Bar Harbor Police Log: Fish Heads and Accidents

Hancock County Sheriff Department and Maine State Police Press releases

Oct 18, 2023

BAR HARBOR—On Tuesday, October 10, Officer Judson Cake responded to a report of shells in the roadway. When he arrived, he found a few dozen fish heads in the roadway and moved them out of the roadway. He also contacted the Department of Transportation to clean it up more thoroughly.

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

Monday, October 9, 2023

Officer Nathan Formby assisted some people. No further information or disposition was given.

Lt. Kevin Edgecomb spoke to someone regarding a family issue.

Officer Ted Cake took a report of some missing property. The complaint is under investigation.

Stephen D. Mitchell, 76, of Bar Harbor, was backing a 2021 GMC Canyon out of a legal parking space at Hannaford’s when he allegedly struck a 2023 Kia Soul which was being operated by Peter C. Reifsnyder, 57, of Mount Desert. The Soul was waiting behind Mitchell. There was no reported personal injury. Mitchell’s vehicle had minor damage to the rear fender and Reifsnyder’s vehicle suffered passenger-side quarter-panel damage and front fender damage.

An officer spoke with a woman regarding fraud through Western Union.

Officers assisted with traffic control at the head of the island because of a traffic accident on the Trenton Bridge.

Officer Troy Stanwood responded to a report of a transient person camping on the property of the Bar Harbor Historical Society. The person was moved along.

Officer Stanwood assisted the MDI Hospital with a patient with a mental health crisis.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Someone reported a possible trespassing issue, but Officer T. Cake determined that the possible trespasser was actually the property owner.

Officer Amie Torrey is investigating a report of someone possibly running a taxi business in town without being properly licensed to do so.

Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier assisted on a well-being check for a woman who was reported as missing. The woman was located by the police department. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer J. Cake assisted the fire department at a gas station for a report of a gas spill and damage to the fuel pump. There was no actual spill and the owner of the gas station was unsure if the pump was actually damaged or not.

Marilyn S. Kitler, 77, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2014 Toyota Prius and making a right-hand turn out of Hannaford’s onto Cottage Street. While doing so, Kitler’s Prius allegedly struck a legally parked 2013 Lexus RX350, which was last operated by Hina M. Desai, 62, of New Jersey. There was no personal injury reported. The Prius suffered minor damage to the passenger’s side rear and the Lexus suffered minor damage to the driver’s side rear fender and bumper.

Officers received a report of a vehicle heading towards the island from Trenton that was being driven in an erratic manner. Officers were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.

Darcy F. Williams, 56, of North Carolina, was driving what police wrote was “a 2015 Thorobred” and was exiting the parking lot of Steamboat Landing on Cottage Street. While doing so, Williams’ vehicle allegedly struck a legally parked 2023 Ford F-150. There was no driver or owner information given for the parked Ford. There was no personal injury reported. Williams’ vehicle suffered a minor scrape on the rear passenger corner and the Ford suffered minor damage to the driver’s side mirror.

Officer Lukas Keene assisted with a keep the peace request.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Officer Formby gave someone a ride.

An officer responded to a report of a disorderly situation but, upon investigation, determined that there was no disorderly conduct taking place.

Officer Tim Bland responded to a suspicious incident at the hospital which turned out to be a misunderstanding.

Officer Bland was advised of a fraud complaint. No further information or disposition was given.

Someone went into the police station to make a fraud complaint.

Officer J. Cake spoke with someone regarding a possible domestic situation. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Keene spoke with someone who was requesting information about someone else who was in the hospital.

An officer attempted to serve a subpoena. No further information or disposition was given.

Sgt. Sundberg assisted a business. No further information or disposition was given.

Officers assisted Acadia National Park with a motor vehicle accident.

Officers responded to a complaint of a loud party on Maple Avenue. The partygoers were asked to quiet down and move the party indoors. There were no further complaints received.

Frances Singleton, no age given, of Hall Quarry, was driving a 2017 Subaru Forester south on Route 102 when, after falling asleep, the car went off the roadway and struck a tree head-on. Both Frances and the other occupant of the vehicle were injured and transported by ambulance to the hospital. The Subaru was totaled and towed from the scene.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

An officer responded to a report of a woman in a business after hours. The woman was warned for trespassing.

Officer Formby responded, with the ambulance, to a report of an unconscious man in the area of Main Street. The man was transported to the MDI Hospital.

Officer Jerrod Hardy assisted the hospital with paperwork regarding the involuntary committal of a patient to a mental health institution.

Officer Keene conducted a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Program.

Leonie Worster, 73, of Easton, Pennsylvania, was driving a 2017 Subaru and attempting to make a left-hand turn from the Indian Point Road onto Route 102. A dump truck, which was heading south on Route 102, was making a right-hand turn onto the Indian Point Road, and was blocking Worster’s view. Worster allegedly struck a 2011 Hyundai which was being operated south on Route 102 by Maya McCabe, 23, of Penobscot, Maine as the turn was being made. There was no reported personal injury. The Hyundai suffered disabling damage and had to be towed. The Subaru had damage to the front passenger side.

Someone reported some information to Office T. Cake. No further information or disposition was given.

Someone reported a theft to Officer Hardy. The complaint is under investigation.

Officers responded to a trespassing complaint but the suspect had left prior to the officers arrival.

Officer J. Cake took a report of a loose dog but could not locate the dog.

Officer Stanwood responded to a trespassing complaint and found the alleged trespasser to be having a mental health crisis.

Someone called the police department because they were having a mental health crisis. The person was referred to Tozier.

The police department is investigating ongoing speeding complaints. No further information or disposition was given.

Friday, October 13, 2023

Officer Caleb Mora assisted a man who had locked himself out of his residence.

After stopping a motor vehicle, Officer Mora arrested Reginald Holmes, 40, of Southwest Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence. Holmes was also summonsed with alleged driving to endanger and multiple alleged traffic offenses. Holmes was transported to the Hancock County Jail.

After receiving a complaint of a motor vehicle that was being erratically, Officer T. Cake located and stopped the suspect vehicle. The elderly driver was not impaired and was made aware of the complaint.

Officer Stanwood conducted a well-being check and determined that there were no issues.

Amy Poulin, 49, of Milbridge, was driving a 2019 Nissan Rogue and heading north on Route 3. Rachael Brundrett, 38, of Hancock, was driving a 2018 GMC Terrain and also heading north on Route 3. Both drivers were attempting to merge at the head of the island, allegedly got too close, and their outside mirrors hit each other. There was no personal injury reported and minor damages to both vehicle’s mirrors and doors.

Officer Stanwood took a report of road rage. The reporting party just wanted the incident to be documented.

The police department took a late report of suspicious activity. After investigation, it was determined that no suspicious activity had occurred.

Officer Stanwood assisted another agency.

Saturday, October 14, 2023

After conducting a motor vehicle stop, Officer Formby arrested John Blessing, 28, of Rhode Island, for alleged operating under the influence.

Officer Elias Burne arrested Joseph J. Letourneau, 36, of Connecticut, for alleged filing a false report.

Officer Stanwood conducted speed enforcement on the Indian Point Road.

Frank Zisa, 67, of New Jersey, was driving a 2022 Conquest recreational vehicle and was traveling south on Main Street when the vehicle allegedly struck the front left corner of a 2020 Chevy Equinox which was legally parked. There was no owner or driver information given for the Equinox. There was no reported personal injury. Zisa’s vehicle had minor damage and the Equinox had heavy damage to the front left corner.

Someone borrowed a battery pack from the police department to jump start their vehicle which had a dead battery.

Officer Hardy checked on the well-being of a ten-year-old girl who was walking alone on Main Street. Officer Hardy spoke with the girl’s parents who came and picked her up.

Someone called 911 to report children breaking branches in the Village Green. Officer Hardy could not locate any such activity.

An officer responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Bridge Street but could not locate the suspect vehicle.

Herbert E. Ayer, 55, of Bangor legally parked a 2014 Mazda CX-5 on Cottage Street facing east. Timothy Culbertson, 74, of Bar Harbor was trying to parallel park his 2003 Toyota Sequoia in front of the Mazda and allegedly hit the Mazda with his trailer hitch. There were no reported injuries and the only damage was to the front bumper of the Mazda.

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.

Man Leads Police on Chase, Steals Two Cars, and is at Large

Agencies Involved: MSP Northern Field Troop, Bangor Regional Communications Center, Brewer Police Department, Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department

Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 8:59 a.m.

Location of Call for Service: Eddington, Maine

Summary of Call for Service:

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at approximately 8:59 a.m. the Bangor Regional Communications Center received a report of a gray Ford Fusion operating erratically on Route 1A in Dedham. The Fusion was heading south on Rt. 1A towards Ellsworth. The Maine State Police located the vehicle a short time later and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle made a U-turn and began traveling towards Holden. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued.

The vehicle continued traveling towards Holden operating erratically and at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then continued north on Route 46 to the intersection of Route 9 in Eddington. The vehicle then began traveling west on Route 9 towards Brewer. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of Autoworks on Main Road in Eddington, struck a parked vehicle, and (the driver) took off on foot. The crash took down a power line that shut down Route 9 in the area until Versant Power could repair it.

A short time later, troopers received a report of a GMC pickup being stolen from a residence in Eddington approximately a quarter of a mile from the scene at Autoworks. The owner of the pickup was in his driveway and had been physically pulled out of his vehicle by the fleeing suspect. The owner of the GMC pickup was not injured. A short time later a witness reported seeing the GMC pickup pull into the parking lot of Peavey Manufacturing Company in Eddington. The pickup was recovered from the parking lot a short time later.

The investigation disclosed that a 2017 black Toyota Camry had been stolen from the parking lot. The keys had been left in the vehicle. That vehicle, the Toyota Camry, and the suspect have not been located at this time. At this time based on his conduct and behavior, the Maine State Police feels the suspect does pose a threat to public safety and we are actively trying to identify him and take him into custody. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the Bangor Regional Communications Center at 207-973-3700.

Gambling Control Unit and Agency Partners to Meet with College Athletic Directors Ahead of Sports Wagering Rollout

College students have a higher risk of harm due to multiple factors

The rollout of sports wagering in Maine is expected to take place in November. Before the wagering goes live Maine’s Gambling Control Unit is spearheading an effort to educate college students and athletes about the harmful consequences gambling can cause.

The Gambling Control Unit along with AdCare Maine Problem Gambling Services, and Epic Risk Management will be holding two educational Zoom meetings with college athletic directors across the state this month. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss the risks students and athletes face, the technology that can track illegal gambling activity, and the prevention and treatment options available.

Sports wagering in Maine is prohibited under the age of 21. If you are under the age of 21 or bet for someone under the age of 21 you can face legal repercussions. NCAA sports wagering rules do not allow student-athletes to bet on any sport sponsored by the NCAA including college and professional or to share information for sports wagering purposes.

According to the NCAA, sports wagering activity is widespread on college campuses. It is prevalent among 18- to 22-year-olds, with 58% having engaged in at least one sports betting activity. 67% of students who are living on campus are bettors and tend to bet at a higher frequency. 41% of college students who bet on sports have placed a bet on their school teams and 35% have used a student bookmaker.

The negative ramifications that betting can have on students and athletes have already been seen. Recently five students from Iowa State were charged in a sports wagering investigation.

“We feel getting this information directly to Athletic Director’s first will be a good start, with our unit also being willing to provide individual team discussions on the issue, if requested,” said Gambling Control Unit Director Milt Champion. “Prevention and recovery advocates worry about the increase in those reaching out for assistance and we are preparing and ready to assist when needed.”

“Usually when I talk about the harm some people experience with gambling, I’m talking about the potential for gambling to be addictive in the same way substances are,” said Lori Manson, problem gambling services coordinator with AdCare Educational Institute in Augusta. “Some people can’t stop, despite recognizing that gambling is causing major problems in their lives. College students have a higher risk of harm due to multiple factors, such as lack of experience, tendency to embrace risk-taking, and peer pressure. Consequences can involve anxiety, depression, substance use, and dropping out of school due to missed classes. I’ve even heard of instances where students dropped out because they lost their student loan money gambling.

“For college athletes, there are additional consequences which can involve legal problems or being kicked off the team. I’m glad we have an opportunity for stakeholders to come together to discuss ways to prevent problems, and how to find services and resources if problems occur.”

If you are over the age of 21 and you choose to gamble:

Gambling is a form of entertainment, so only bet what you can afford to spend on
entertainment.
Set limits and stick to them.
Don’t dig a deeper hole by spending more money to try to win back your losses.
Never borrow money to gamble.
Keep track of wins and losses. If you focus only on wins, you may not realize you’ve lost more than you’ve won.
Gambling should not interfere with school, work, or time with family and friends.
Balance recreational gambling with other healthy activities.
Gambling should be fun. If it’s stressing you out, stop. If you can’t stop, call 211 for
resources.

Colleges and Universities:

Talk to Epic Risk Management about booking a no-cost educational session for your athletes and staff through their contract with the NCAA.
Invite AdCare Maine Problem Gambling Services to campus activities where a responsible gambling & problem gambling resource table would be appropriate.
Invite Gambling Control Unit personnel to individual team meetings to address concerns and answer questions.
Post information about responsible gambling, symptoms of problem gambling, and the helpline. Posters and brochures are available at no cost.

Help is Available

211 is Maine’s Problem Gambling Helpline. If you are concerned about your gambling or the

gambling of a loved one, 211 Maine employs live specialists who are available 24/7 with

information about resources and services. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.

Three Arrested After 55-Mile-Long Pursuit

Agencies Involved: MSP NFT, Troop F, Maine Warden Service, Maine Forest Service, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, and Lincoln Police Department

Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 11:21 a.m.

Location of Call for Service: Lincoln, Maine

Summary of Call for Service:

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at approximately 11:21 a.m., law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were alerted to a vehicle that had almost struck a Maine Game Warden. The Game Warden was dealing with a moose complaint in the town of Lincoln when he witnessed a vehicle fleeing the scene of a suspected trespass and theft at the Lincoln Pulp and Tissue Mill.

A trooper located the vehicle on Route 2 in Winn and a high-speed pursuit ensued. Troopers with the Northern Field Troop, Troop F, and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputies deployed tire deflation matts which slowed the vehicle down. A trooper than utilized the precision immobilization technique (PITT) to terminate the chase in Haynesville. The pursuit ended at 12:52 p.m. The total length of the pursuit was 55.2 miles. There were three people in the vehicle. The two passengers were taken into custody and transported to the Lincoln Police Department where they posted bail.

The passengers were 29-year-old Zachary Hitchcock, of Windham, who was charged with theft and criminal trespassing and 34-year-old Shane Godfrin, of Orient, who was charged with theft, criminal trespassing, and violation of conditions of release. The driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Michael Godfrin, of Orient, fled the scene. Michael Godfrin was quickly located and taken into custody without incident. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. He was also charged with eluding, passing a roadblock and driving to endanger, operating after suspension, and criminal speeding. He also faces additional charges from the Warden Service and the Lincoln Police Department. Michael Orient was transported to the Aroostook County Jail.

Fatal Crash in Dallas Plantation

Agencies Involved: MSP Central Field Troop, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Local Fire and EMS

Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Friday, October 13, 2023, at 11:40 a.m.

Location of Call for Service: Dallas Plantation, Maine

Summary of Call for Service:

On Friday, October 13,2023, at approximately 11:40 a.m., troopers with the Central Field Troop and deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to Stratton Road in Dallas Plantation for a report of a vehicle on its roof that had gone into the water. Initial investigation indicates that the vehicle had been traveling north on Stratton Road when it left the roadway, struck a tree, and rolled down an embankment into a brook. The operator, 70-year-old Deborah Ryder, of Rangeley, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is currently under investigation and no further information is available at this time.