Coast Guard Needs Help Stopping & Solving Hoax Call Spree
State Police Chase, Local Police Reports
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Choco-Latté Café.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Sector Northern New England is actively seeking information regarding a serial hoax case occurring from Friday, October 11 to Sunday, October 13, in the vicinity of Mount Desert Island, Great Cranberry Island, and Southwest Harbor.
Over the weekend, the Coast Guard received multiple transmissions on VHF Channel 16 claiming to be in distress, taking on water, and abandoning ship. All calls are believed to come from the same person and general location. The Coast Guard’s duty crew, as well as multiple other resources conducted hours of active searching in this case. Knowingly transmitting false distress calls on VHF Channel 16 is a federal crime punishable with fines and or arrest.
If you have any information about this case please contact the Station Southwest Harbor, Sector Northern New England, Coast Guard Investigative Service on its website, or in the app via CGIS Tips.
“Making a false distress call is a federal crime. Offenders can face up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and be responsible for the cost of the search efforts,” the Coast Guard posted.
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 7, 2024
Officer Troy Stanwood provided traffic control for a towing company in Bar Harbor.
The Bar Harbor Highway Department reported losing a leaf blower off a truck while staff members were working in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy responded to a complaint of a vehicle operating without headlights in Bar Harbor, located the vehicle, and after learning that it was a rental vehicle, instructed the operator on how to run all of the lights for the vehicle.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
An officer responded from the Mount Desert patrol zone to assist a Southwest Harbor officer in Tremont at their request.
Someone reported a vehicle running a stop sign at a construction zone in Mount Desert but no officers were in a position to locate the vehicle.
Someone reported some information to Officer Ted Cake in Mount Desert.
Officer Stanwood responded to a report of a trailer blocking traffic on Bridge Street in Bar Harbor and the owner moved the trailer upon Officer Stanwood’s request.
Officer T. Cake assisted with an ambulance call in Mount Desert.
Someone in Mount Desert reported some information about a wild animal and Officer T. Cake referred them to the Maine Warden Service.
Someone reported a possible trespassing issue in Mount Desert. Officer T. Cake advised the complainant to call when the possible trespassing is actually occurring.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department officers attended the Husson University Law Enforcement Career Fair at Husson University.
An officer made contact with the owner of a large vehicle that was reportedly blocking a roadway in Bar Harbor and had them move the vehicle.
Officer Amie Torrey was responding to a residential burglar alarm in Mount Desert when the homeowner cancelled the response.
Officer T. Cake conducted a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and the person being checked on ended up being placed into protective custody.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a motor vehicle complaint that was not within its jurisdiction so the department passed the information on to the proper agency.
An officer responded to an anonymous complaint of a vehicle parked illegally in Bar Harbor and found that the vehicle had already been moved.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg removed some debris from the roadway in Bar Harbor.
Officer Torrey took a report of illegal dumping in a business dumpster in Mount Desert.
Officer Nathan Formby warned someone in Bar Harbor for harassment.
Sgt. Chris Dickens assisted a stranded visitor with getting a hotel room for the night in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens had a vehicle towed from Cottage Street in Bar Harbor after the vehicle had a 72-hour notice placed on it and the 72-hour period had expired.
Officer Formby gave two people a ride from the hospital to their hotel in Bar Harbor.
Someone requested a well-being check on a person in Bar Harbor. The Bar Harbor Police Department dispatcher was able to make contact by telephone and the person was fine.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Following a motor vehicle stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby arrested Thomas Keville, 47, of Los Angeles, California, for alleged operating under the influence.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Lukas Keene arrested Luis A.M. Mendez, 30, of Florida, for alleged operating under the influence. Mendez was also charged with alleged criminal speed and alleged driving to endanger.
Sgt. Sundberg is investigating information that was provided to him by a Bar Harbor business.
An officer is investigating a report of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor.
Officer Torrey received a report of damage having been done to a vehicle in Bar Harbor.
An officer is investigating another report of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor.
As a member of the Hancock County Drug Treatment Court, Officer Tim Frost requested assistance from other law enforcement agencies with conducting house checks on clients who are in the court’s drug treatment program.
Officer T. Cake is investigating a report of some missing property in Mount Desert.
Officer Torrey received a report of kids riding bikes in the roadway in Bar Harbor without helmets on. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Formby performed a requested well-being check on a person in Bar Harbor and after finding them to be intoxicated, arranged for a taxi to take them to their campground.
Officer Judson Cake responded to a report of a possibly injured animal wandering Route 3 in Bar Harbor but could not locate any animals upon arrival.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Sgt. Dickens gave someone a ride to a residence in Tremont.
Sgt. Hardy worked a security detail in Bar Harbor.
Officers attempted to locate a vehicle that was reportedly making unsafe passes in Bar Harbor but could not locate the vehicle.
An officer is investigating a report of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor.
Someone provided some information to Officer Stanwood in Mount Desert.
Officer Stanwood assisted students at the MDI High School who were preparing for a mock trial.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took an anonymous report of a political sign having been taken.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of firewood in the roadway on Route 102 in Bar Harbor and removed the wood from the roadway.
Someone reported a caller who was impersonating a business in Bar Harbor to Officer Caleb Mora.
Officer Mora worked a crowd control detail for a sporting event in Bar Harbor.
Officer Formby took a report of harassment in Mount Desert and after investigation determined that it was not harassment.
Officer Zack Kline responded to a report of a barking dog late at night in Mount Desert and got the owner to bring the dog inside for the night after advising them that the dog was waking people up.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Someone reported that a dog was barking in a menacing way in Mount Desert. Officer Mora could not locate the dog.
An officer responded to a report of a tree that had fallen and was blocking one lane of travel on Main Street in Somesville. The officer and Mount Desert firefighters were able to remove the tree from the roadway.
An officer responded to a report of a tree that had fallen and was blocking the travel lanes in Bar Harbor. The officer was able to remove the tree from the roadway.
An officer responded to the report of a parked vehicle blocking Newton Way in Bar Harbor. The officer was able to get the operator of the vehicle to move it.
An officer responded to a report of a dog in distress in a vehicle on Main Street, no town listed, and found that the dog was not in distress.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took an erratic operation motor vehicle complaint on a vehicle that was heading north off the island and passed the complaintent on to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Officer Formby took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
After receiving a complaint of disorderly conduct from a Bar Harbor business, Officer Formby issued trespass warnings to two people .
While on patrol, Officer Kline stopped to see why a vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road in Bar Harbor. The occupants of the vehicle had located a woman who had apparently fallen and injured her face. Officer Kline called for an ambulance and the ambulance transported the woman to the hospital.
Officer Justin Burnett issued a warning to someone who was spending the night in their vehicle in the MDI High School parking lot and the person left the area.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Michael St. Germain, 38, of Ellsworth, was arrested by Officer Formby for alleged operating under the influence.
Officer Burnett responded to a complaint of erratic operation by a motor vehicle in Bar Harbor, located the vehicle and stopped it, and then spoke with the driver.
Officer Mora warned someone for camping overnight in Bar Harbor and reminded them to use a campground.
Officer Stanwood conducted a security check at MDI High School.
Someone reported an unattended paddle board in Somes Sound near Sergeant Drive in Mount Desert. The Maine Marine Patrol was contacted to investigate.
Officer Mora responded to a report of a vehicle blocking a driveway in Bar Harbor but the vehicle had been moved before his arrival.
An officer responded to a reported residential burglary in Bar Harbor, but after investigation, it was determined that no criminal activity had occurred.
Someone reported a disabled motor vehicle on Ledgelawn Avenue in Bar Harbor and at the owner’s request, a tow truck was called to remove the vehicle.
An officer assisted the fire department with a medical call in Bar Harbor.
A parking enforcement officer addressed a parking issue on Park Street in Bar Harbor.
Officers and the Mount Desert Fire Department responded to a report of a baby having difficulty breathing in Mount Desert.
Officer Formby took a report of suspicious activity in Mount Desert but could find nothing concerning upon checking.
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 7, 2024
Chief John Hall performed a VIN verification in Southwest Harbor.
A Tremont resident wanted to report that her daughter had stolen her car, but Chief Hall informed the complainant that since she gave her daughter permission to use her car and now the daughter will not return the car, she needs to take a civil action through the court system.
Chief Hall responded to a report of two dogs running loose in the area of the Salem Towne Road in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the dogs.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney responded to a reported disturbance in Tremont and met with the involved parties. The event was documented.
Sgt. Blakeney took a report of a possibly suicidal person in Tremont and met with the person. The person told Sgt. Blakeney that they were not suicidal and that they were just upset when they made the statement and needed to work on their wording when they are upset.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney handled an injured animal complaint on Main Street in Southwest Harbor but the animal was no longer in the area when Sgt. Blakeney arrived.
Southwest Harbor police officers attended the Husson University Law Enforcement Career Fair at Husson University.
Officer Bradley Russell took a report from the Pemetic School in Southwest Harbor that there was a dispute over child custody. Officer Russell spoke with the involved parties and outlined their options to them.
Officer Russell spoke with a Southwest Harbor resident about possible fraud, but the incident did not occur in Southwest Harbor, so Officer Russell advised the complainant of their options.
Officer Russell took a report of a vehicle being left in the parking lot of a Southwest Harbor business and the vehicle was left running with no one around. Prior to Officer Russell being able to respond, the complainant called back and stated that the vehicle’s owner had returned.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a reported package delivery dispute in Southwest Harbor.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a dog-at-large complaint in Southwest Harbor but was unable to locate the dog.
Officer Russell spoke with a Southwest Harbor business about an ongoing issue that was not occurring in Southwest Harbor, so Officer Russell provided the complainant with the contact information for the proper agency to report the issue to.
Someone turned in a container that they believed contained illegal drugs that they had found in the parking lot of a Southwest Harbor business. The police department is investigating what the container contains.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
After receiving a complaint of a woman yelling early in the morning near a road in Tremont, Officer Russell responded but could not locate anyone.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department took a report of a downed power line that was on fire in Southwest Harbor. The Southwest Harbor Fire Department responded as well.
Officer Russell was responding to a business burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor when the caretaker of the business called back to inform the police department that it was a false alarm.
Officer Russell directed traffic at the scene of a downed power line that was on fire in Southwest Harbor at the request of the fire department.
Officer Russell received a request to back up another agency in Southwest Harbor and did so without incident.
Officer Russell checked on a property in Tremont at the request of the owner’s child and found the property to be all set.
Officer Russell responded to Tremont to tag a deer for someone who had found a deceased deer that had been hit by a vehicle.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney was responding to a business burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor when the alarm company called back to inform the police department that it could cancel its response.
Sgt. Blakeney received a request to back up another agency in Southwest Harbor and did so without incident.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a report of suspicious activity at a Southwest Harbor residence.
Sgt. Blakeney was responding to a residential burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor when the alarm company called back to inform the police department that it could cancel its response.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a verbal domestic at a Southwest Harbor residence and after investigation, determined that it was only verbal and warned both people involved for disorderly conduct.
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.
Alfred Man is Apprehended After Stealing Four Vehicles and Eluding Police
BRIDGTON—On Thursday, October 10, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m., troopers from the Southern Field Troop learned that deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Office were pursuing 33-year-old Garrett Littlefield, of Alfred, in a motor vehicle pursuit. Littlefield has a suspended license, was operating a stolen vehicle, presumed to be under the influence, and had multiple felony warrants out for his arrest.
In York County, this pursuit took place in Acton and Newfield, along the Maine/New Hampshire border with Littlefield crossing in and out of Maine. Initially, Littlefield was driving a maroon 1986 Chrysler LeBaron in Acton that had been stolen from a residence in Acton when deputies were able to deploy spike mats and successfully disable the vehicle.
Littlefield then fled on foot before stealing another vehicle, a blue 2014 Ford F-150 from a nearby residence. Now operating the Ford pickup truck, Littlefield was pursued for a short time before being lost on back roads. Multiple law enforcement agencies within Cumberland and Oxford County were notified and monitored roads for Littlefield in this truck. Citizens from the public began calling in traffic complaints on this truck now on Rt. 302 in Bridgton, heading north. Law enforcement units canvassed the area but were not successful in locating him. The last known location at the time was Rt. 117 in Bridgton, headed towards Harrison.
At approximately 1:00 p.m., a trooper set up on Rt. 121 in Otisfield watching for the blue Ford pickup that Littlefield was last known to be operating. While monitoring traffic, he observed a black Chevy pickup truck blow through a stop sign at over 100 mph. The trooper started a pursuit with this vehicle on Rt. 121 into Casco. It was presumed at this point that Littlefield ditched the Ford F-150 and stole a third vehicle. (The Ford F-150 was later located a short distance from a dealership on Main Street in Oxford where the Chevy truck was stolen.)
Another trooper was set up to deploy spike mats at the intersection of Rt. 121 and Rt. 11 in Casco, which was the direction the pursuit was headed. This spike deployment was successful, and the truck continued southbound on Rt. 121 until at least 2 tires fell off and the truck went into a ditch. Littlefield and his female passenger 22-year-old Shantel Rodriguez, of Biddeford, then fled on foot. Rodriguez was quickly apprehended, but Littlefield ran into a wooden area.
The Maine State Police were assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, and Maine Forest Service searching the wooded area, but efforts were unsuccessful.
At approximately 5:20 p.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received complaints of a large dump truck traveling north on Rt. 302 in Bridgton driving erratically and at excessive speeds. Deputies attempted to stop the dump truck, but the operator eluded police. The operator of the dump truck came to a stop at the Big Apple gas station on Rt. 302 in Bridgton. He then got out of the dump truck and attempted to strongarm a couple out of their green 2022 Subaru Outback at the gas pump. The couple was not injured.
Police were already on scene and were able to quickly take the operator of the dump truck into custody. The operator was confirmed to be Garrett Littlefield. It was later learned that Littlefield had stolen the dump truck from a new housing development off of Hemlock Road in Casco.
At the time of her apprehension Rodriquez was transported to the hospital for evaluation and then later transported to the Cumberland County Jail where she was charged with assault on a police officer, assault on a police K-9, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and violation of conditions of release.
Littlefield was also transported to the hospital for evaluation and later transported to the Cumberland County Jail. He is charged with eluding, failure to stop, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, theft by unauthorized taking, operating while under suspension, and violation of conditions of release.
Maine State Police Investigating Stabbing in Palmyra
PALMYRA—The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a stabbing that occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024, at a residence at 482 Madawaska Road in Palmyra. The adult male suffered serious injuries. He was transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield and later transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he is listed in critical condition. The identity of the injured male is not being released at this time.
The road was closed for much of the day while detectives conducted interviews and Evidence Response Technicians processed the scene. There is no known danger to the public. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.
Maine State Police Responds to Wrong Way Driver in Wells
WELLS—On Saturday, October 12, 2024, at approximately 1:15 a.m., Troop G received reports of a wrong way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes near mile marker 16 in Wells. Troopers, along with York and Kittery police immediately responded to the area. York police were able to locate the vehicle, a white Chevy Equinox, traveling southbound in the northbound lanes near mile marker ten. York PD along with members from Troop G were able to successfully stop the vehicle near mile marker six in York.
Prior to police locating the vehicle, a passing motorist crashed near mile marker eleven northbound while attempting to avoid the wrong way driver. The victim of that crash did not sustain any injuries. The wrong way driver, later identified as 58-year-old Timothy Willis of Glastonbury, Connecticut, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence. The incident remains under investigation.
Maine State Police Investigating Shooting Death in Waterville
WATERVILLE—The Maine State Police and Waterville Police Department are investigating a shooting that happened on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Highwood Street in Waterville. An adult male is deceased. Major Crimes Unit Central Detectives are interviewing witnesses and Evidence Response Technicians are processing the scene.
There is no danger to the public.
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.
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