The victim was given resources and advice on how to correct the issue.

A Mount Desert resident reported fraudulent bank activity to Officer Mora. The investigation was turned over to another agency.

Someone reported a bicyclist riding at night without a headlight in Bar Harbor. The bicyclist was located by Officer Mora and advised on Maine bicycle laws.

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Officer Mora delivered some sand to a Good Morning Program participant in Mount Desert.

Officer Burne assisted someone suffering from mental illness in Bar Harbor.

Officer Hardy performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found them to be fine.

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 Tractor Trailer Rollover in Brewer That Injured Sheriff’s Deputy

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at approximately 8:00 a.m., a tractor trailer unit driven by Kristofer Higgins, 41, of Baileyville, was traveling on the westbound on-ramp of I-395 when the driver failed to negotiate the turn. His vehicle rolled over taking out the center portion of the guardrail and striking a Penobscot Country Sheriff’s Office cruiser which was traveling eastbound at the time.

The cruiser was driven by Sgt. Gary Decker. Sgt. Decker was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Higgins were transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center with minor injuries. The tractor trailer was carrying diesel fuel which spilled.

Saco Man Leads Police on Pursuit After Crashing Into Maine State Police Cruiser

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m., Cpl. Kyle Wells was traveling southbound on Route 35 in Lyman when he observed a Maine Water company truck operating erratically. The truck was swerving in its lane and exceeding the speed limit. After observing the poor operation, Cpl. Wells activated his emergency lights and the utility truck took off at a high rate of speed.

At one point the utility truck stopped completely and then proceeded to take off again toward route 111. The pursuit continued westbound on Route 111 in Lyman where the operator came to a complete stop on the side of the road. As Cpl. Wells was exiting his cruiser to speak to the operator, the vehicle accelerated in reverse and struck the State Police cruiser putting it out of commission. Cpl. Wells was not injured.

The vehicle took off toward Alfred where it was intercepted by the York County Sheriff’s Office and a pursuit began. The truck ended up crashing at the intersection of Kennebunk Pond and South Waterboro Road in Lyman. The truck was found to have been stolen and the operator, 39-year-old Ricky Cooper, of Saco, was suspended and on four sets of bail conditions.

Cooper was transported to Maine Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Upon release, Cooper will be arrested for eluding an officer, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, violating conditions of release, and theft. The incident remains under investigation.

Jeffrey Card Arrested

ELLSWORTH—On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 6 people from Ellsworth and Mt. Desert, Maine, were arrested and charged with various drug offenses following a 3 month investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Among those arrested was Jeffrey Card (48) of Ellsworth, Maine. At the time of his initial arrest, Card was charged with class B unlawful trafficking in methamphetamine. He was later released from custody on $5,000 cash bail.

On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, MDEA agents assigned to the Downeast Task Force, along with Ellsworth Police Officers, went to Card’s residence located on Kylie’s Way in Ellsworth in order to conduct a search of the home pursuant to a condition of bail which Card had agreed to.

During the search, MDEA investigators located approximately ½ pound of fentanyl (241 grams), along with 36 grams of suspected methamphetamine with a combined estimated street value of $42,000.

Following the search, Card was re-arrested, and this time charged with class A, aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl and methamphetamine) and violation of conditions of release. He was, once again, transported to the Hancock County Jail for booking.

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

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 like fentanyl and methamphetamine in the State of Maine. This investigation is continuing, and more arrests are likely.

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.