Bar Harbor Man Arrested For Hit and Run With Bicyclist

Man Critically Injured in Acadia National Park Bicycle Accident

Sep 10, 2024

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana and the Parrilla.

TRENTON—According to a State of Maine Crash Report released by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department on September 8, on September 6, Jason C. Norwood, 29, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2020 Toyota northbound on the Bar Harbor Road in Trenton when he allegedly crossed the white fog line, struck a bicyclist, and did not stop to check on the cyclist or report the crash.

The bicyclist, a 23-year-old man from Trenton was riding on the shoulder of the road against the flow of traffic. According to the report, the cyclist was not wearing a helmet and complained of leg pain. He was transported to the hospital.

Also according to the report, Norwood’s vehicle was later located in Lamoine. Norwood was arrested for alleged leaving the scene of a personal injury accident after “eventually admitting that he hit the bicyclist after lying and saying that he had hit a deer.”

MAN CRITICALLY INJURED IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BICYCLE ACCIDENT

BAR HARBOR—According to an Acadia National Park press release, “On September 9, just after 1:00 p.m., park rangers responded to an accident involving a 70-year-old male who fell off his road bicycle on the Park Loop Road near the Cadillac North Ridge Trail crossing.

“The man, an experienced road bicyclist, lost control of his bike after his foot dislodged from a clip-in pedal. The individual wore a helmet but suffered significant injuries after he fell head-first off of his bike.

“Park rangers arrived on scene minutes later and performed life saving measures. The Bar Harbor Fire Department transported the patient to downtown Bar Harbor where he was transferred by the LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The patient remains in critical condition.”

According to Bar Harbor Fire Chief Matt Bartlett, upon receiving the request for an ambulance from the park and learning of the condition of the victim, Deputy Chief John Lennon immediately requested that the Bar Harbor Police Department dispatch ask LifeFlight to respond to the landing zone at the ball field downtown.

The LifeFlight helicopter and the Bar Harbor ambulance arrived at the ball field almost simultaneously and the patient was transferred directly from the ambulance to the helicopter after the LifeFlight care crew had prepped him within the ambulance.

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, September 2, 2024

Officer Lukas Keene performed a traffic stop in Bar Harbor and discovered that the elderly man was driving a vehicle with disabling damage that was not safe. Officer Keene had the vehicle towed and drove the man to the Bar Harbor Police Department and from there he received a taxi ride home.

Officer Nathan Formby responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor and asked the involved parties to lower the noise level.

Officer Formby responded to a report of a suspicious situation in Acadia National Park and as a result, a man was transported to MDI Hospital by ambulance.

Officers went to a downtown Bar Harbor business for a person who was reported to be having a mental health crisis. As a result of the complaint, Dustyn Strassner, 39, of Bar Harbor, was charged with alleged terrorizing and alleged false public alarm or report.

Officer Zack Kline took an anonymous report of possible criminal activity in Bar Harbor.

Officer Troy Stanwood performed a well-being check in Mount Desert at the request of another law enforcement agency. No further information or disposition was given.

A Bar Harbor resident reported a property dispute to Officer Justin Burnett.

Officer Stanwood conducted a VIN verification for someone in Bar Harbor.

Officer Amiee Torrey received a report of erratic operation in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Formby assisted a motorist with a disabled vehicle in Mount Desert.

Sgt. Jerrod Hardy provided a ride to a camper in Mount Desert back to their campsite.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Officer Keene responded to a report of harassment in Bar Harbor.

Someone reported an ongoing traffic complaint on Sound Drive in Mount Desert.

After responding to a report of a vehicle parked improperly in Bar Harbor, Officer Tyler Beal found the vehicle to be on private property and no action was taken.

Officer Beal served a protection order on someone in Bar Harbor.

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

An officer responded to a report of a tree on a power line on Highbrook Road in Bar Harbor and notified Versant Power.

The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of a possible intoxicated driver but officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Officer Burnett assisted a motorist with a disabled vehicle on Route 3 in Otter Creek.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Officer Kline responded to a report of an aggressive driver in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for making bad passes.

An officer responded to a report of vehicles that were parked and blocking other vehicles in Bar Harbor but the vehicles had moved prior to the officer’s arrival.

Officer Stanwood received a late report of one vehicle pulling out in front of another vehicle on lower Main Street in Bar Harbor.

Officer Stanwood received a late report of someone speeding on the Crooked Road in Bar Harbor.

Officer Burnett responded to a report of a tractor trailer jackknifed across Route 102 in Bar Harbor and blocking traffic but the truck was gone upon his arrival.

A pedestrian reported a deceased deer on the side of the road in Bar Harbor and the highway department was contacted to remove it.

Sgt. Hardy assisted a motorist with a disabled vehicle in Bar Harbor by contacting a tow truck to remove the vehicle.

Officer Stanwood responded to a report of an erratic driver in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for their vehicle operation.

Officer Judson Cake and Officer Stanwood responded to a domestic incident in Bar Harbor. Upon learning that it was only verbal in nature, they separated the parties for the night.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Officer Kaleb Payson provided two people a ride to their vehicle in Bar Harbor.

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

The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of a vehicle parked in a no-parking zone and the vehicle was ticketed by Bar Harbor Parking Enforcement.

Officer Caleb Mora responded to a report of a low hanging wire in Bar Harbor and found it to be an internet company hooking up service to a building.

The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of possible suspicious activity at a Route 3 business in Bar Harbor and the patrol staff was advised of the report.

Friday, September 6, 2024

Officer Payson conducted a security check on a business in Mount Desert and found everything to be all set.

Officer Mora responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor and discovered it to be carpenters playing a radio while working.

The Mount Desert Police Department took a motor vehicle complaint, but the vehicle was in Southwest Harbor at the time so the complaint was passed on to the Southwest Harbor Police Department.

A Bar Harbor resident reported damage to their mailbox that was likely caused by a motor vehicle.

Officer Mora performed crowd control at a sporting event in Bar Harbor.

Norman Lawlor, 80, of Quebec, was driving a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder and pulling a camper trailer northbound on Route 3 in Bar Harbor and had slowed down to make a right-hand turn into the Narrows Campground when a 2008 Honda CRV that was being driven by Bidhi Diwedi, 23, of Bar Harbor, allegedly struck the camper from behind. The impact caused the camper and tow vehicle to move forward, striking a mailbox, and damaging the front of the tow vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The Honda was towed from the scene due to disabling damage and the Nissan and camper were driven into the campground with the camper having sustained significant damage to the rear.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took an animal complaint but the animal was not located.

Officer Torrey assisted the Southwest Harbor Police Department with a suicidal man who was eventually voluntarily transported to the hospital.

Officer J. Cake spoke with someone in Bar Harbor regarding ongoing harassment issues but the complainant did not want to pursue charges at this time.

Officer Chris Dickens assisted a Bar Harbor visitor with locating their vehicle.

Officer J. Cake arrested Joseph Carnevale, 60, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, for alleged operating under the influence in Bar Harbor.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Officer J. Cake arrested Jiayuan Shit, 40, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence in Bar Harbor.

Officer Payson responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor that he deemed to be unsubstantiated.

Officer Payson responded to a parking issue in Bar Harbor and placed a “72-hour notice” on the vehicle.

Officer Mora spoke with a Bar Harbor man who was experiencing mental health issues.

Officer Mora arrested Jacqueline Young, 29, of Bar Harbor, on an arrest warrant for failure to appear in Bar Harbor and transported her to the Hancock County Jail.

Officer Dickens responded to a report of a small dog walking in the roadway in Hulls Cove and determined that it was a coyote feeding on roadkill.

Officer Liam Harrington issued a traffic citation to Jason F. Mertz, no age given, of Nashville, Tennessee for alleged leaving the travel lane unsafely while in Bar Harbor.

Officer J. Cake responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

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

Officer Payson responded to a domestic incident in Bar Harbor and determined that it was only verbal in nature and no crime had occurred.

Officer Torrey received a report of erratic motor vehicle operation in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Torrey responded to a trespassing by motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert and the vehicle was moved by the owner.

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, September 2, 2024

Chief John Hall responded to a report of a loose manhole cover or storm drain grate in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the loose cover.

Jennifer Wilcox, 38, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2021 Ford Explorer on the Seal Cove Road in Tremont and allegedly failed to negotiate a curve and went off the roadway to the left and struck two trees. According to the report, Wilcox may have been injured and self-transported to the hospital with a person who picked her up. The vehicle was towed from the scene and suffered substantial damage to the front end and left rear.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Officer Ryan Blakeney received a report from a Southwest Harbor resident that there was a bicycle on their property that did not belong to them and had been there for a couple of days. Officer Blakeney had the town’s highway department remove the bicycle.

Officer Blakeney met with someone in Southwest Harbor who reported that he felt harassed. Officer Blakeney gathered information from the complainant and generated a report.

Officer Blakeney responded to an apartment in Southwest Harbor where the occupant felt that someone had been in their apartment. Officer Blakeney gathered information from the complainant and generated a report.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Officer Blakeney responded to a noise complaint in Southwest Harbor and determined that the complaint was unfounded because he could not locate any noise coming from the residence in question.

Officer Bradley Russell handled a complaint regarding a stolen bicycle in Southwest Harbor and was able to get the bicycle returned back to the owner.

Officer Russell responded to an alarm in Southwest Harbor and determined it to be false as the person who was there had been given a key but not an alarm code.

Someone called the Southwest Harbor Police Department to report an incident that had occurred a week earlier.

Officer Russell responded to a Southwest Harbor business, retrieved a bicycle that had been left there for a couple of days, and took the bike back to the police department.

Officer Russell took a report from a Tremont resident about possible identity theft because the complainant was receiving mail at their residence for someone who does not live there.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Officer Blakeney responded to Tremont for a report of two dogs running loose on a road. He could not locate the dogs upon arrival.

Officer Blakeney took a complaint from someone in Southwest Harbor that their car had been damaged at some point in time and he generated a report.

Officer Blakeney performed a VIN verification for someone at the Southwest Harbor Police Department.

Officer Blakeney responded to a noise complaint at a Southwest Harbor residence, spoke with the occupant, had them turn their music down, and warned them for disorderly conduct.

Friday, September 6, 2024

Officer Blakeney responded to a report of gunshots in Southwest Harbor but was unable to locate any gunshots.

Chief Hall performed a keep the peace in Southwest Harbor.

Chief Hall took a report from BHPD and located a vehicle that had been reported as being operated in a poor manner and possibly having an intoxicated driver but the vehicle was already parked in a parking lot and the owner did not return.

Officer Russell performed a well-being check on a person in Southwest Harbor and the person asked to be taken to the hospital by EMS.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Officer Russell responded to a complain of a dog that had been barking all night in Southwest Harbor and may have been left outside but could not locate a dog or a barking dog upon arrival.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Officer Russell took a report of a wallet that was missing and believed to have been stolen in Southwest Harbor but before he could respond the person called back and said that the wallet had been found.

Officer Blakeney spoke to someone in Southwest Harbor who said that they were being harassed. Officer Blakeney documented the report.

Officer Blakeney responded to a report of an injured deer in the road in Southwest Harbor but could not locate any deer in the area.

Chief Hall responded to a report of an elderly woman walking with two canes in the middle of the road in Southwest Harbor. Chief Hall spoke with the woman who was off to the side of the road by the time he arrived and determined that she was 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 Death of Missing Person in Dayton

DAYTON—On Monday, September 2, 2024, at approximately 3:27 p.m., a 911 call was received reporting a deceased female inside a vehicle parked near the Goodwins Mills Road in Dayton.

The female matched the description of a missing person out of Newport News, Virginia, 23-year-old Autumn Cleveland.

The State Police Major Crimes Unit South responded and started an investigation into the incident. The death remains under investigation, pending an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death. There is no danger to the public.

Maine State Police Trooper and K-9 Escape Serious Injury after Cruiser Crashes and Catches Fire

Photos: Maine Department of Public Safety

OXFORD—On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at approximately 11:11 p.m., Sgt. Jonathan Russell was traveling on Rt. 26 in Oxford when he attempted to pull over a vehicle for excessive speed. The vehicle turned off Rt. 26 and took off down Rabbit Valley Road in Oxford. With his lights and sirens activated Sgt. Russell attempted to catch up with the vehicle but being unfamiliar with the road was unable to negotiate a turn at the bottom of a hill and his cruiser left the roadway to the left and into a ditch.

The cruiser rotated and ended up coming to rest nose down. Sgt. Russell was able to exit the vehicle and get his K-9, Preacher, out before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames and ammunition in the back of the vehicle exploded. The cruiser and all the equipment inside were a total loss. Sgt. Russell suffered minor injuries attributed to the airbag. K-9 Preacher was not injured.

The driver’s identity is unknown; however Sgt. Russell believes the offending vehicle was a mid-2000’s Chevy or GMC with a utility body on the back.

The Maine State Police was assisted on scene by Norway PD, Paris PD, Oxford SO, Oxford PD, and Oxford Fire and Rescue.

Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Ellsworth

Photo: Maine Department of Public Safety

ELLSWORTH––On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at approximately 7:36 p.m., Trooper Ryan Murry was parked, in his marked State Police cruiser, off the road in a gravel turnout off Route 180 in Ellsworth when his cruiser was stuck by a vehicle.

The initial investigation indicates that 43-year-old Jonathan Wood, of Winter Harbor, was traveling south on Route 180 in a 2008 Toyota Sienna when his vehicle crossed the roadway and then traveled into the dirt turnout striking Trooper Murry’s cruiser. Wood’s van rolled over and he was ejected from the vehicle. Wood was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene from his injuries.

Trooper Murry sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. Ellsworth PD, Ellsworth Fire and Ambulance, and a state police crash scene reconstructionist responded to assist and examine the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.