No Rodent Is Safe!
BB Guns Draw Multiple Responses in Bar Harbor This Week
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank.
BAR HARBOR—On Tuesday, March 11, according to the Bar Harbor Police Department press releases, Officer Elias Burne responded to a report of a firearm that had been located in the woods of Bar Harbor. Upon locating the firearm and inspecting it, Officer Burne found it to be an old, rusty BB gun.
On Wednesday, March 12, after receiving a report of a man in the woods along Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor, possibly armed with a rifle, Sgt. Jerrod Hardy investigated and found it to be a man conducting rodent control on his property with a BB gun.
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, March 11, 2025
Officer Ted Cake handled a late report motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert in which no charges were filed after speaking with both parties.
Officer Burne responded to a report of a dead bird in the parking lot of a Bar Harbor business. Officer Burne saw nothing suspicious about the bird.
Officer T. Cake assisted another agency with looking for a vehicle and the vehicle’s driver in Bar Harbor but could not locate them. The vehicle and driver were later located in another jurisdiction.
Officer Burne responded to a mental illness call for service in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Burne responded to a second mental illness call for service in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Someone reported some information to Officer T. Cake in Bar Harbor who checked the area of the complaint and determined it to be unfounded.
Officer Amie Torrey received a fraud complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
While on patrol, Officer T. Cake came upon a vehicle with a flat tire along Sound Drive in Mount Desert. The occupants of the vehicle said that they were all set and fixing the issue.
Someone took a loose dog that they had located in Acadia National Park to the Bar Harbor Police Department. The dog was later retrieved by its owner.
After receiving a report of minors and juveniles smoking marijuana in Bar Harbor, Officer Caleb Mora arrested Meskah Beal, 20, of Ellsworth, for alleged unlawfully furnishing a scheduled Z drug and transported Beal to the Hancock County Jail. A 14-year-old from Bar Harbor was summoned for possession of marijuana and released to his guardian.
Officer Zack Kline attempted to stop a vehicle for speed in Bar Harbor and the vehicle failed to stop, taking off at a high rate of speed and heading off of the island on Route 3. Officer Kline discontinued his pursuit of the vehicle.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier followed up with someone who had requested assistance with a family member in crisis.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg is investigating reported information regarding possible drug activity in Bar Harbor.
Hollie Walker, 44, of Tremont, was driving a 2021 Subaru Outback north on Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor when a deer allegedly ran into the roadway causing Walker to swerve and strike a utility pole. There was no reported injury and the vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a truck travelling on Route 3 in Bar Harbor and losing items. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Chris Dickens took someone to the hospital at their request.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of suspicious activity on the Dorr Mountain Trail and found no issues.
Officer Kaleb Payson provided someone a ride in Bar Harbor.
After receiving a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert, Officer Shelby O’Neil located the vehicle and warned the driver for following too close.
Someone gave Officer O’Neil some information was she was on patrol in Bar Harbor.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Teenie Colby, 62, of Orono, was driving a 2024 Kia Forte south on Route 3 in Bar Harbor when Colby allegedly failed to maintain control of the vehicle, allowing it to strike a snowbank which caused the vehicle to overturn and come to rest on its roof. There was injury but the extent is not listed in the report and the vehicle was towed.
Officer Burne received a report of a commercial vehicle making bad passes and speeding through a school zone in Bar Harbor. Officer Burne could not locate the vehicle but did contact the company and make them aware.
Sgt. Sundberg received a report of a car striking a deer on Oak Hill Road in Mount Desert but the vehicle left the scene without reporting the incident.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received an anonymous letter providing information.
Sgt. Sundberg is investigating after recovering drugs and drug paraphernalia at a Bar Harbor residence.
Officer Burne provided a child with a ride home in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Sundberg, Sgt. Dickens, and MHL Tozier made a speaking appearance at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson assisted another agency with trying to locate a person in Bar Harbor but was not successful.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb worked a private security detail in Mount Desert.
Captain Chris Wharff received some information from a Bar Harbor resident.
Officer Mora took a report of a road rage incident in Bar Harbor but both parties left before he could intervene.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a dog running loose in the Cleftstone Road area in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer O’Neil gave someone in Bar Harbor a ride to the hospital.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Juliana Pinnick, no age given, of Virginia, was arrested by Officer Justin Burnett for alleged operating under the influence. Pinnick was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Kline performed a security check at a Mount Desert residence and found that everything appeared normal.
Someone in Mount Desert reported that their car alarm went off while the car was in their driveway. Officer Kline checked the area and then checked the vehicle with the complainant and found nothing normal and everything appearing normal.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer O’Neil arrested Anna M. Demeo, 35, of Florida, for alleged operating under the influence. Demeo was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
After receiving a report of a truck driving aggressively in Bar Harbor, Officer T. Cake was unable to locate the truck.
Officer Burne assisted a motorist in Bar Harbor with directions on how to get to Steuben.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Officer Burnett warned someone in Bar Harbor for obstructing a public way on Route 3.
Following a motor vehicle complaint and subsequent traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Mora arrested Robert Tracy, 64, of Southwest Harbor for alleged operating under the influence and alleged driving to endanger. Tracy was also summoned for alleged failure to inform a law enforcement officer of a loaded firearm in the vehicle. Tracy was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Monday, March 17, 2025
A Bar Harbor resident reported a downed phone line in front of their residence. Consolidated Communications was notified.
MHL Tozier spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about concerns the person has with internet hacking.
Officer T. Cake performed a well-being check on a Mount Desert resident and found them to be fine.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to Hulls Cove for a report of a suspicious vehicle and learned that the driver had made a wrong turn and the vehicle became stuck in a ditch alongside the driveway. A tow truck pulled the vehicle out of the ditch.
Officer Mora responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Troy Stanwood arrested Paul Harris, 31, of Sunrise, Florida, for alleged operating under the influence. Harris was transported to the Hancock County Jail. A passenger in the vehicle was warned for disorderly conduct and released from the scene.
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, March 10, 2025
Donald Eldridge, 21, of Bucksport, was driving a 2021 Chevy van on Main Street in Southwest Harbor when the van allegedly went off the road due to road conditions and struck a utility pole. There was no reported injury and any damage to the van was not described.
Officer James Kamorski responded to a report of a broken-down vehicle in the middle of the roadway in Southwest Harbor and he directed traffic until a tow truck could arrive and remove the vehicle.
Officer Kamorski performed a requested well-being check in Tremont and found the person to be okay.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Officer Charles “Rick” Graham received a report from a Tremont resident that the resident’s landlord had shut off his electricity.
Officer Graham responded to a call in Tremont regarding an intoxicated woman who was making suicidal statements. The woman was transported to the hospital.
Officer Kamorksi assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with getting back into their apartment after they had become locked out.
Officer Kamorski is investigating a report of a possible business break-in in Southwest Harbor. When Officer Kamorksi responded to the complaint, he cleared the building and did not find anyone inside.
Wednesday, Mach 12, 2025
No reportable incidents.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
No reportable incidents.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Someone reported dump trucks on the seasonally posted Fernald Point Road in Southwest Harbor, but after investigating, Officer Graham determined that they had a permit to drive on the road.
Officer Graham assisted the ambulance with a call in Tremont.
Someone reported a loose dog on the Seal Cove Road in Southwest Harbor, but the owner retrieved the dog before Officer Graham could arrive.
Officer Graham and the Southwest Harbor Animal Control officer are investigating a report of possible puppy abuse at a Southwest Harbor store.
Officer Graham served a Southwest Harbor man with a protection from abuse order and a firearms relinquishment order.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Officer Graham took a report from a Tremont landlord stating that his soon-to-be ex-tenant was throwing bottles at a storage trailer on the property. Officer Graham determined that they were plastic bottles which were causing no damage and the person throwing them had cleaned them up prior to Officer Graham’s departure from the scene.
Officer Graham responded, along with the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, to a lifeline alarm at a Southwest Harbor apartment building. The alarm turned out to be an accidental activation.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Officer Kamorski responded to a report of a suspicious person walking around a Southwest Harbor property and “resolved the issue” upon his arrival.
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 Investigating Bangor House Fire
BANGOR—On Monday, March 10, 2025, at approximately 5:40 a.m., the Bangor Fire Department and Bangor Police Department responded to a reported fire at 75 4th Street in Bangor. The building, a condemned single-family home that had been boarded up by the city, was initially reported to have people trapped inside. Upon arrival, firefighters conducted suppression and rescue operations.
No one was found inside the building, however, an individual who was in the house at the time of the fire sustained serious burn injuries. He was transported to a Bangor hospital and will be transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland for further treatment. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the response and were treated on scene.
The fire caused significant damage to the structure. Preliminary findings indicate that a propane gas explosion was the likely cause of the fire. Fire Marshal investigators worked alongside Bangor Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division throughout the day to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Bangor Fire Department’s technical rescue team played a critical role in securing the structure, allowing investigators to safely enter and conduct their work. The Maine Fuel Board has also been called in to assist with the investigation.
Maine State Police Investigating Fuel Truck Rollover on I-295 in Brunswick
BRUNSWICK—On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at approximately 2:43 a.m., troopers responded to a fuel truck rollover that occurred on I-295 northbound at mile marker 26 in Brunswick. A 2020 Kenworth fuel truck, owned by Irving Oil Company and loaded with kerosene, was being operated by 28-year-old Nicholas Garcia, of Cape Elizabeth, when it left the roadway to the right and overturned. Garcia was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.
The vehicle remained at the scene, and due to a fuel leak, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had been notified and responded. Copp Motors got the vehicle upright. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The northbound travel lane was closed during truck removal and clean up.
PRESS RELEASE ABOUT GOLD BAR SCAM
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Two Fatal Fires
Harpswell Fire Investigation
HARPSWELL—On Sunday, March 9, 2025, at approximately 12:42 a.m., the Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to respond to a fire at a home on Sea Mist Lane in Harpswell for a fire investigation. The fire had been extinguished by the Harpswell Fire Department, and no occupants were initially located. It was believed to be a seasonal residence.
Fire Marshal investigators conducted an extensive scene examination to determine the fire’s origin and cause. During their investigation, they discovered a deceased male inside the structure. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta will determine the individual’s identity. Due to the extent of the damage, the fire is currently classified as undetermined. The investigation remains ongoing.
Old Orchard Beach Fire Investigation
OLD ORCHARD BEACH—On Sunday, March 9, 2025, at approximately 9:23 a.m., the Old Orchard Beach Police and Fire Departments responded to 9 Usen Lane for a reported cardiac event. Upon arrival, first responders determined that the male resident was deceased in the living room and that a fire had occurred inside the residence. The Fire Marshal’s Office was dispatched to investigate.
The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old John Chadbourne. The cause and circumstances of the fire remain under investigation.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Maine State Police and Maine Attorney General’s Office Concludes Investigation into Farmington Homicides
FARMINGTON—On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at approximately 10:45 a.m., the Franklin County Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting the discovery of two deceased individuals at the Pawsitive Dog Kennel, located at 274 Red Schoolhouse Road in Farmington. The victims were later identified as 76-year-old Jean Robinson, of Farmington, and her daughter, 53-year-old Allison “Joy” Cumming, also of Farmington.
Farmington Police Officers, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies, and Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South responded to the scene, working throughout the evening to collect evidence and conduct interviews. The victims’ bodies were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where autopsies were performed on Thursday, December 28, 2023. The Medical Examiner determined that both Robinson and Cumming died from sharp force injuries, and their deaths were ruled homicides.
On Sunday, December 31, 2023, in a related incident, William Cumming Sr., called 911 to report his son, 56-year-old William Neville Cumming Jr., was deceased at his residence in Bar Harbor. Following an autopsy, the Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide.
Cumming Jr. was the son of Jean Robinson and brother of Joy Cumming. At the time of his death, the investigation into the murders of Jean Robinson and Joy Cumming was ongoing but suggested that William Cumming Jr. was responsible for both homicides. Upon completion of the investigation, including forensic testing conducted by the Maine State Crime Laboratory, it was determined that there was probable cause to arrest and charge William Cumming Jr. with the intentional or knowing murders of his mother and sister, had he not taken his own life.
Maine State Police Investigating Homicide in Palmyra
PALMYRA—On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at approximately 1:33 a.m., the Somerset County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence located at 531 Madawaska Road in Palmyra. Deputies from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office responded and discovered a deceased male inside the residence.
The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central, along with Evidence Response Technicians, responded to the scene and conducted an investigation throughout the day. The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Jaquan Humphries, of Mattapan, Massachusetts, who had been living at the residence. His body was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.
At this time, there is no known danger to the public. The investigation remains ongoing.
Maine State Police Seeking Public’s Help to Identify Female Discovered At Fort Williams
CAPE ELIZABETH—The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South is investigating after the body of an unidentified female was discovered washed up onshore at Fort Williams Park near the Portland Head Light on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at approximately 1:50 p.m. The deceased is described as a white female, estimated to be in her early 40s, approximately 5’3” tall, with brown hair and blue eyes.
She was wearing a medium-sized blue Fjallraven T-shirt, Frame dark-washed jeans (size 28), and brown AirWair boots (size 7). Notable identifying features include:
A yin-yang tattoo on her left hip, surrounded by a blue tornado.
A scar on her stomach from an appendectomy.
A scar on the back of her head/skull from a previous surgery, with a surgical patch still attached.
Investigators are seeking assistance in identifying the woman. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South at (207) 624-7076.
No further details are available at this time. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Crash on Maine Turnpike in Falmouth Leads to Arrest
FALMOUTH—On Sunday, March 16, 2025, at approximately 2:38 a.m., Maine State Police Troop G units were dispatched to a crash near mile marker 55 southbound on the Maine Turnpike in Falmouth. Upon arrival, troopers located two damaged vehicles in the median. One of the operators, 61-year-old Patrick Blair of Lewiston, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.
The second operator, 30-year-old Joshua Uwimana, also of Lewiston, fled the scene on foot. A K9 track was conducted, successfully locating Uwimana approximately one mile south of the crash on the shoulder of the Turnpike. Uwimana showed signs of intoxication and was arrested.
The crash led to a full shutdown of the southbound lanes on the Turnpike for several hours, with traffic being diverted at Exit 63. The Kennebunk Police Department responded to assist with crash reconstruction. Gorham Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance. No further information is available at this time.
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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