Coast Guard Searching For Person Who Made False Distress Calls
Island police logs: Cruisers have fender bender, illegal campers at Hadley Point Beach and other news
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Margo H. Stanley Real Estate.
BAR HARBOR—The Coast Guard’s Northern New England Command Center received multiple distress calls in a 90-minute period late Sunday night.
The calls came over its VHF Channel 16. This channel is meant to only be used for distress calls and hailing internationally.
According to the Bangor Daily News, “The caller said they were on land in a house in Bar Harbor, and the Coast Guard said its own direction-finding equipment confirmed that the calls were coming from land in Bar Harbor.”
It is illegal to make a false distress call. The federal crime can end in a 10-year prison sentence and up to $250,000 in fines. Those fines do not include the cost of the search. That cost in 2015, when a Maine man was prosecuted was $15,000.
Information regarding the above incidents can be relayed by contacting the Coast Guard Investigative Service at https://www.uscg.mil/cgis.
In 2024 another hoax case occurred from October 11-13 in the vicinity of Mount Desert Island, Great Cranberry Island, and Southwest Harbor, ME. Those transmissions were also multiple and on VHF Channel 16, where the person claimed to be in distress, abandoning ship and taking on water.
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.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Elias Burne, 31, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a town-owned police vehicle, a 2021 Ford F-150, in the Bar Harbor Police Department parking lot when he allegedly struck a legally parked 2023 Ford Explorer, also a town-owned police vehicle, that was last operated by Police Chief David Kerns, 46, of Ellsworth. There was no reported injury. The Ford F-150 suffered a scuff mark on the front bumper and the Ford Explorer suffered a dent and scuff mark on the rear driver’s side door.
Officer Shelby O’Neil responded to a complaint of illegal campers on Hadley Point Beach in Bar Harbor. Officer O’Neil was not able to locate the campers but left a copy of the town’s municipal ordinance at the campsite.
A Mount Desert resident requested security checks for their property for the week.
Officer Kevin Edgecomb responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Sound Drive in Mount Desert where two drivers had exchanged words. Officer Edgecomb could not locate one of the vehicles and the complainant just wanted the event on record.
Officer O’Neil escorted a tractor trailer truck carrying a large excavator through Bar Harbor.
Officer O’Neil provided traffic control for a tow truck in Bar Harbor.
After the Bar Harbor Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle making bad passes and operating erratically in the area of Salsbury Cove in Bar Harbor, the complaint was passed on to the state police.
Officer O’Neil assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Chris Dickens took a report of graffiti painted on the veteran’s memorial in the Village Green in Bar Harbor.
Officer Liam Harrington issued a trespass warning to someone for a private residence in Bar Harbor.
Officer Lukas Keene gave a woman a ride back to her campsite in Mount Desert.
Officer Harrington assisted an intoxicated person by giving them a ride home in Bar Harbor.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
A registered sex offender who will be visiting the area provided information to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Officer O’Neil performed a VIN number verification in Bar Harbor for a local tow company.
Officer Ted Cake assisted another agency by delivering a message to someone in Northeast Harbor.
Officer T. Cake fingerprinted someone in Mount Desert at the person’s request.
Someone requested a well-being check for a man who was sitting on the side of the road with his bike in Bar Harbor. Officer O’Neil checked and found that he was all set and just resting.
Someone requested a well-being check for a person laying in the grass on the side of the road in Bar Harbor. By the time Officer O’Neil arrived, the subject was gone.
Officer O’Neil received information from someone in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens took a report of a motorist having passed a stopped school bus on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Dickens located the suspect vehicle and warned the driver for the infraction.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy and Sgt. Dickens assisted a local health care organization with bringing item to a residence in Bar Harbor.
Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, located the vehicle parked, but could not locate the driver of the vehicle.
Officer Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the vehicle.
Officer Harrington responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert, located the vehicle, and warned the driver for their vehicle operation.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Officers responded to a report of suspicious activity on Albert Meadow in Bar Harbor but could not locate anything suspicious.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Troy Stanwood arrested Angel Licon, 26, of Escondido, California, for alleged operating under the influence. Licon was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Payson responded to a parking issue in Bar Harbor and was able to find the vehicle’s driver who moved the vehicle.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg responded to a parking complaint in Bar Harbor and found that all of the vehicles in the area were legally parked.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of speeding on the Eagle Lake Road in the area of the Cromwell Harbor Road intersection in Bar Harbor and will increase patrols in this area.
Officer O’Neil responded to a 911 call reporting a commercial lobster boat being run aground at full speed in Mount Desert. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating this incident.
Sgt. Sundberg responded to a parking complaint in Bar Harbor but found no violations in the area.
Sgt. Sundberg performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be all set.
Sgt. Hardy assisted the Southwest Harbor Police Department with an investigation.
Someone gave Officer Payson some information in Mount Desert.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood arrested Atticus Jaques, 22, of Dixmont, for alleged operating under the influence. Jaques was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Larry D. Haugh, 80, of Shelbourne, VT, was driving south on Route 102 in Mount Desert when he allegedly fell asleep. The vehicle went off the road to the right and struck a guardrail. Haugh then allegedly overcorrected and the vehicle went off the roadway to the left, struck a rock, and came to rest in a ditch. There was no reported injury and the vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.
Officer Harrington responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the vehicle.
Responding to a report of a dirt bike weaving in downtown Bar Harbor traffic, Officer Caleb Mora was unable to locate the motorcycle and no registration plate was given so he could not follow up on the complaint.
Officer Mora responded to a medical emergency in Bar Harbor and rendered aid until the ambulance arrived.
Officer Justin Burnett took a report of some political signs possibly having been stolen in Bar Harbor.
Davion Dahn, 20, of Sullivan, was driving a 2014 Toyota Tacoma and was stopped in traffic waiting to make a left-hand turn from Harborside Road onto Harbor Drive in Mount Desert. Peter Beckett, 55, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2020 Volvo V90 and was stopped behind Dahn. Vernard King, 73, of Bradley, was driving a 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, was allegedly distracted and did not stop, running into the rear of Beckett’s vehicle and pushing it into Dahn’s vehicle. There were complaints of pain but no reported injuries. The Tacoma suffered minor rear end damage. The Volvo suffered extensive damage to the front and rear ends. The Crosstrek suffered disabling front end damage.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier spoke with an individual in Bar Harbor about housing and financial crisis.
Sgt. Sundberg provided information to a Bar Harbor resident about a possible threat towards them. No further information or disposition was given.
Capt. Chris Wharff stopped to check on a disabled vehicle on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. The owner of the vehicle had assistance with them already and said that they were all set.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Officers assisted MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor with a complaint.
Officer Stanwood assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call in Bar Harbor.
After conducting an investigation in Bar Harbor, Officer Burnett arrested Ganesh Reddy, 55, of Bar Harbor, for alleged domestic violence assault and alleged domestic violence terrorizing. Reddy was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
An officer assisted a man who was having issues with his cell phone in Bar Harbor.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle on Route 102 heading towards Southwest Harbor. All officers were out of position, so the complaint was passed on to the Southwest Harbor Police Department.
Officer Zack Kline performed a requested well-being check on a woman sitting on the side of the road on Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. Officer Kline assisted the woman by finding her a place to stay and she was all set.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Sgt. Doug Brundrett and Officer Edgecomb assisted with the YMCA half marathon and 10K road races.
Caleb Mora, 31, of Ellsworth was driving a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek and had pulled into the Bar Harbor Police Department parking lot and was behind a town-owned police vehicle, a 2021 Ford F-150 driven by Kevin Edgecomb, 56, of Mount Desert. Edgecomb allegedly began to back up and struck Mora’s vehicle. There was no reported injury. The Subaru suffered functional front-end damage and the Ford suffered rear passenger side bumper damage.
Sgt. Sundberg spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about “ongoing” issues.
Someone in Northeast Harbor reported some missing jewelry but called the police department right back and said that they had located it.
Officer Burnett assisted the Ellsworth Police Department with serving some paperwork to someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora responded to a reported probation violation in Bar Harbor and after contacting the person’s probation officer, removed them from the property they were at.
Officer Mora responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Mora arrested Trevor Labree, 32, of Old Town, on an active failure to appear warrant in Trenton.
Monday, June 2, 2025
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Office Keene arrested Benjamin Rust, 27, of Connecticut, for alleged operating under the influence. Rust was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer T. Cake left notices on to vehicles in Mount Desert after it was determined that they were being used for camping in public.
Sgt. Brundrett assisted with traffic control at the scene of a reported structure fire on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor. It was determined to be a furnace malfunction with no fire present.
Capt. Wharff responded to the area of 105 Eden Street in Bar Harbor for a reported crash. Upon his arrival, Capt. Wharff determined that it was a disabled vehicle that had been pulled off the roadway.
Officer O’Neil responded to an iPhone crash notification in Bar Harbor and after investigation, determined that the phone had fallen off the roof of the vehicle and into the roadway. The phone was returned to its owner.
Officer O’Neil received information from someone in Mount Desert.
Sgt. Dickens spoke with someone in Bar Harbor regarding possible online harassment.
Officer Harrington spoke with a visitor to Bar Harbor regarding some concerns that the visitor had.
Officer Harrington took a request for a well-being check on someone who was believed to be in Bar Harbor but could not locate the person.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT
The following incidents occurred in Southwest Harbor or Tremont last week according to the Southwest Harbor Police Department police log, which is publicly released information.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Officer Rick Graham served a cease harassment order to a Southwest Harbor resident.
Officer Graham received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner in Southwest Harbor. Officer Graham located the vehicle at a bank drive thru, with the driver unconscious and subsequently arrested Andrew McPheters, 42, of West Enfield, for alleged operating under the influence (of drugs).
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Officer Bradley Russell assisted the Ellsworth Police Department in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney responded to a report of a wild animal in distress in Tremont. Sgt. Blakeney observed the animal not acting normally and unable to move and he dispatched the animal.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a report of a potential protection order violation in Tremont.
Sgt. Blakeny performed a requested lift assist in Southwest Harbor.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Officer James Kamorksi responded with the ambulance to a medical call in Tremont.
At approximately 7:52 p.m., Officer Kamorksi received a report of a missing person in Southwest Harbor and was able to verify that they were in fact missing. The person was located at approximately 3:30 a.m. by the Bar Harbor Police Department and the person said that they had gotten lost and had been driving around all night.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Officer Kamorski responded to a report of an intoxicated person at a Tremont residence. After investigation, Officer Kamorksi had DC Towing take the person and their vehicle to a place of the person’s choosing.
Officers Kamorski and Russell attended the Harbor House Touch a Truck event in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Krisitn Roulet assisted the ambulance service on a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell responded to a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor due to vehicles being parked on both sides of the road. Officer Russell was able to speak with someone involved in the event and resolve the situation.
Officer Roulet responded to a complaint of an out-of-control juvenile in Southwest Harbor and was able to calm the juvenile down and resolve the issue.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
A Southwest Harbor resident participated in a ride along with Officer Graham.
Officer Graham received a report of a residential burglar alarm at a Southwest Harbor residence but the caretaker called and said that everything was all set.
Officer Graham helped the ambulance service with a lift assist in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Graham served a Southwest Harbor resident with paperwork on behalf of the Ellsworth Police Department.
After receiving a report of a run-away 12—year-old in Southwest Harbor, Officer Graham located the child immediately and returned them home.
Officer Graham performed a probation check on a Tremont resident and found them to be in compliance with the conditions of their probation.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Officer Kamorksi responded to an alarm at a Southwest Harbor business and could not find any signs of forced entry or anything suspicious.
Officer Kamorski assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Kamorski helped someone in Southwest Harbor get back into their apartment after they had become locked out.
After having been requested to be on the lookout for a specific vehicle and person by the Maine State Police, the Southwest Harbor Police Department received a report of a deceased man in Tremont in the area of 21 Rice Road. Officer Kamorski, who had been looking for the subject of the state police request, responded to Tremont and discovered that the deceased man was the individual that the state police were looking for.
Access to that part of the Rice Road and the Bernard Wharf was shut down. Southwest Harbor Police Chief John Hall said that some people initially thought the man had been found on the wharf but access to the wharf was prohibited due to the fact that the wharf cameras look out over the area where the man was found and the entire scene and the integrity of the camera system had to be preserved.
STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASES
These are the Maine State Police press releases from the last few days. The Bar Harbor Story will include these each week though most (and sometimes all) do not occur on Mount Desert Island.
MDEA Agents Arrest 11 in After Executing Two Search Warrants in Washington County
ROQUE BLUFFS and CENTERVILLE—On the morning of Thursday May 29, with the assistance of the Maine State Police Tactical Team, two search warrants were simultaneously executed in the Washington County towns of Roque Bluffs and Centerville. The search warrants were the result of a months long drug trafficking investigation at 75 Duck Cove Road in Roque Bluffs and 43 Mitten Mountain Road in Centerville which included undercover purchases of fentanyl and cocaine base (crack).
At the Roque Bluffs location, Agents seized approximately 15 grams of methamphetamine and $838.00 in suspected drug proceeds.
At the Mountain Road location Agents seized over 150 grams of fentanyl, 5 grams of cocaine base (crack) and $4,986 in suspected drug proceeds.
The total estimated street value of drugs seized in this investigation is over $15,000.
Arrested at 75 Duck Cove Road, Roque Bluffs:
Kristopher Preston, 38, of Roque Bluffs - Class B unlawful trafficking of schedule W drug (cocaine base). No bail.
Jacob Locke, 27, of Machias - Class B unlawful trafficking of schedule W drug (cocaine base). MDEA arrest warrant. No bail. Locke was currently released on pre-conviction bail for burglary and theft of services.
Nicholas Merchant, 35, of Roque Bluffs – Class B unlawful trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl and class E trafficking of imitation drugs. Merchant was located by the tactical team hiding in the dryer of the residence. MDEA arrest warrant. No bail. Merchant was currently released on pre-conviction bail for unlawful possession and violation of conditions of release.
Darius Montgomery, 29, of South Ozone Park (Queens), New York – Class B unlawful trafficking in methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base. No bail.
Andrew White, 35, of New York, New York – Class B unlawful trafficking in methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine case. No bail.
Samantha Jo Moore, 22, of Machiasport – Unrelated warrant for failure to appear for aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs.
Bree Landry, 27, of Bangor – Unrelated warrant for failure to appear for OUI drugs (Washington County), a warrant for failure to appear for two counts of class D unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and a warrant for class D theft, class E operating after suspension, and violation of conditions of release.
Arrested at 43 Mitten Mountain Road, Centerville:
Willie Merchant, 36, of Centerville – Class B unlawful trafficking of fentanyl. MDEA warrant. No bail.
Nestor Andres Mejia Mateo, 25, of Dominican Republic – Class A aggravated trafficking of fentanyl. The charge is aggravated based on the weight of the fentanyl seized. No bail.
Samantha Roberts – Unrelated warrant – Failure to appear for class D forgery.
At the time of the search warrant execution, Nakia Albee, 25, of Jonesport, was arrested during a motor vehicle stop on the Mitten Mountain Road in Centerville by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Albee was arrested on an unrelated arrest warrant for failure to appear for theft, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violation of conditions of release. During the arrest, Albee was found to be in possession of 22.6g of suspected cocaine base and was subsequently charged with class B unlawful trafficking in cocaine base.
More arrests and charges are expected based on this investigation.
Maine Drug Enforcement’s Down East Task Force was assisted by Washington County Sherriff’s Office, Maine State Police, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security (HSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Border Patrol, and the Machias Police Department.
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, cocaine and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.
If you or someone you know suffers from 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.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Apartment Building Fire in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD—On June 1, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Fairfield Fire Department requested the assistance of the Office of State Fire Marshal following a fire at 16 Summit Street in Fairfield. The fire occurred in a five-unit apartment building. Two of the units were occupied at the time. All four residents were able to escape safely, and no injuries were reported.
The occupants have been displaced due to the damage. Investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set and the incident remains under active investigation.
Agencies assisting at the scene included fire departments from Waterville, Oakland, Clinton, Albion, Winslow, and Skowhegan, along with the Fairfield Police Department and Delta Ambulance.
Maine State Police Investigating Death in Lewiston
LEWISTON—On Monday, June 2, 2025, at 5:10 a.m. the Lewiston Police responded to a residence on Old Greene Road for a death investigation. The Lewiston Police Department requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South. Both agencies began investigating the death of a 42-year-old female at the residence.
The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Lewiston where an autopsy will be performed to determine cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing and there is no threat to the public. More information will be released when it becomes available.
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.
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.