Monday Evening Mount Desert Crash Injures Two and Results in 9 Citations to Driver

Malvern Belmont Fire Alarm Triggers Large Response

Feb 13, 2024

BAR HARBOR––On February 12, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Daniel Saflicki, 22, of Hancock, was driving a 2011 Kia Soul south on the Indian Point Road in Mount Desert. As the Kia approached the intersection with Bartlett Landing Road, Saflicki allegedly failed to stop the car at the stop sign. It went through the intersection, and he lost control of the vehicle, and it struck a ditch on the southwest corner of the three-legged intersection.

Saflicki and his passenger were both injured in the crash. Saflicki was transported to MDI Hospital with facial injuries. His passenger had to be extracted from the vehicle and was then transported to MDI Hospital with what were described as “serious incapacitating injuries.” The vehicle had to be towed due to disabling damage.

As a result of the accident, Saflicki was issued numerous citations for alleged criminal and civil violations.

Aggravated driving to endanger, class C
Operating under the influence, class D
Operating after suspension, civil
Failure to display current and valid certificate of inspection, civil
Failure to produce evidence of insurance, civil
Imprudent speed, civil
Failure to stop at a stop sign, civil
Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle, civil
Operating with no seatbelt, civil

MALVERN BELMONT

On Sunday, February 11, at approximately 9 p.m., a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire in the furnace room at Malvern-Belmont, 80 Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor, caused a large response to what could have resulted in an extensive door-to-door evacuation . Malvern-Belmont is a Mount Desert Island and Ellsworth Housing Authorities property with 74 apartment units on site. Many of the residents are older and many have limited mobility.

Luckily, the event was triggered by a malfunctioning piece of equipment that did not require a full evacuation under the stress of an actual structure fire.

Mount Desert Fire Department, Southwest Harbor Fire Department, Trenton Fire Department, and Ellsworth Fire Department were also called out for mutual aid.

By 9:20 p.m., it was determined that the source of the smoke was a burned-out sump pump in the furnace room that had a float stuck in the up position causing the electric motor to burn out and create a large amount of smoke that had begun to spill out into a common area. All mutual aid was canceled except for Mount Desert.

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 5, 2024

Donna Walls, 66, of Mount Desert, was driving a 2019 Subaru Outback northeast on Cromwell Harbor Road at the intersection with Glen Mary Road in Bar Harbor when a deer entered the roadway. Walls allegedly swerved to avoid the deer, went off the road, and struck a tree. Walls complained of foot pain due to the crash and the Subaru sustained a moderate amount of damage to the front driver’s side corner.

Officer Chris Dickens served a subpoena in Bar Harbor on behalf of the Hancock County District Attorney’s Office.

Officer Caleb Mora served a man in Bar Harbor a subpoena.

Officer Elias Burne took a report of identity theft in Mount Desert.

Officer Liam Harrington provided someone in Bar Harbor with a ride home.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Officer Dickens responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in the area of Norway Drive in Bar Harbor, but the vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

Someone in Bar Harbor reported to Officer Mora that they had given out personal information to a scam.

The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a stranded seal in Bar Harbor. It was determined that the juvenile seal was simply sunbathing.

Officer Ted Cake answered some questions for someone in Mount Desert.

Officer Dickens took a report from a Mount Desert resident that someone had tried to access that person’s bank account. The matter is under investigation.

Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier assisted someone with unmet needs in Bar Harbor.

Officer Lucas Keene gave someone a ride from MDI Hospital back to their vehicle in Bar Harbor.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Officer Dickens took a report of a lost pet from a Mount Desert resident. No further information or disposition was given.

Lt. Kevin Edgecomb assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with attempting to locate a gas-like odor in the Town Hill area. No gas like odor could be located.

Officer Dickens received information regarding unsafe traffic conditions on the Crooked Road in Bar Harbor. The matter is under review.

Officer Dickens took a report of vehicles speeding on the County Road in Bar Harbor and arranged for extra patrols in the area.

Captain Chris Wharff received information from a local business in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

A man reported that his phone was stolen in Ellsworth and that he had tracked it to Bar Harbor. The phone was recovered.

Officer Dickens responded to a report of a suspicious person at an apartment complex in Bar Harbor. The person was gone by the time Officer Dickens arrived.

Someone called the Mount Desert Police Department to report some information.

Officer Amie Torrey attempted to locate a vehicle that was the subject of a motor vehicle complaint and was heading towards the island from Trenton, but she could not locate the vehicle.

Officer T. Cake spoke with someone regarding a civil issue in Bar Harbor.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Officer Troy Stanwood assisted a person who was having a mental health crisis in Bar Harbor.

Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor and determined that it was unfounded.

MHL Tozier conducted a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Program in Bar Harbor and found them to be fine.

Someone reported to Officer Jerrod Hardy in Bar Harbor that they had been involved in a romantic scam on the internet. The person was referred to a more local agency.

Officer Hardy responded to a road rage complaint in Bar Harbor, located the offending vehicle, and spoke with the driver. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Burne assisted a disabled motorist in Mount Desert.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Officer Dickens responded to a report of a truck losing trash on the Eagle Lake Road in Mount Desert. A Southwest Harbor officer located the suspect truck and the driver agreed to come back and retrieve the lost trash.

Officers responded to a report of someone passed out in their vehicle at the stoplight in Mount Desert. The officers could not locate any vehicles matching the given description.

Lt. Edgecomb performed a security check at a Town Hill residence and found everything to be all set.

Officer Keene took a report regarding a suspicious incident at the Bar Harbor Police Department.

The Bar Harbor dispatch received some information regarding a suspicious vehicle in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Burne assisted a person who was experiencing a mental health episode in Bar Harbor.

Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Keene summonsed Samuel Wilkinson, 24, of Newport, for alleged violation of conditions of release.

Officer Harrington received a request to perform a well-being check in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Officer Hardy conducted a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Program in Bar Harbor. She was found to be all set.

Officer Keene responded to a report of gunshots in Bar Harbor and found that someone was target shooting.

Officer Mora took a report of a woman harassing a man in Otter Creek.

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Lt. Edgecomb performed a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Program in Mount Desert and found them to be fine.

Officer Mora investigated a report of suspicious activity in Bar Harbor but determined that there was no criminal activity being committed.

Lt. Edgecomb investigated a report of gunshots in Mount Desert and determined that the person doing the shooting was doing so in a legal and safe manner.

Officers assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department. 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 Investigating Two Vehicle Crash in Eustis

On Saturday, February 10, 2024, at approximately 9:10 a.m., a 2010 Silver GMC passenger van, operated by 28-year-old Luis Mayancela-Yunga, of Biddeford, with four passengers, was traveling south on the Arnold Trail Road in Eustis when the driver lost control of the van and started skidding sideways on the roadway.

A 2016 black Toyota SUV operated by 26-year-old Jean-Francois Brassard, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, was traveling northbound and was unable to avoid the van that was in his lane. Both vehicles collided. Both drivers were not injured. Two passengers in the van were transported to local hospitals with critical injuries. Both are expected to survive. Brassard was wearing his seatbelt. All five occupants in the van were not. Speed and road conditions at the time are considered factors in the crash. The roadway was shut down for several hours.