Police Beat
Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police and Hancock County Sheriff's Department.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn.
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 23, 2026
Officer Virgina Helton responded to an alarm activation in Mount Desert.
Officer Liam Harrington responded to MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor to assist with a combative patient.
Officer Ted Cake assisted with traffic control for a tractor trailer that was stuck across Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor during a snowstorm.
Officer Harrington spoke with a Bar Harbor resident who was experiencing a moment of crisis.
Officer Nathan Formby performed traffic control while a vehicle that had slid off the roadway in Bar Harbor was pulled back onto the roadway by a tow truck.
At the request of the Mount Desert Highway Department, Officer Troy Stanwood attempted to locate the owner of a vehicle that was impeding snow removal but could not locate the vehicle’s owner.
Officer Justin Burnett assisted a Bar Harbor resident with getting back into their home after they had locked themselves out.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint.
A Bar Harbor business called the police department to make them aware that the business was having a vehicle towed from its private parking lot.
Officer Kaleb Payson assisted another agency by serving paperwork to someone in Mount Desert.
Officer Ted Cake assisted another agency in Bar Harbor.
Officer Burnett spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who was looking for information regarding a family member whose whereabouts were unknown.
The Bar Harbor Highway Department requested an officer to locate the owner of a vehicle that was impeding snow removal. The owner was contacted and moved the vehicle.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason provided community outreach services in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood checked on someone who was walking on Route 102 in Bar Harbor in inclement weather.
Officer Formby removed a dead animal from the roadway in Mount Desert.
Officer Formby is investigating a fraud complaint in Mount Desert.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Officer Judson Cake assisted a motorist who had gone off the road in Bar Harbor and stood by until the vehicle could be towed back onto the road.
Officer Amie Torrey spoke with a woman in Mount Desert regarding a landlord/tenant issue.
Officer Elias Burne performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be okay.
Officer Stanwood received a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was not in a position to intercept the vehicle.
After receiving a complaint about some large boulders in the roadway in Mount Desert, Officer Torrey responded and the rocks were removed from the road.
Sgt. Chris Dickens performed some directed traffic enforcement on Route 102 in Bar Harbor.
Officer Formby assisted someone in Mount Desert whose vehicle had broken down. He called a tow truck and providing the person a ride home.
Officer J. Cake spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about the process for getting police reports.
Officer J. Cake contacted several people in Bar Harbor to move their vehicles for snow removal.
Friday, February 27, 2026
Officers T. Cake and Payson assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department in Bar Harbor.
Following a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor regarding a vehicle heading onto the island, Officer Payson responded but could not locate the vehicle.
Someone in Mount Desert reported that someone else fraudulently opened a cell phone account in the complainant’s name. The reporting person was given fraud reporting information.
Officer T. Cake assisted with a patient at the MDI Hospital.
Officer Payson received a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was out of position to intercept the vehicle and the complaint was passed on to the Southwest Harbor Police Department.
Following a domestic disturbance complaint in Mount Desert, Officer Stanwood responded and the involved people were separated for the night.
Officer Stanwood moved along a vehicle that was illegally parked on Eden Street in Bar Harbor.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Following a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Burnett arrested Garrett Ames, 19, of Southwest Harbor for operating under the influence. Ames was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Harrington responded with the Mount Desert Fire Department to a medical call in Mount Desert.
After receiving a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer Payson was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Stanwood responded with the Bar Harbor Fire Department to a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Officer Stanwood checked on someone who was walking on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor at approximately 1:30 a.m.
At approximately 4 a.m., Officer Stanwood moved along a vehicle that was parked in the breakdown lane on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor.
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 23, 2026
After receiving a report from someone in Southwest Harbor that the front door of a residence that the reporting party knows to be unoccupied was open, Officer Bradley Russell responded to the residence. Officer Russell checked the residence finding nothing out of place and notified the owner of the incident.
Officer Russell had a vehicle owner move their vehicle from a Southwest Harbor town parking lot because it would have impeded snow removal.
Officer Russell received a security alarm at a Southwest Harbor business but was canceled from responding while he was on his way.
Someone in Southwest Harbor reported that the front door of a local business had blown open during a snowstorm. Officer Russell responded, checked the building, and notified the owner of the event.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Sgt. Rick Graham responded to a medical call in Southwest Harbor with the ambulance service and assisted them by helping them lift the patient.
Someone reported that their vehicle had slid on ice and damaged a sign in Southwest Harbor. There was minimal damage to the vehicle and the sign belonged to the Coast Guard who Sgt. Graham notified of the event.
Sgt. Graham responded to a reported disturbance at a Southwest Harbor apartment complex and determined that a resident was upset about their dog causing a mess.
While awaiting a tow truck to retrieve a broken-down vehicle on Freeman Ridge in Southwest Harbor, Sgt. Graham provided emergency lights due to the fact that the vehicle was partially obstructing a travel lane.
Sgt. Graham received a business alarm in Southwest Harbor, but the alarm was canceled before he could respond.
Sgt. Graham responded to a burglar alarm at a Southwest Harbor business, checked the building, and found it to be secure.
Sgt. Graham performed a security check on a Southwest Harbor residence while the property owner is out of town.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Officer Kristen Roulet received a report of two dogs that were loose in Tremont and unable to be found. The complaint was referred to the Tremont Animal Control Officer.
After a member of the Good Morning Program in Tremont did not answer her morning phone call, Officer Roulet checked on the woman and found her to be all set.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Officer Russell spoke with someone on the phone regarding options for retrieving personal property from their home.
After receiving a request to check on someone who was parked in a Southwest Harbor parking lot, Officer Russell responded, but the person had already left.
Officer Russell is investigating a report of someone having been bitten by a dog. No town was given for where the bite occurred.
Friday, February 27, 2026
Sgt. Graham received a late report of a road rage incident in Southwest Harbor but did not have enough information was available to follow up.
After receiving a report of an erratic driver heading into Southwest Harbor on Route 102, Sgt. Graham failed to locate the vehicle.
Sgt. Graham responded to a report of an intoxicated man walking in Tremont. When Sgt. Graham arrived, the man was getting a ride home from a friend.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Officer Roulet arrested Brandon Hodgdon, 52, of Tremont, in Tremont, for a violation of a protection order and violation of conditions of release.
Officer Roulet checked on an alarm at a Tremont residence and found that everything was all set.
After receiving a report of possible suspicious electricity usage at a Tremont residence, Officer Roulet checked on the residence and found that the electricity was accidentally left on for the winter.
Officer Roulet received a report of an open door on the second floor of a boarded-up building in Southwest Harbor and notified the owner of the building.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Officer Roulet received a report of a broken-down vehicle in Southwest Harbor. The vehicle was out of the roadway, but the owner wanted to make the police department aware that the vehicle would be moved the same day.
Someone reported an open door at a Tremont garage and Officer Russell responded and spoke with the owner about the situation.
Due to time constraints, we do not write about car/deer crashes or minor vehicle crashes such as parking lot or parked vehicle/moving vehicle collisions. We do realize that many readers are interested in car/deer collisions, so we will be listing them by town and roadway here.
BAR HARBOR — None reported.
MOUNT DESERT — (1) Crooked Road
SOUTHWEST HARBOR — None reported.
TREMONT — None reported.
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 State Police Arrests Alabama Women After Turnpike Pursuit
AUBURN—On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at approximately 5:38 p.m., the Augusta Regional Communications Center received numerous traffic complaints about a red SUV traveling at high speeds and weaving in and out of traffic on I-95 in the Auburn area. Despite several attempts troopers were unable to locate the vehicle.
A short time later a trooper located the vehicle around mile marker 83 southbound in Lewiston however the vehicle failed to stop for the trooper. Spike strips were deployed around mile marker 68 in New Gloucester and the vehicle’s tires started to deflate. The vehicle came to a stop before the toll plaza southbound and a high-risk stop was initiated. This caused southbound traffic to come to a complete stop.
The driver, 51-year-old Carla Williams of Homewood, Alabama, was taken into custody and charged with driving to endanger and failing to stop for a law enforcement officer. She was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.
MDEA Arrests Vassalboro Man for Aggravated Drug Trafficking After Vehicle and Foot Pursuit
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire in Berwick
BERWICK—On Sunday, March 1, 2026, at approximately 1:18 p.m., the Berwick Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 17 Rileys Run. Upon arrival, crews observed a garage fully involved in fire, with flames extending into the attached residence. Firefighters quickly initiated suppression.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to assist with the investigation. Investigators determined that the fire originated in the garage attached to the home. However, due to the extent of the fire damage, the exact cause of the fire cannot be determined at this time. The investigation is ongoing. No injuries were reported.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire in Belgrade
BELGRADE—On Saturday, February 28, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Belgrade Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 138 Augusta Road in Belgrade. Firefighters arrived quickly and were able to extinguish the blaze. During the operation, crews located and attempted to save two dogs found inside the residence. Despite life-saving efforts, both dogs died as a result of the fire. The homeowners were not home at the time.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the scene to assist with an investigation into the cause of the fire. Investigators determined the fire originated in the kitchen. Evidence suggests the dogs likely jumped toward the stove to reach items on top, inadvertently igniting the burner. The fire caused significant fire damage. The fire has been ruled accidental. The Belgrade Fire Department was assisted on scene by several mutual aid departments.
The Fire Marshal’s Office reminds all residents that our curious pets can accidentally start house fires. We urge pet owners to never leave food, trash, or items on your stovetop and use stove knob covers or child-safety locks to prevent pets from accidentally turning on burners. Keep your kitchen clear and your pets safe.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire in Hollis
HOLLIS—On Saturday, February 28, 2026, at approximately 10:09 a.m., the Hollis Fire Department responded to a reported fire in a small trailer-style outbuilding located behind a residence at 466 Hollis Road. Firefighters observed smoke upon arrival, made entry, and quickly extinguished a fire located in the kitchen area of the structure. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
The outbuilding, which had no electrical service, was being used as a shelter for approximately twelve cats. Fire Marshal Investigators determined that the fire originated at or immediately adjacent to a propane-fired portable heater positioned near a refrigerator. The heater had been placed into operation the previous evening and was connected to a 20-pound propane cylinder. The fire has been classified as accidental. All but one cat is accounted for and the ones accounted for survived the fire.
MDEA Arrests Three on Drug Charges in Baileyville
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.
HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY
When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.
We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.
If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.
It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.
Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.
Thank you so much for being here.
Founding member information can be found here.
Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.