Not All Police Complaints Are Serious Business
Bar Harbor Police Log/State Police Press Releases
BAR HARBOR—On August 30, at approximately 8:10 a.m., a man called the police department to report that he had left his cell phone in a business and that another man had apparently found the phone and was refusing to give it back.
At approximately 10:05 a.m. on the same day, the man went to the police department and said that they had located his cell phone behind their couch, not at a local business. Apparently, the wife of the man who had lost his phone had been calling “her husband’s phone,” and a man had been answering. After finding the phone behind the couch, his wife realized that she had been calling the wrong number.
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor last week according to the Bar Harbor police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, August 28, 2023
Officer Nathan Formby provided a ride to a man walking along the side of Route 3.
Information was passed on to Officer Kaleb Payson. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Payson responded to a report of some property that had been damaged by someone. By the time Officer Payson arrived, the damaged property had been paid for and the issue was resolved.
Officer Elias Burne fingerprinted two people for applications.
A business owner reported receiving harassing communication from a recent customer. The customer was contacted by an officer and ordered to cease harassing the business owner.
Officer Chris Dickens provided a ride to a hitchhiker from the area of MDI High School to the Circle K store in Southwest Harbor.
Ming-Han Tsai, 20, of Taiwan, was driving a 2023 Toyota Rav-4 east on Mount Desert Street when Tsai allegedly struck a 2017 Honda Pilot operated by Sean Lin, 58, of New Jersey. The Honda was allegedly illegally parked on Mount Desert Street.
After receiving a report of gunshots in the Knox Road area, Officer Jerrod Hardy responded but could not locate any suspicious activity.
Officer Hardy conducted an afterhours security check at a bank after seeing a vehicle in the parking lot with people standing around it. Officer Hardy determined that they were the cleaning crew.
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Pursuant to a traffic stop, Officer Liam Harrington arrested Pamela Bacharach, 60, of Waterford, CT, for alleged operating under the influence.
Officer Troy Stanwood assisted the Penobscot Sheriff’s Department by attempting to locate someone in Bar Harbor. No disposition was given.
Officer Stanwood responded to a motor vehicle complaint, located the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for their motor vehicle operation.
Officer Hardy responded to a report of a vehicle that made a bad pass. He located the suspect vehicle and warned the driver for their operation.
Officers responded to a Route 3 business for a child custody issue. Upon investigation, it was determined to be a civil matter. The children were released to their mother, and both parents were advised to contact their attorneys for guidance.
Officer Dickens took a report of a person lying in the bushes next to a business. Employees of the business determined that it was a customer using their phone and police response was not needed.
Officer Dickens conducted a well-being check and determined that the individual was fine and in the care of a family member.
Officer Harrington received a motor vehicle complaint. No further information or disposition was given.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Officer Stanwood arrested Luis Rojas, 36, of Ohio, for alleged disorderly conduct and summonsed Rojas for alleged criminal mischief. Later that day, after receiving a complaint regarding suspicious behavior, Officer Judson Cake charged Luis Rojas, 36, of Ohio, for violation of conditions of release.
Officer Tim Bland assisted a motorist who had a flat tire on Route 3.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb responded to a report of an audible alarm in the area of Mountain Avenue while it was raining heavily. Lt. Edgecomb determined that the alarm was a septic alarm, and he was able to silence the alarm.
Officers handled a complaint regarding an interaction between a business and a former employee. Nothing criminal had occurred, and all of the involved people were spoken to by officers.
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Officer Payson assisted the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department with a crash in Trenton. Officer Payson provided traffic control until the Trenton Fire Department was able to take over.
Officer Bland responded to a complaint of people arguing. Nothing criminal had occurred and the two people were separated.
Officer Bland handled a complaint of a car door striking another car door. Damage to both vehicles was very minor.
Officer Burne performed a well-being check and found that the subject of the check was not in need of assistance.
Officer Burne provided traffic control on Route 3 for a disabled vehicle until it was able to be moved off the roadway.
Officer Bland assisted someone with gathering belongings from a residence.
Officer Stanwood arrested Luke Turner, 22, of Portland, for alleged operating under the influence.
Friday, September 01, 2023
Officer J. Cake came across a vehicle parked in a roadway and warned the driver not to park in the roadway.
After receiving a trespassing complaint, Officer Stanwood arrested Ivaylo Ivanov, 26, of Bulgaria, for alleged criminal trespass. Ivanov was also summonsed for alleged refusing to submit to arrest or detention. He was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Payson responded to a report of a domestic disturbance, and as a result of the investigation, arrested Lytton Williams, 31, of Jamaica, for alleged domestic violence assault. Williams was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Lucas Keene arrested Joseph MacQuinn, 56, of Bar Harbor, for an active arrest warrant for failure to appear. MacQuinn was also summonsed for alleged violation of conditions of release.
Natalie K. Masha, 62, of Michigan, was operating a 2022 Havana Moped, south on Mount Desert Street when she allegedly struck a curb and fell over, scraping her knee. The moped also received scratches.
Officer Burne responded to a motor vehicle complaint but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Bland served a notice to someone on behalf of another agency.
Officer Bland received a report of a missing child from Acadia National Park. The child as located in the park and reunited with family.
Pritesh Mehta, 39, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was driving a 2022 Subaru Ascent on the Eagle Lake Road, direction of travel not given, when a deer ran into the driver’s side of the vehicle. There was no personal injury reported and no damage to the vehicle.
Officer Burne arrested Raymar O. Burnett, 22, of Bar Harbor, for alleged domestic violence assault.
Saturday, September 02, 2023
Officer Formby took a report of an assault. This is currently under investigation.
Officer J. Cake had a group of people tell him that a man was driving around saying strange things to them. Officer Cake located the man, who stated that he thought the group of people were “a bunch of gangsters.”
Officer Formby investigated a report of an illegally parked vehicle but upon investigation determined that it was in fact legally parked.
Officer Formby took a report of harassment which is under investigation.
Melissa Glynn, 48, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, was trying to parallel park her 2020 Honda Odyssey on Cottage Street when Jayne Bowden, 56, of Bar Harbor, driving a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe attempted to go around Glynn. Due to oncoming traffic, Bowden allegedly had to pull back over to the right and struck Glynn’s vehicle. There was no personal injury reported but both vehicles suffered cosmetic and mechanical damage.
Officer Caleb Mora responded to a report of a man yelling downtown. The man was voicing his displeasure regarding cigarette butts littering the streets. The man was thanked for cleaning up said cigarette butts but advised to remain cordial.
Lt. Edgecomb handled a complaint of a dog in a white truck in a parking lot with only two windows down. Upon arrival, Lt. Edgecomb found multiple white trucks but none containing a dog.
Officer Burne responded to a report of an assault. After investigation, it was determined that there were no injuries and no charges were filed.
Someone reported a minor boat accident. There were no injuries and the event was passed on to the Coast Guard.
Officer Bland assisted a motorist with a flat tire.
Allen Cyr, 74, of Sabattus, Maine, was driving a 2020 Prevost bus west on West Street when he allegedly struck the mirror of a parked 2014 Dodge Ram. The owner or last known operator of the Dodge is not listed. There was no personal injury reported, no damage to the bus, and only damage to the Dodge’s mirror.
Willer Krautz, 67, of Massachusetts, was driving, no vehicle description given, northbound on Route 3 when a deer entered the roadway and was allegedly struck by Krautz’s vehicle. Krautz left the scene prior to an officer’s arrival.
Officer Formby assisted a disabled motorist. The vehicle was able to be started again, and the driver went on their way.
Officer Formby came across two people arguing. Officer Formby separated the two people and sent them on their separate ways.
Sunday, September 03, 2023
Officer Formby received a motor vehicle complaint, located the suspect vehicle, and warned the driver for their operation.
Officer Burne responded to a dispute between two people. According to the release, “A member of the public had a complaint about another member of the public occupying the same public space.” No disposition was given.
Officer Burne handled a motor vehicle complaint but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Nischay Upadhyayula, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, had legally parked their 2023 Volkswagen Taos near Chocolatte. Upon arriving back home in Southwest Harbor, Upadhyayula found a note under their windshield wiper stating that another vehicle had struck theirs. There was not enough information on the note to figure out what the other vehicle was or who it belonged to. The Volkswagen had damage to the driver’s side mirror.
STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASES
These are the Maine State Police press releases that we’ve received in the last few days. The Bar Harbor Story will include this each week though most (and sometimes all) do not occur in Bar Harbor.
August 29, 2023
MDEA PRESS RELEASE
Central, Maine—Eight people have been charged with drug trafficking offenses following a several months long investigation into the sale of “crack” cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine throughout central Maine and the mid-coast.
Investigators from MDEA’s South Central Office in Augusta, Mid-Coast Office in Thomaston and Western Maine Office in Lewiston have for the past several months been investigating a network of drug traffickers operating within Waldo, Kennebec, and Androscoggin Counties. This investigation has included many hours of surveillance, vehicle stops, undercover purchases of a variety of drugs from the group, as well as the execution of several search warrants.
Charged thus far as part of this investigation:
1. Stephon Davis – 27, Waterville, Maine, (2) counts aggravated trafficking fentanyl, 1 count aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
2. Baron Thompson- 45, Winslow, Maine, trafficking fentanyl, (1) count trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
3. Meloney Moody- 48, Winslow, Maine, (5) counts aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base) (4) counts aggravated trafficking fentanyl, (2) counts aggravated trafficking methamphetamine
4. Dawn Wilbur- 51, Winslow, Maine, (1) count trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
5. Charles Hinton - 45, Savannah, Georgia, (1) count trafficking cocaine (cocaine base) and (1) count felony possession of fentanyl
6. Dominique Kirk- 25, Lewiston, Maine, (2) counts aggravated trafficking fentanyl, (2) counts aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
7. Allen James – 41, Waterville, Maine, (1) count aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
8. Alivia Gordon – 25, Jackson, Maine, (1) count trafficking cocaine (cocaine base)
With the exception of Stephon Davis, who was arrested in June of this year, all of the other arrests have taken place over the course of the past week. Thompson, Moody, Wilbur, Hinton, and Kirk were arrested on August 23, 2023, following the execution of 2 search warrants on residences on Bellevue Street in Winslow. All but Kirk was transported to the Kennebec County Jail for booking. Kirk was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. Allen James and Alivia Gordon were arrested on August 27, 2023, following a vehicle pursuit by the Maine State Police in Augusta. They were transported to the Waldo County Jail for booking. Stephon Davis is currently being held at the Somerset County Jail.
This investigation would not have been possible without assistance from the Maine State Police, Winslow Police Department, Farmington Police Department, Waterville Police Department, Augusta Police Department, Kennebec Sheriff’s Office, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Seized in connection with this investigation was over 175 grams of cocaine base “crack” and 60 grams of fentanyl. Street value of the seized drugs is approximately $20,000.
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 who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine in the state of Maine. This investigation is continuing, and more arrests are likely.
If you suffer with 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.
August 30, 2023
MDEA PRESS RELEASE
Westbrook, Maine—A Texas man has been charged with aggravated drug trafficking as well as being a fugitive from justice following an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and heroin in the Greater Portland/Westbrook area.
Arrested was Isaac Mireles – 38, of Richmond, Texas, has been charged with (1) count aggravated trafficking methamphetamine, fugitive from justice for (3) outstanding arrest warrants from Texas charging, possession with the intent to distribute illegal drugs and human trafficking/smuggling of persons and endangering the welfare of a child.
For the past week, agents from the MDEA Cumberland District Task Force began an investigation into illegal drug trafficking after receiving citizen complaints of suspicious activity in and around the Riverside Street and Brighton Avenue of Portland and Westbrook.
Agents were able to identify Isaac Mireles as an individual selling methamphetamine to local drug users, conducting drug sales from a motel parking lot where he was staying in Westbrook.
On Tuesday evening, agents applied for and were granted a search warrant for a room at a Westbrook motel Mireles was staying in. During the execution of the search warrant, agents found Mireles, a Texas woman (his girlfriend), and her two minor children in the motel room.
As a result of the search, agents seized nearly a half-pound (200 grams) of crystal methamphetamine, 90 grams of crack and cocaine powder, 36 grams of heroin, $550 in suspected drug proceeds, as well as drug packaging materials.
Mireles was arrested without incident and transported to the Cumberland County Jail. Bail on the drug trafficking charges was set at $500 cash. Mireles is being held with no bail regarding the fugitive from justice charges. He is expected to make a court appearance today at the Cumberland County Unified Court in Portland.
Approximate street value of the seized drugs is $40,000.
Agents were assisted in this investigation, arrest, and search warrant by officers of the Westbrook Police Department and members of the Portland Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit.
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 who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine in the state of Maine. This investigation is continuing, and more arrests are likely.
If you suffer with 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.
Crash in Cross Lake
Agencies Involved:
MSP Troop F, North Lakes Fire Department, ASI Ambulance Service, Life Flight
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service:
Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 6:30 pm
Location of Call for Service:
Cross Lake, Maine
Summary of incident:
CROSS LAKE—On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at approximately 6:30 pm, the Maine State Police responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash on Caribou Road in Cross Lake. Troopers determined that 35-year-old Curtis Deschaine, of Wallagrass, was traveling south when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle, a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, left the roadway and rolled over multiple times before ultimately coming to rest on its roof in an embankment. Preliminary investigation revealed that Deschaine may have been traveling too fast for the heavy rain and wet road conditions, causing him to hydroplane. He was transported to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent by ambulance and later life flighted to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Deschaine remains in serious, but stable condition. The investigation is active, and ongoing.
Fire Marshal's Office Investigates Bangor Fire
Agencies Involved:
Fire Marshal’s Office, Bangor Fire Department, Bangor Police Department
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service:
Thursday, August 31, 2023, 3:43 am
Location of Call for Service:
Bangor, Maine
Summary of incident:
BANGOR—On Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 3:43 am, the Bangor Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a three unit apartment building located at 271 Elm Street in Bangor. Two people were in the building at the time of the fire and made it out without injury. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s office were called to the scene and determined that the fire was intentionally set. Investigators are conducting a joint investigation with members of the Bangor Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. One Bangor fire fighter sustained a minor burn injury while extinguishing the fire.
Arrest made in Madison Homicide
MADISON—On Saturday, July 8, 2023, at approximately 8:00 pm, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded to Madison to assist the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office with a death investigation. 57-year-old Mark Trabue, of Anson, was discovered deceased inside his vehicle at a cemetery on East Houghton Street in Madison. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta ruled the death a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time.
On Friday, September 1, 2023, Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central Detectives arrested 61-yr-old Roland Flood, of Madison, and charged him with Murder. Flood had lived with Trabue in Anson shortly before Trabue was killed. Flood was transported to the Somerset County Jail and will be arraigned at later date.