Beehive Trail Helicopter Rescue Details
Political Signs Go Missing on Marathon Day, and Police Logs, State Police Press Releases
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.
BAR HARBOR—A 62-year-old man's implanted internal defibrillator shocked him while hiking the Beehive (trail), on Friday, October 11, according to Acadia National Park Public Affairs Officer Amanda Pollock.
Acadia National Park Park Rangers responded, along with Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue (MDI-SAR) volunteers, and the Bar Harbor Fire Department. The decision was made to get the patient off the trail via a “short-haul” utilizing the Maine Forest Service helicopter and crew.
The helicopter flew the patient and a crew member a short distance to a nearby landing zone where a Bar Harbor ambulance was waiting. The ambulance then transported the patient to the MDI Hospital.
POLITICAL SIGNS GONE
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—The only town that wasn’t touched by the marathon on Sunday seems to be the only one that didn’t have a report of stolen political signs on October 20.
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, and Southwest Harbor police agencies all took multiple reports of political signs being stolen from lawns and public right of ways. One caller even took issue with some signs that weren’t stolen but did not match their own political viewpoints.
According to a press release by Sgt. Chris Dickens of the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department, he responded to “to a report of political signs placed adjacent to a town road in conflict with the immediate property owners' political interests. It was determined that the signs were not labeled in accordance with the State of Maine statute governing the placement of such signs, specifically: the signs did not bear the date on which the signs were posted and both signs bore substantially the same message and were placed within thirty feet of each other.”
The release does not say whether the signs were removed by Sgt. Dickens or not.
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 and early fall, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.
Monday, October 14, 2024
A man who was making suicidal threats called the Bar Harbor Police Department. After it was learned that he was in California, Sgt. Jerrod Hardy called the police department nearest the man’s location and passed the information on to them.
Sgt. Hardy assisted MDI Hospital with some paperwork.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Officer Kaleb Payson assisted the MDI Hospital with getting some paperwork signed.
Officer Troy Stanwood assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call.
Officer Elias Burne was assigned an information card in Bar Harbor.
Donald Stover, 92, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2021 Subaru Forester on Main Street in Bar Harbor and was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Cottage Street when his vehicle allegedly struck James Johnson, 79, of Allen, Texas, who was crossing in the crosswalk. There was no reported or apparent injury and Johnson was checked by the ambulance crew. There was no damage to the vehicle. Stover was issued a citation for alleged failure to stop for a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk.
Officer Amie Torrey is investigating a reported employee theft from a Mount Desert business.
Officer Payson took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Torrey responded to a report of an accident in Mount Desert but there was no one around when she arrived.
After Officer Nathan Formby was advised of a missing minor who was staying in Bar Harbor, officers were able to locate the minor and return them to their parent.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Officer Stanwood is investigating a report of major damage to the turf at the Park Street ball fields in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood performed a VIN verification in Bar Harbor for a local tow company.
Officer Stanwood is investigating a report of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Officer Zack Kline attempted to locate a vehicle for the Ellsworth Police Department because it was supposedly heading onto the island but he was unable to do so.
Officer Stanwood gave someone a ride home from the hospital in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood received paperwork in regard to a criminal matter in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood fingerprinted someone for employment purposes at the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Sgt. Chris Dickens added a request to the special patrol roster for officers to patrol daily school bus routes to address reports of vehicles passing stopped school buses.
Officer Liam Harrington investigated an alleged liquor license violation at the Cottage Street Pub in Bar Harbor.
Someone in Bar Harbor reported that their two dogs had gotten loose and Officer Judson Cake attempted to locate the dogs but could not. The dogs were reported as back home a short while later.
Officer Harrington issued a harassment warning to someone in Bar Harbor.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Officers responded to the area of Oak Hill Road and Main Street in Somesville for a reported two-vehicle crash. After investigation, Stephen Fish, 28, of Canaan, Maine, was summonsed for alleged leaving the scene of a property damage accident.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg helped someone get to the hospital for medical services in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson responded with the Bar Harbor Ambulance to a report of an unattended death in Bar Harbor. After investigation, the death appeared to be of natural causes.
An officer responded to an animal in a car complaint in Bar Harbor but the car had left prior to the office’s arrival.
Someone provided the Bar Harbor Police Department with information regarding alleged suspicious activity.
Officer Caleb Mora worked a crowd control detail at a sporting event in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens responded to an erratic motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle and stopped it, and he determined that the operator was not impaired.
Officer J. Cake attempted to locate a vehicle in Bar Harbor that was reported to not have any functioning taillights but he could not locate the vehicle.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Following a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Mora arrested Timothy Murphy, 56, of Northeast Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence. Murphy was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer J. Cake arrested Jason Fowler, 30, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence. Fowler was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Someone reported to Officer Ted Cake that two people were missing in Mount Desert. The two people were located a short time later.
Officer Torrey received a report of a backpack having possibly been stolen in Bar Harbor.
Officer Justin Burnett removed a deceased deer from the roadway in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora worked a crowd control detail for a private event in Bar Harbor.
Officer Burnett received a motor vehicle complaint on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Stanwood performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor from a family member in New York. The person checked on in Bar Harbor was fine.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Officer J. Cake arrested Manuel Agramonte, 29, of Bristol, Connecticut, for alleged operating under the influence.
Several officers from the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department provided an array of crowd and traffic control details for the MDI Marathon and half marathon.
Officer Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Payson responded to a report of a wandering dog in Bar Harbor but could not locate the dog.
Officers took multiple reports of the theft of political signs in Mount Desert and Bar Harbor.
After taking multiple reports of fireworks in Bar Harbor, officers were unable to locate any fireworks.
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 and early fall, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.
Monday, October 14, 2024
Officer Bradley Russell fingerprinted someone at the Southwest Harbor Police Department for non-criminal purposes.
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney and Officer Russell responded to a Southwest Harbor residence for a harassment complaint. After speaking with all of the involved people, it was determined to be an animal-related dispute and all of the involved people were warned for disorderly conduct.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
After receiving a complaint via the Hancock County District Attorney’s Office regarding violation of conditions of release by someone who is currently incarcerated, Sgt. Blakeney followed up with the alleged victims in Southwest Harbor. After completing this investigation, Sgt. Blakeney served a summons to the person incarcerated at the Hancock County Jail for alleged violation of conditions of release.
Sgt. Blakeney served paperwork from the Bangor District Court to someone in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell spoke with someone in Southwest Harbor that wanted to report disorderly behavior by someone in a business parking lot but only wanted it on record for now.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Officer Russell dispatched an injured deer that was in someone’s yard in Tremont.
After receiving an open line 911 call, Officer Russell responded to a residence in Tremont and spoke with the caller who had no emergency and only wanted to give the police department some information.
Officer Russell assisted another agency with locating a vehicle in Southwest Harbor.
Kevin Quist, 56, of New Jersey, parked his 2022 Ford Bronco on the side of the Tremont Road in Tremont but allegedly failed to place the vehicle in park before exiting. Once Quist was out of the vehicle, it drove itself off the road and into a tree causing substantial damage to the front passenger corner. There was no reported injury.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney attempted to perform a well-being check on someone in Tremont but could not locate them. The person later contacted Sgt. Blakeney and said that they were all set.
Sgt. Blakeney conducted an escort for someone in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Blakeney conducted a school visit in Tremont.
Someone from Tremont inquired about a supposed motor vehicle crash that had occurred on their land, but Sgt. Blakeney could not find any reports of such a crash occurring.
Friday, October 18, 2024
A Tremont resident reported to Sgt. Blakeney that they were being harrassed.
Officer Russell fingerprinted someone at the Southwest Harbor Police Department for non-criminal purposes.
Officer Russell responded to a report from a woman in Southwest Harbor that a child was “acting up and throwing things in her yard.” Officer Russell found the situation had calmed down by the time he arrived and he spoke with everyone involved.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Officer Russell helped someone get back into their apartment in Southwest Harbor after they had locked themself out.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney worked a detail for the MDI Marathon.
After receiving a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor, Officer Russell responded and spoke with the driver of the suspect vehicle and warned them for illegal parking.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor and had the vehicle removed from the roadway.
Officer Russell responded to a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor, issued a parking ticket to the vehicle, and had the vehicle removed via tow truck from the roadway.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating multiple reports of political signs being taken from Southwest Harbor properties.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a possible scam complaint made by someone in Southwest Harbor.
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 Makes Arrest in Waterville Shooting Death
WATERVILLE—On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at approximately 6:29 a.m., the Waterville Police Department responded to the parking lot of Mount Joseph at Waterville at 7 Highwood Street for a report of multiple gunshots.
Responding Waterville police officers located a deceased male inside a vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing a black Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck leaving the scene and were able to provide a license plate number to the officers. Area police agencies were alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle. At approximately 8:55 a.m., Clinton Police Chief Rusty Bell located the vehicle and driver 53-year-old Richard Hatt, of Clinton, in Clinton. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central and Evidence Response Technicians responded to the scene to interview witnesses and process the scene. Major Crimes and Waterville detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The victim of the shooting was 47-year-old Stephen Killam, of Fairfield. Killam and Hatt were known to each other. The deceased will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed on Wednesday. Richard Hatt was arrested and charged with murder. He was transported to the Kennebec County Jail.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Waterville Police Department or the Maine State Police.
Woodland Man Arrested for Arson
WOODLAND—On October 12, 2024, 37-year-old Joshua Brydon, of Woodland, was arrested by the Maine State Police on an arrest warrant obtained by investigators from the Office of State Fire Marshal. The warrant charges Brydon with five counts of arson, class A, one count of attempted arson, class B, six counts of criminal use of explosives, class C, two counts of stalking, class D, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, class D.
The arrest resulted from the culmination of an 18-month long investigation into incidents of improvised explosive devices, and improvised incendiary devices being used to target multiple victims within the town of Woodland. Several of the devices were dropped by UAS (drone), and others were placed or thrown by hand. The Investigations Division of the Office of State Fire Marshal was provided both technical and physical assistance during the investigation by several agencies including the Maine State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Brydon is currently being held at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton pending his first court appearance and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Arson Fire in Biddeford
BIDDEFORD—In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 20, 2024, the Biddeford Fire and Police Departments with mutual aid assistance from the Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Goodwins Mills, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, and Scarborough Fire Departments responded to 34 Proctor Road in Biddeford for a reported structure fire.
The Office of State Fire Marshal (FMO) was requested to respond to investigate the fire. FMO investigators, in conjunction with the Biddeford Police and Fire Departments, indicated that 42-year-old Richard Olin, of Saco, was responsible for the fire. Olin was located at the scene and detained by officers. He was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of arson and one count of burglary by FMO investigators.
Olin is being held at the York County Jail without bail. Residents were home at the time of the fire but were able to make it out safely. There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire. The home was damaged, and the garage was destroyed in the fire. Additional charges may be brought against Olin pending further investigation. Olin did not live at the address but was familiar with the occupants of the home.
Maine State Police Releases NESPAC Review of MSP AAR
MAINE—The Maine State Police would like to thank Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham and the New England State Police Administrator’s Conference (NESPAC) for conducting an independent review of the Maine State Police After Action Review (AAR) of the Lewiston Tragedy. We greatly appreciate the time and work they dedicated to reviewing our AAR and supporting documents to achieve the most comprehensive feedback possible.
The NESPAC partnership has served the New England State’s well in a variety of collaborations from resource sharing, specialized training, and most notably the response to the Lewiston tragedy on October 25, 2023. The Maine State Police truly appreciate the opportunity to utilize the independent review’s feedback to further clarify our After-Action Review. We know that providing detailed information reference to our response can help our fellow Mainers with their own personal journey to wellness and recovery.
Colonel Ross and his team look forward to utilizing all of the feedback detailed in the commission’s report, our own after-action report and the attached independent review to start the implementation phase of this process. Continued training, policy review, and collaboration with partner agencies from across the first responder spectrum is imperative and will be ongoing.
The Department of Public Safety and the Maine State Police honor all of the victims, their friends and family by staying “Lewiston Strong”.
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.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.