Mass Casualty Exercise to Occur at MDI High School This Saturday, April 19
Facilities at the Rear of the High School Will Still Be Available for the Public's Use
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware.
BAR HARBOR—According to a press release from the Bar Harbor Fire Department, an island-wide mass casualty exercise will be conducted on Saturday April 19 from 9 a.m. thru 1 p.m. at Mount Desert Island High School.
The public may see many emergency vehicles and helicopters in the area of the high school and moving about MDI. This is a planned exercise that all MDI public safety agencies are participating in.
Also participating is Hancock County RCC, MDI Hospital, Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Hancock County, Maine, Emergency Management Agency, LifeFlight of Maine, Trenton Vol. Fire Dept., and Northern Light Medical Transport.
Public access to the high school track and back parking lot will still be available during that time. The public safety exercise is just occupying the parking lots by the gym and the baseball field.
Fraudulent Wire Transfer Scams
According to the Town of Bar Harbor’s website, the town “has been notified by a local bank of a fraudulent request to wire funds for a municipal permit to a non-town bank.”
The town would like to advise all businesses, taxpayers, and potential customers that the town does not request wire transfers to satisfy payments.
Customers with questions are asked to contact the town department they are working with if they have questions on payments or permits. The Finance Department can answer any general questions at 207-288-5096.
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, April 7, 2025
Officer Caleb Mora took a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but no officers were in a position to intercept and no description was given for follow up.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to a report of a truck blocking the roadway on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor near Acadia National Park headquarters but the truck was gone when he arrived.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier provided a ride to the emergency room for someone in Bar Harbor for a mental health evaluation.
Officer Ted Cake escorted someone to a residence in Bar Harbor to gather some personal belongings.
Someone reported some information to Officer T. Cake in Mount Desert.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
No reportable incidents.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Officer Amie Torrey assisted the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit with an investigation in Bar Harbor.
Someone called 911 to report ice on the roadway in Mount Desert.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Troy Stanwood arrested Reynaldo Hernandez-Cruz, 37, of Mexico City, Mexico, for an active arrest warrant out of Kennebec County for failure to appear on an operating under the influence charge. Hernandez was also charged with alleged operating under suspension and issued a citation for alleged speeding. Hernandez was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Sgt. Brundrett took a report from a Bar Harbor resident who said that they were having issues with several individuals.
On behalf of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Officer Nathan Formby warned a Bar Harbor resident for harassment.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby arrested Giorgio Gorno, 40, of Basiano, Italy, for alleged operating under the influence.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Officer Elias Burne took a delayed report of a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor.
Captain Chris Wharff spoke with a Bar Harbor resident who had questions about a trespassing issue.
Sgt. Chris Dickens and Officer Burne responded to a report of a possibly impaired driver in Bar Harbor but could not locate the vehicle.
Officer Shelby O’Neil issued someone in Mount Desert a trespass warning.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Officer Formby provided a ride home to someone in Bar Harbor from MDI Hospital.
Officer Stanwood spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about an ongoing harassment issue.
Someone reported some information to Officer T. Cake in Mount Desert.
While working a directed speeding enforcement assignment in Bar Harbor, Officer Mora stopped an allegedly speeding vehicle and summoned Tyler Bard, 24, of Fairfield, for alleged criminal speeding, 86 mph in a 45-mph zone.
Sgt. Dickens took a report of attempted fraud in Bar Harbor. No funds were lost.
Officer Justin Burnett assisted a Bar Harbor resident with getting home.
Officer Kaleb Payson took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor and made contact with the owner of the vehicle and spoke with them about their operation.
Officer Burnett removed a deceased deer from Indian Point Road in Mount Desert.
Officer Payson responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor. After deeming the complaint unsubstantiated, Officer Payson spoke with the parties involved.
After receiving a request for assistance from someone in Bar Harbor, Officer Payson gave the person a ride to a bus station.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Officer Mora received a complaint regarding a vehicle speeding in downtown Bar Harbor, located the vehicle, and warned the operator for speeding.
As a result of an investigation, Ericka Jeffers, 53, of Bar Harbor, was arrested for alleged domestic violence assault and alleged driving to endanger in Bar Harbor. Jeffers was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer T. Cake received information from someone in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Brundrett took a delayed report of two speeding vehicles on the Beech Hill Road in Mount Desert.
Officer Burnett spoke with a Bar Harbor resident regarding a previous incident.
Officer Zack Kline found a laundry basket full of clothes in the middle of the road in Bar Harbor and took it back to the police station for safekeeping.
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Officer T. Cake received information from someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake assisted another agency by transporting someone in Bar Harbor to their residence.
Officer Mora located a vehicle off the road in Bar Harbor after the driver failed to negotiate a turn and got stuck in the dirt shoulder. The vehicle was pulled out without any damage.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Sgt, Brundrett received some information in Bar Harbor regarding an ongoing investigation by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and passed it on to the sheriff’s department.
Sgt. Brundrett assisted a Bar Harbor woman with retrieving her phone from her friend.
A Mount Desert resident reported a scam to Officer Mora. The complainant was not victimized.
A Bar Harbor property manager requested that Sgt. Brundrett serve a former tenant a no trespass warning.
After receiving a report of goats in the roadway in Mount Desert, Officer Mora contacted the owner to collect them.
Sgt. Brundrett served a Bar Harbor woman a no trespass warning on behalf of the Orono Police Department.
A Bass Harbor woman reported a suspicious man on Main Street in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Brundrett and MHL Tozier met with a Bar Harbor resident regarding some ongoing relationship issues.
Following a traffic stop on Eden Street in Bar Harbor, Officer O’Neil arrested Carlos Anadon Zambrano, 35, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence. Zambrano was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Sgt. Brundrett responded to Route 3 in Bar Harbor for a report of a loose dog but could not located the dog.
Sgt. Brundrett performed a VIN number verification for a local towing company.
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, April 7, 2025
No reportable incidents.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Officer Rick Graham performed a well-being check on a Tremont resident and found them to be fine.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney spoke with a Tremont resident regarding a civil dispute and referred them to small claims court.
Sgt. Blakney responded to a Tremont residence, along with the ambulance service, for someone who was reporting that they were a danger to themself. The person was transported to the hospital for an evaluation.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Chief John Hall documented the forfeiture and seizure of a resident’s property for the Town of Tremont, said property to be sold by sealed bid.
Officer James Kamorksi received a report of a dog bite in Southwest Harbor. Officer Kamorski was able to locate the dog and its owner who was able to provide Officer Kamorski with up-to-date vaccination records.
Sgt. Blakeney handled a civil issue between two people in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Graham fingerprinted a man in Southwest Harbor who was ordered to provide his fingerprints in reference to an alleged operating under the influence charge.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Officer Kamorski is investigating a reported scam involving a Tremont resident.
Officer Kamorksi received a report of a motor vehicle driving dangerously in Southwest Harbor but was not able to locate the vehicle.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
An anonymous caller reported two dogs running loose near Horseshoe Lane in Tremont but the responding officer was not able to locate the dogs.
A Southwest Harbor resident reported that an alleged Census Bureau worker had come to her residence conducting a survey. The caller was concerned that the alleged Census Bureau worker was misrepresenting herself because it was not censusing time. An investigation revealed that the Census Bureau worker was legitimate and was conducting a specific survey.
Officer Graham and the ambulance service responded to a medical alert alarm in Tremont but found out that the medical alert wearer was in Florida. Her family was notified of the event.
Officer Graham responded to an ambulance request in Tremont and stayed with the patient until the ambulance arrived.
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Sgt. Blakeney received a missing person report a Southwest Harbor resident, located the person, and returned them home.
Officer Kristen Roulet responded to a Tremont residence with the ambulance service but was no longer needed when she arrived.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Officer Kamorski received a report of a loose dog in Southwest Harbor. The caller had been able to catch the dog and gave it to Officer Kamorski who took the dog back to the police station where it was retrieved by its owner a short time later.
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.
Maine Drug Enforcement and Skowhegan Police Department Arrest Woman for Aggravated Drug Trafficking
SKOWHEGAN—As a result of a joint investigation into drug trafficking in the Town of Skowhegan by MDEA agents and Skowhegan police officers, Jessica Salisbury, 48, of Cornville, Maine, was arrested for two counts of aggravated trafficking schedule W drugs (class A) and violation of conditions of release (class C).
On April 9, 2025, Skowhegan Police conducted a vehicle stop on one of the targets of the investigation, Salisbury. During the stop, a Skowhegan Police K9 was deployed and alerted on the vehicle. Skowhegan officers conducted a search of the vehicle.
Officers located a “STASH” coffee tumbler. The tumbler has a false bottom often used to conceal illegal substances. Located in the false bottom was 10.9 grams cocaine HCL, 20.98 grams cocaine base (crack), and 13.86 grams of methamphetamine.
Salisbury has a prior conviction in 2006 for unlawful drug trafficking class B and is currently released on two sets of bail conditions.
Bail was set at $50,000 but due to the violation of bail charges, Salisbury must appear before a Judge.
Salisbury is currently being held at the Somerset County Jail.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assisting MDEA in this investigation were representatives from the Skowhegan Police Department.
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 that are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl 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.
The tumbler is 10 inches in height and the concealed portion is 3.5 inches in depth.
Fire Marshals Arrest Waterville Man for Arson
WATERVILLE—On Thursday, April 10, 2025, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Waterville Fire/Rescue was responding to a medical call when they observed a fire next to a dumpster and a building in the area of 44 College Avenue. Waterville Police and Fire Departments responded and found 47-year-old Jason Woods, of Waterville, laying on the ground with a bunch of debris on fire around him. Waterville police officers pulled the debris away to prevent Woods from burning himself. There was minor damage to the dumpster. It was determined that the fire was intentionally set. Woods was taken to the Kennebec County Jail and charged with arson.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Industrial Fire in Gorham
GORHAM—On Friday, April 11, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Gorham Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 7 County Road. The incident occurred at a 20,000-square-foot facility used for cultivating medical marijuana. The fire was initially detected by two employees who attempted to extinguish it using dry chemical fire extinguishers. While the fire was knocked down, it was not fully extinguished until the arrival of fire crews.
First responders were able to fully extinguish the remaining fire and cut power to portions of the building to ensure safety. The two employees were treated on scene by EMS for smoke inhalation and were subsequently released.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire originated from a broken light fixture bulb, which fell onto a plastic table and smoldered before igniting. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Gorham Fire Department and the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. Mutual aid was provided by Buxton Fire and EMS, Windham Fire Department, and Westbrook Fire Department.
Fire Marshal’s Office investigates Residential Fire in Kennebunk
KENNEBUNK—On Saturday, April 12, 2025 at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Kennebunk Fire Department responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 7 Wonderbrook Drive, Unit 7. A neighbor saw the fire, but was not able to gain entry into the victim’s residence. The neighbor relayed information to 911, and upon arrival, the fire department initiated fire suppression efforts at the rear of the condominium, extinguished the fire within three minutes and rescued the victim from a second-story bedroom. These swift actions played a crucial role in containing the fire and preventing further damage.
The homeowner was transported by Kennebunk EMS to York Hospital due to smoke inhalation and was later released from the hospital after receiving medical care. No further injuries were reported.
The Fire Marshal’s Office was subsequently requested to investigate the cause of the fire. Preliminary findings indicate the fire was accidental. The FMO determined that the homeowner had placed hot ashes from her fireplace into a plastic bucket the previous day and positioned it on the deck near the door, leading to the ignition of the fire. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper ash disposal practices.
Lewiston Man Killed in Crash
READFIELD—On April 13, 2025, at 12:44 a.m., state police received a report of a single vehicle fatal crash near 212 Chimney Road in Readfield. Troopers confirmed Steven Gregoire, 43, of Lewiston, was operating his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee along Chimney Road when he appeared to drift off the shoulder, causing the Jeep to strike several trees.
The preliminary investigation indicated Gregoire may have fallen asleep and was killed instantly in the crash. If you have any information about this crash, please call State Police at 207-624-7076.
Tractor Trailer Rollover Closes I-95 Northbound in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD—On Sunday, April 13, 2025, at approximately 9:55 p.m., troopers responded to a report of a tractor trailer rollover on Interstate 95 at mile marker 150 northbound in Pittsfield. The initial investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle was traveling too close to the shoulder in the one-lane construction zone causing the tractor trailer to roll over. The driver was hauling a flatbed trailer with a load of construction supplies. The driver was not injured in the crash. There were no workers present at the construction site at the time of the crash.
The state police were assisted by the Pittsfield Fire Department and Dostie’s Towing.
Maine State Police Investigating Multi-Vehicle Crash in Kennebunk
KENNEBUNK—On Monday April 14, 2025, at approximately 8:48 a.m., Troop G responded to a multi vehicle crash at mile marker 23 northbound on I-95 in Kennebunk. The crash involved a 2019 Nissan SUV owned and operated by 45-year-old Kelly Adams, of Lebanon, Maine, a 2022 Toyota SUV, and a 2004 Freightliner tractor trailer.
The initial investigation indicates that the vehicle operated by Kelly Adams rear-ended the 2022 Toyota SUV and then struck the tractor trailer which was legally stopped in the breakdown lane. Kelly Adams sustained significant injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center in serious condition.
The driver of the Toyota SUV was transported to Maine Medical Center for evaluation. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. The crash remains under investigation. No charges have been issued at this point, but the case will be reviewed by the York County District Attorney’s Office. The Turnpike was blocked for approximately two hours. Northbound traffic was diverted off at Exit 19 in Wells.
Assisting the Maine State Police was the Wells Fire Department, Wells EMS, Maine Turnpike Maintenance, National Towing, Southern Maine Towing, and Chandlers Towing.
Maine State Police Investigates Death in Hartland
HARTLAND—On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central in response to a death at a residence on Canaan Road in Hartland.
The deceased, an adult female, was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed on Monday, April 14, 2025. The results of the autopsy are pending, and the individual’s identity is being withheld pending family notification. The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.
At this time, there is no known threat 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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