Driver Identified in Dysart's Pier Accident
False Alarm Causes High School Lockdown
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—According to the weekly press release from the Southwest Harbor Police Department, at approximately 3:43 p.m., on Thursday, February 27, Officer James Kamorski “responded to a report of a vehicle that had driven off the pier at Apple Lane in Southwest Harbor.”
The pier was located at Dysart’s Great Harbor Marina.
Upon Officer Kamorski’s arrival, the driver of the vehicle, Wyatt Lawson, 22, of Bernard, was out of the vehicle and appeared to have scrapes on his hand and a possible head injury, according to the press release.
According to reports from the Southwest Harbor Fire Department’s Facebook page the day of the crash, Lawson’s vehicle, a 2011 Dodge Ram, had brake failure and Lawson was unable to stop the truck.
Upon reaching the edge of the pier, Lawson’s truck broke through the parking curb stop and the safety railing and plunged over the edge landing upside down with the hood of the truck in the shallow water of the low tide mud and the bed of the truck landed on a dock.
According to the SWHFD, Lawson was able to quickly exit the truck after it landed upside down.
The SWHFD placed absorbent booms in the water to absorb and contain any fluids that may have leaked from the truck and the truck was eventually lifted out of the water by Cody Seavey's barge, the Charles Bradley.
“The crew lifted the truck onto the barge and transported it to the Manset Dock where it was loaded onto a DC Towing ramp truck. Although it was slippery from the wet snowfall, all responders went home safely!” the fire department reported.
MDI HIGH SCHOOL RESPONSE
According to the weekly press release from the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department shortly before 3 p.m., Friday, February 28, Officers from the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department responded to an alarm at the Mount Desert Island High School
Upon arrival, officers were advised the school had entered into lockdown. Officers reportedly entered the school immediately and began clearing the building. No threats were located in the school by the officers and shortly thereafter, the lockdown was cleared.
A false alarm is believed to have been the cause of the lockdown. The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department was assisted on scene by law enforcement rangers form Acadia National Park.
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.
Monday, February 24, 2025
A Bar Harbor resident called the police station to report a vehicle squealing its tires outside of the complainant’s residence. The caller told Officer Zack Kline that they just wanted the incident documented.
A Bar Harbor resident called the police station to report receiving a strange text on their phone. The caller told Officer Kline that they had deleted the text and blocked the number before calling the police.
Officer Kline gave someone a ride from MDI Hospital back to the person’s residence.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Officers responded to Newport Drive in Bar Harbor for a reported domestic disturbance. The officers determined that the event was only verbal in nature and warned both people for disorderly conduct.
Officer Caleb Mora took a report of a broken-down vehicle in Bar Harbor. No law enforcement response was needed and a tow truck was called.
In Mount Desert, Officer Ted Cake assisted another agency.
Officer Mora took a request for a well-being check in Bar Harbor but “it was deemed a human resources issue and not an actual concern for the person’s well-being.”
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy took a complaint of a town ordinance violation regarding barking dogs in Mount Desert but could not substantiate the complaint. Sgt. Hardy spoke with the complainant about different ways to handle the situation.
Officer Justin Burnett assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
A subpoena that was received by the Bar Harbor Police Department was given to the Southwest Harbor Police Department to be served.
Officer Amie Torrey received a request to check on the well-being of someone in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle in Somesville that was heading in the direction of the head of the island. No officers were in a position to intercept the vehicle and the complaint was passed on to a neighboring agency.
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Officer Judson Cake gave a woman a ride home from the hospital.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg performed a VIN number verification for a Mount Desert business.
Both the Bar Harbor Police Department and the Mount Desert Police Department received information from concerned local people.
Officer Torrey received information about a possible accident in Mount Desert but nobody was in the area when she arrived.
Officer Shelby O’Neil gave a ride home to a Bar Harbor resident.
Sgt. Hardy checked on someone in Bar Harbor to see if they were complying with their bail conditions.
Friday, February 28, 2025
After the Bar Harbor Police Department received a complaint about vehicles speeding in the school zone in Bar Harbor, an out-of-state construction company was warned for speeding in the school zone and enforcement will be increased in the area.
Officer Mora received a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, but no vehicle registration information was available and there were no officers in position to find the vehicle.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint while all officers were busy at another complaint and the motor vehicle complaint was forwarded to another agency.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a complaint of something suspicious in Mount Desert but failed to locate anything suspicious.
Officer Mora performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be fine.
Someone reported a suspicious man in Bar Harbor to Officer Mora. He could not locate anyone matching the man’s description nor anyone who could corroborate the complaint.
Officer T. Cake assisted another agency in Mount Desert.
Officer Payson assisted the Mount Desert Fire Department on a medical call.
Officers responded to a possible domestic incident in Bar Harbor and found it to be only verbal in nature. Both people were separated for the night.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Officer Mora performed a citizen ridealong in Bar Harbor.
Following a traffic stop in Somesville, Officer Mora summoned Brennan Spofford, 45, of Tremont, for alleged operating after suspension.
Officer T. Cake is investigating a report of damaged property in Mount Desert.
Monday, March 3, 2025
Officer Torrey received a complaint of cardboard coming off of a vehicle in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Harrington took a report of a dog running loose in downtown Bar Harbor. The dog was reunited with its owner.
Officer Harrington took a report of workers working without a flagger in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Hardy received a report of something possibly suspicious in Bar Harbor but could not locate anything suspicious.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer O’Neil arrested LeeRyan Suvlu, 35, of Seal Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence. Suvlu was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
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.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Chief John Hall delivered sand to two senior Southwest Harbor residents.
Someone made a motor vehicle complaint to Chief Hall at the Southwest Harbor Police Station but had no information about the vehicle or driver.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Chief Hall spoke with a Tremont resident regarding a property dispute involving a divorce and advised the resident that this was a civil matter.
After receiving a complaint from someone in Southwest Harbor regarding another person who was allegedly driving by the complainant’s house multiple times and leaving things on their doorstep and after speaking with both people involved, Sgt. Ryan Blakeney issued the other person a no trespass warning.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Sgt. Blakeney took a late report of a motor vehicle crash in Southwest Harbor.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department was given notice of a work crew with safety flaggers doing work in Southwest Harbor on this day.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a residential burglar alarm in Tremont and found out that it was a work crew that was authorized to be at the residence.
Officer James Kamorksi is investigating a report of identity theft by a Tremont resident.
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Officer Kamorski assisted the Bar Harbor Police Department with transporting someone from MDI Hospital to the person’s residence in Tremont.
Officer Kamorski served a Southwest Harbor resident a subpoena on behalf of the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Officer Kamorski assisted with getting a vehicle moved in Southwest Harbor for snow removal.
Friday, February 28, 2025
A Tremont resident walked into the Southwest Harbor Police Department and reported that she had lost her husband. After speaking with the woman, Chief Hall determined that she was suffering from cognitive issues and was able to locate the woman’s husband who was out looking for her. Chief Hall escorted both people back to their residence and notified family members of the event.
Officer Rick Graham spoke with a woman from Tremont regarding a possible fraud case. No loss was incurred by the woman and she was provided with scam and fraud detection tips.
Officer Graham responded to help the ambulance service with a lift assist in Southwest Harbor. The person was not injured and was not transported to the hospital.
Officer Kamorski received a request for a directed patrol on a road in Tremont.
Officer Kamorski responded to a burglar alarm in Tremont and found the location to be secure with no signs of a break in attempt.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Officer Kamorski assisted the Maine Department of Health and Human Safety in Tremont.
Officer Kamorksi is investigating a harassment complaint made by a Southwest Harbor resident.
After receiving a complaint regarding a loose dog in Southwest Harbor, Officer Kamorksi failed to locate the loose dog.
Officer Kamorski received a complaint of loud bangs in Tremont but could not locate any noise upon his arrival in the area. Officer Kamorski advised the complainant that the police department will do more patrols in the area.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Megan Bennoch, 39, of Tremont, had parked her vehicle, a 2023 Kia Soul, at the Southwest Harbor Food Mart when it was struck by an unknown vehicle which caused functional damage to the left rear corner of Bennoch’s vehicle. The offending vehicle and driver are unknown.
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.
Fire Marshal’s Office Arrests Waterville Man for Attempted Murder and Arson in 2024 Fire
WATERVILLE—The Office of the State Fire Marshal, in collaboration with the Waterville Fire Department, Waterville Police Department, and the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office, has arrested and charged a man in connection with a structure fire that was intentionally set last year.
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, at approximately 12:54 a.m., Waterville fire and police responded to a fire at an apartment building located at 6 Front Place in Waterville. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and notified the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Upon arrival, FMO investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally set on a second-floor porch outside the rear entrance to the apartment. No one was injured in the fire. Following an extensive investigation, authorities identified 31-year-old Elijah Yeaton, of Waterville, as a suspect. Yeaton was known to the occupants of one the apartments and was familiar with the residence.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Yeaton, who was already in custody at the Kennebec County Jail on an unrelated incident, was formally arrested and charged with attempted murder and arson. The charges follow his indictment by a Kennebec County Grand Jury.
Man Arrested in Norridgewock Homicide
NORRIDGEWOCK—On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at approximately 9:25 a.m., the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central responded to a residence on River Road in Norridgewock at the request of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office had received a 911 call reporting a shooting at the home.
Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male, identified as 38-year-old Christopher Nickerson, who had been staying at the residence. Nickerson’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted.
Following an initial investigation, 59-year-old Daniel Markey, who resides at the home, was arrested and charged with murder. He was transported to the Somerset County Jail and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance yesterday at 1:00 p.m.
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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