Police Logs: ANP Bubble Rescue Update

State Police Locate Wanted Brothers in House Wall

Jun 25, 2024

BAR HARBOR—On June 24, according to Acadia National Park Public Affairs Officer Amanda Pollock, "a 24 year old male was rock climbing near South Bubble trail and slid/fell about 50 feet. The National Park Service and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue (MDI SAR) responded. They performed a high angle rescue with a litter to evacuate the individual. The individual walked off trail with rangers and denied an ambulance. He self-transported to the hospital."

Acadia Park Rangers shut down the South Bubbles parking lot and the climber's lot just to the south so that they, with the assistance of MDI Search & Rescue, could perform a technical rescue.

On June 25, at press time, rangers and rescue personnel are helping a 71-year-old woman who fell from a standing height on the South Bubble summit and may have a broken hip. Once again, the South Bubbles parking lot and the climber’s lot just to the south are closed to facilitate rescue operations.

At the same time as the South Bubble rescue, rangers and rescue personnel are helping a 60-year-old man who fell from a standing height on the Gotham Mountain Trail and has a possible knee injury.

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, June 17, 2024

Officer Judson Cake warned someone for a municipal violation in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officers performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Liam Harrington summonsed Corey Skeate, 39, of Eastbrook, for alleged attachment of false plates.

Officer Lukas Keene responded to a report of a possible disorderly incident occurring at Ell’s Pier in Bar Harbor and after investigation determined that there was no issue.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

John Kuchta, 80, of Hanover, Maine, was driving a 2004 Honda Rebel motorcycle south on Eden Street in Bar Harbor. Kuchta was allegedly following too closely behind the vehicle in front of him and had to apply his brakes heavily when the vehicle in front of him slowed in traffic. Kuchta allegedly lost control of the motorcycle and it fell over on its side in the middle of the southbound lane. Kuchta had a passenger riding with him and no identifying information was reported for the passenger. Both Kuchta and his passenger suffered abrasions and road rash. The passenger was transported to MDI Hospital and Kuchta was not. The motorcycle received dents and scratches.

Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about receiving mental health resources.

An officer responded to a Salisbury Cove business regarding a civil issue and generated a police report.

Officer Harrington took a report of a loose dog in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Elias Burne took a report of a hit and run. He is currently investigating.

A resident of Bar Harbor went to the Bar Harbor Police Department requesting that information be put on file.

Officer Harrington responded to a reported parking issue in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

A Bar Harbor resident reported some suspicious activity.

Sgt. Jerrod Hardy spoke with someone who was operating some loud equipment at night in Mount Desert.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Keene arrested Sydney Postle, 36, of Rhode Island, for alleged operating under the influence. Postle was also charged with alleged refusing to sign a uniform summons and complaint and was issued a summons for an alleged traffic offense. Postle was transported to the Hancock County Jail.

Sgt. Soren Sundberg provided a Bar Harbor business with some traffic cones to help with roadway safety.

An officer spoke with someone who works in Bar Harbor regarding police information and a police report was generated.

An officer responded to a parking problem on Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor and issued the offending vehicle a parking ticket.

Officer Ted Cake spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who was having some mental health issues. The person advised that they did not want any police assistance.

Someone made a late report to the Bar Harbor Police Department regarding a vehicle that had been operating erratically.

Sgt. Hardy performed a keep the peace at an event in Bar Harbor.

Officer Burne helped someone in Bar Harbor make contact with another law enforcement agency.

Sgt. Chris Dickens responded to a report of a puppy wandering away from its residence on the Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor. The puppy was retrieved by its owner.

Officer J. Cake located an open door at a Bar Harbor business and notified the owner.

Officer Kaleb Payson removed a deceased deer from the travel lanes of Main Street in Bar Harbor. The deer was later picked up by the Bar Harbor Highway Department.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Officer Caleb Mora disposed of a deceased animal in Bar Harbor.

In Bar Harbor, Officer Mora responded to someone worried about dogs in a car, but the vehicle was gone by the time he arrived.

Sgt. Sundberg was provided information regarding juveniles in Mount Desert.

Sgt. Sundberg spoke with a Mount Desert property owner regarding damage that was caused by a company that was hired by their neighbors.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took possession of a firearm from a visitor who was going to travel on the Cat Ferry. The police department will coordinate getting the firearm back to the owner when they are back in the country.

Officer T. Cake gave a deer tag to someone in Bar Harbor who had located a deceased deer.

Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to report some information.

Someone called the Mount Desert Police Department to provide some information regarding a non-criminal matter.

The Bar Harbor Police Department is investigating a report of an assault. No further information or disposition was given.

Someone in Mount Desert reported some missing property.

Officer T. Cake spoke with someone regarding a dispute in Bar Harbor. After speaking with both parties involved, he determined that no crime had occurred.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took a motor vehicle complaint. The vehicle had left the island and off island agencies were advised of the complaint.

Officer Troy Stanwood received a dogs in a hot car complaint in Bar Harbor and found the dogs to be in a car with the air conditioning running and that they were not in distress.

Officer Burne took a report of a tree that had fallen on a residence in Bar Harbor during a rainstorm.

Sgt. Sundberg assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.

Officer Burne assisted someone in Bar Harbor who had a dead car battery.

Officer Burne took a report of harassment in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer J. Cake warned a driver for some criminal and civil motor vehicle violations in Bar Harbor.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Officer Payson conducted a business security check in Bar Harbor.

Officer Payson responded to a report of an injured owl in Bar Harbor, but the owl flew away when he approached.

Sgt. Sundberg transported someone in Bar Harbor to the hospital at their request.

After responding to a report of dogs in a car in Bar Harbor, Officer T. Cake warned the owners of the dogs not to leave the dogs unattended in a car when they showed up.

The Bar Harbor/Mount Desert Police Department investigated a missing person complaint. The person was located later in the day. Assisting in the investigation were Acadia National Park, the Maine Warden Service, the Maine State Police, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, and the Dover, New Hampshire Police Department.

Officer Ted Cake conducted a keep the peace for a person moving out of their apartment in Bar Harbor.

The Bar Harbor Police Department investigated a second missing person complaint. That person was located safe on June 24.

The Bar Harbor Police Department conducted a well-being check and found the subject of the check to be healthy.

Officer Stanwood spoke with a group of teenagers from the EDGE Program in Bar Harbor. He talked to them about careers in the military and law enforcement.

Officer Stanwood took a report of a dog biting a human in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Stanwood took a report of a theft of money from a roadside firewood stand in Hall Quarry.

Someone reported a barking dog in Bar Harbor and Officer Stanwood found the complaint to be unsubstantiated.

Someone reported an intoxicated person walking in the street in Bar Harbor but nobody was located upon officer arrival.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Officer Stanwood responded to a report of a vehicle off the road in Bar Harbor but discovered that the driver had pulled over to take a nap and had not gone off the road.

Officer Stanwood gave someone a ride home in Bar Harbor.

Someone reported a parking problem in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, but did not observe any violations.

Officer J. Cake assisted the owner of a herd of cows with getting them out of the roadway in Bar Harbor and back home.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Following a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Stanwood arrested Fionnbharr McMahon-Allwine, 28, of Surry, Maine, for alleged operating under the influence. McMahon-Allwine was also issued multiple traffic citations or alleged moving violations and transported to the Hancock County Jail.

Someone requested a well-being check on a person visiting in Mount Desert. Before Officer Payson could complete the task, the requesting person called back and said that they had made contact with their friend and they were all set.

Someone struck a deer in Bar Harbor but there was no damage to the vehicle.

Sgt. Hardy spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who was intoxicated and making false reports to the police department.

Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to report some information.

Officer Keene responded to a fallen tree that was blocking both travel lanes on Indian Point Road in Mount Desert and notified Versant because the tree was in power lines.

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, June 17, 2024

Officer Ryan Blakeney responded to an alarm at a building in Southwest Harbor and upon arrival met with a person onsite who said it was a false fire alarm.

Officer Blakeney and Officer Bradley Russell received a complaint regarding a dog that ran up to someone and was aggressive in Southwest Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Russell received a call from someone in Southwest Harbor and received some information from that person regarding a previous possible harassment issue.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Officer Russell covered a two-vehicle collision on Main Street in Southwest Harbor. There were no injuries. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Russell arrested Alexander Ramsay, 25, of Southwest Harbor, for alleged operating after suspension, alleged failure to give correct name, address, and date of birth, alleged refusing to submit to arrest of detention, and alleged obstructing a public way in Southwest Harbor. Ramsay was transported to the Hancock County Jail.

The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a complaint regarding speeding on the complainant’s road.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Officer Russell performed an escort at the escorted person’s request in Southwest Harbor.

Officer James Kamorski handled a complaint regarding a vehicle that was improperly parked on Long Pond Road in Southwest Harbor. Officer Kamorski discovered that the vehicle had smashed out windows and a tire broken off. Southwest Harbor Police dispatch made contact with the owner who stated that they were in the process of having the vehicle towed.

Officer Kamorski received a complaint of a back door alarm at a local business in Southwest Harbor, but his response was cancelled by the alarm company before he could respond.

Officer Kamorski performed a well-being check on a Southwest Harbor man at the request of a family member from California. Officer Kamorski was able to determine that the man was fine and working on a house in Tremont.

Officer Kamorski facilitated getting a small deer in Southwest Harbor to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

No reportable incidents.

Friday, June 21, 2024

Officer Kamorski responded to a request to help someone get back into their apartment that they were locked out of in Southwest Harbor. Upon arrival, Officer Kamorski found that the person had been let back into their apartment by the property manager.

Lt. Franklin Burke responded to a report of a body in a ditch in Southwest Harbor and upon arrival learned that an intoxicated man had passed out. Lt. Burke gave the man a ride home.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Lt. Burke responded to Dow Point Road in Tremont at the request of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office for a domestic altercation. As a result, Gregory Harper, 40, of Tremont, was arrested for alleged violation of conditions of release.

After receiving a loud party complaint in Southwest Harbor, Lt. Burke made contact with the partiers who agreed to turn their music off.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Officer Blakeney responded to a complaint of bad passes by a motor vehicle in Southwest Harbor, made contact with the operator of the suspect vehicle, and investigated the complaint. No further information or disposition was given.

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 Arrest Suspects Who Fled School Bus Crash in Limington

LIMINGTON—On Friday, June 14, 2024, at approximately 2:18 p.m., the Maine State Police and Limington Fire Department responded to the area of 419 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for a car crash involving a school bus. Troopers arrived on scene and discovered that the school bus had been heading southbound on Sokokis Avenue prior to the crash. As the bus approached Axelsen Road, it began to slow down. The vehicle behind the bus, a four-door sedan, failed to slow down in time, and crashed into the back side of the bus. The damage to both the bus and the sedan was severe and both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Troopers also learned that the occupants of the sedan, two white males who appeared to be in their twenties or thirties, exited the sedan and fled the scene on foot, heading into the woods nearby. A K-9 track was conducted and an article of clothing belonging to one of the suspects was located.

The school bus was transporting 13 children at the time of the accident. No children were reported to have been injured during the incident. The bus driver was also not injured.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at approximately 9:00 p.m., the Maine State Police Southern Field Troop, assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 361 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for the two males that fled on foot. The two males were identified as 33-year-old Robert Hargis and his brother 30-year-old Patrick Hargis of Hiram.

Troopers developed information that the brothers were staying at the Sokokis Ave address. After a search of the property, with the help of a K-9, the brothers were located hiding inside a wall in an upstairs bedroom. They were both taken into custody without incident and transported to the York County Jail.

Robert had nine active arrest warrants. Patrick had one and is also on probation. Patrick was charged with felony reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. He will also be charged with operating after suspension, operating with a suspended registration, leaving the scene of an accident, and three counts of violating conditions of release.

Belgrade Man Arrested After Standoff in Readfield

READFIELD—On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at approximately 6:02 p.m., the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a domestic violence complaint from a 70-year-old woman in Readfield. The woman told dispatchers her ex-husband, 71-year-old Carl Hiebert of Belgrade, had a firearm and assaulted her at her Morrill Road home. Also in the home at the time was the couple’s 41-year-old son who resides at the residence.

Troopers arrived on scene and found the female victim in the driveway. She was safely removed from the location and treated by Winthrop Rescue. A perimeter was set up around the residence with the help of Troop G, Troop I, and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. The son was able to remove himself from the residence and was unharmed.

The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded and was able to take Hiebert into custody. Hiebert was arrested and charged with domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, reckless conduct with a firearm, and domestic violence assault. Hiebert was transported to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility.

Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Limington

LIMINGTON—On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at approximately 12:12 p.m., troopers responded to the four-way intersection of Route 117 and Route 11 in Limington for a three-vehicle crash. Two vehicles were still in the roadway, and one struck the front porch of a house at the intersection.

A Subaru Impreza and a Lexus RX300 were traveling in opposite directions on Route 11 and a Jeep Cherokee was traveling north on Route 117 when the crash occurred. The rear passenger in the Subaru Impreza, 32-year-old Casey Lubell, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, was pronounced dead on scene. Three other occupants in the Subaru Impreza were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Lexus RX300 was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The circumstances which led to the crash are still under investigation. The road was shut down for approximately three hours.

The State Police was assisted by Gorham PD, Limington Fire and Rescue, Hollis Fire and Rescue, and Standish Fire and Rescue.

Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fatal Fire in Milo

MILO—On Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 4:17 a.m., the Milo Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 61 Elm Street in Milo. The structure was a free-standing garage/workshop located next to a single-family residence. The Fire Marshal’s Office was requested just after 5:00 a.m. after human remains were discovered in the fire scene.

Investigators responded to the scene and were able to remove the deceased and document the scene. The deceased has tentatively been identified 76-year-old Dwight Russell who lived at this property. The deceased will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta to confirm the identification. The fire is still under investigation.

The Milo Fire Department was assisted by Brownville, Sebec, and Dover Fire Departments. The Milo Police Department also assisted at the scene.

Maine State Police Investigating Shooting in Westmanland

On the evening of June 20, 2024, Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North detectives responded to a shooting incident on Westmanland Road in Westmanland. As a result of the shooting, on June 22, 2024, 22-year-old Brandon Belanger, of Presque Isle, died of his injuries.

The case and circumstances remain under investigation by the Major Crimes Unit-North. There is no danger to the public.