Police Departments' Mental Health Liaison Officially On the Job
Bar Harbor, Hancock County, and State Police Police Beat
BAR HARBOR––The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments have hired a mental health liaison. Melissa Tozier, MHRT, started working for the towns on September 18. Tozier is a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Tozier’s degree focus was in abnormal psychology with a minor in sociology.
Prior to being hired, Tozier had been working for AMHC and was covering both Hancock and Washngton counties.
According to Interim Police Chief David Kerns, Tozier’s salary is $53,932 and Bar Harbor will pay 60% of that amount while Mount Desert willl pay 40%. Tozier’s position is full time and she will be working some day shifts and some shifts that start later in the day and bleed over into the evening shift.
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor last week according to the Bar Harbor police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, September 18, 2023
After conducting a traffic stop, Officer Liam Harrington arrested Daler Muminov, 32, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence.
Office Lucas Keene conducted a well-being check on a person at Hadley Point Beach and determined that the subject was doing fine.
Officer Amie Torrey handled a fraud complaint from a motel. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Ted Cake responded to a loose dog complaint but could not locate the dog. He learned who the owner of the dog is and advised them that their dog was running loose.
Levi Negli, 26, of Pennsylvania, was driving a 2022 Freightliner truck north on Main Street when he allegedly struck the front left tire of a 2023 Jeep Wrangler being driven by Tina Park, no age given, of Ohio. There were no reported injuries, the Freightliner had no damage and the Jeep suffered a scuffed tire but was later reported to have front wheel alignment issues.
Jeffrey Hall, 65, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2010 BMW and was entering Cottage Street from High Street when he allegedly struck a 2015 GMC Sierra that was being driven west on Cottage Street by Kevin Edwards, 40, of Bar Harbor. There were no reported injuries. Edward’s vehicle suffered minor damage to the left rear corner and Hall’s vehicle suffered minor scratches to the passenger front corner.
Officer Troy Stanwood took a report of trespassing at a residence. No further information or disposition was given.
An officer took a report of speeding on the Indian Point Road. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Nathan Formby provided two people a ride to an undisclosed destination.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
After conducting a traffic stop, Officer Stanwood arrested Robert Nipper, 77, of Stockton Springs, for alleged operating under the influence.
Officer Keene responded to a report of a motor vehicle obstructing a roadway but by the time he arrived, the vehicle was gone.
Sedat Ozcan, no age given, of Bar Harbor, had legally parked his 2015 Honda on Pleasant Street and when he came back to the vehicle, he found that his vehicle had been struck by another vehicle and suffered reportable damage to the driver’s side front corner. The offending vehicle and driver are unknown.
Officer Kaleb Payson is investigating a report of a burglary.
An officer responded to a downtown address where a loose dog had been located. By the time the officer arrived, the dog’s owner had retrieved it.
Officers responded to a business, and after investigation, they arrested Carolyn Housman, 60, of Bar Harbor for alleged operating under the influence and alleged theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Officer Harrington took a report of a noise complaint. No further information or disposition was given.
After responding to a report of a single vehicle rollover crash on the Crooked Road, no crash information was given, Fatimah Ogunjobi, 33, of Bar Harbor, was arrested for alleged operating under the influence.
Officer T. Cake was advised of a civil matter. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Judson Cake responded to a motor vehicle complaint but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
The police department received a report of an accident with nonreportable damage.
A wandering dog was brought in to the police department and the owner was called. The owner came and retrieved their dog.
Officer Payson assisted Versant with locating a downed power line.
Officer J. Cake charged Carolyn Housman, 60, of Bar Harbor, with alleged violation of conditions of release after she was allegedly found to be in possession of alcohol and drinking.
Raymond Brown, 72, of Florida, was driving an Island Explorer bus and making a right-hand turn from Firefly Lane onto Main Street when he allegedly struck a 2017 Toyota pickup truck that was allegedly parked about two feet into the roadway. The last operator of the Toyota was Jacqueline Puglisi, 58, of Maine. There was no reported personal injury. Both vehicles suffered reportable but undescribed damage.
The police department took information from someone. No further information or disposition was given.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Officer Stanwood assisted another agency with a medical issue. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Jerrod Hardy responded to report of a motor vehicle operating “over the lines” but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Hana Harvey, 21, of Santa Barbara, California, was driving a 2017 GMC Savana north on Main Street when she allegedly struck the mirror of a parked 2022 Dodge Ram, last operated by Steven Frase, 66, of Palm Harbor, Florida. There were no reported injuries. The driver’s side mirror of the Ram and the passenger’s side mirror of the Savana were damaged.
The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department’s mental health liaison made a visit to a resident in Bar Harbor.
Officer Stanwood assisted another agency with legal documents.
A man contacted the Harbormaster’s Office asking for assistance with getting his vessel towed back due to a mechanical failure. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Hardy provided traffic control on Route 102 for a disabled vehicle until a tow truck could arrive.
Officer J. Cake and the department’s mental health liaison responded to a report of a man drinking in public. The mental health liaison spoke to the man about ongoing mental health issues.
Officer J. Cake assisted the Southwest Harbor Police Department with a man who was in possession of illegal drugs. The man was ultimately arrested by Lt. Franklin Burke of the Southwest Harbor Police Department.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg responded to an ambulance call where a woman was taken into protective custody and transported to MDI Hospital for evaluation.
Officer J. Cake assisted the ambulance on a medical call where a 70-year-old man had collapsed.
A man walked into a business and asked them to call an ambulance for him. When the ambulance arrived, the man was not in the area. Police officers located the man about a mile away, and he was transported to the hospital.
Friday, September 22, 2023
Officer Formby assisted the hospital with a disorderly patient. The patient was ultimately discharged from the hospital and warned for disorderly conduct.
After checking a parked motor vehicle, Officer Formby arrested Jordan Fulton, 26, of Ohio, for alleged operating under the influence.
Officer Chris Dickens provided a ride for two people from MDI Hospital to a Mount Desert residence.
Officer Stanwood took a report of suspicious activity and after investigation determined that it was unfounded.
Officer Stanwood assisted the ambulance on a medical call.
Officer Stanwood received a call regarding mental illness. No further information or disposition was given.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb responded to a report of an accident on Main Street that turned out not to have any reportable damage done to either vehicle.
Sgt. Sundberg responded to a complaint of a vehicle obstructing traffic, located the owner, and had them move their vehicle.
Sgt. Sundberg handled a complaint of a motor vehicle operating without any headlights but could not locate the vehicle.
Officers responded to a 911 call which turned out to be a verbal argument between two people. Both parties were separated and no charges were filed.
The police department received a complaint of an erratic driver but no officers were in position to try and locate the vehicle.
Officer Formby is investigating a report of a property damage crash.
Officer Elias Burne responded to a trespassing complaint at a hotel and gave five people no trespass warnings after they were found to be using the hotel’s hot tub.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Officer Formby investigated a suspicious vehicle complaint at a business and after investigation, determined that it was not anything suspicious.
Officer Burne handled a noise complaint and determined it to be unsubstantiated.
Officer Formby gave two people a ride to an undisclosed location.
Kevin Chipman, 44, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2014 Subaru Forester south on Route 102 when the vehicle allegedly went off the roadway to the right, struck a telephone pole, and then went into the brush on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage. There was minor injury to the passenger and charges are pending.
Pierre Lacock, 58, of Germany, was backing a 2023 GMC Acadia into a parking space on Mount Desert Street and allegedly backed into a telephone pole. There was no personal injury reported and the vehicle suffered only a damaged taillight housing.
Sgt. Sundberg spoke with a local resident. No further information or disposition was given.
Officers assisted another agency with a disorderly person. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Stanwood took a complaint of a bicycle riding on the tennis courts at night. “There was no response” to this complaint.
Officer Harrington took a report of an intoxicated man trespassing in the mudroom of a residence that was not his. No further information or disposition was given.
Sunday, September 24, 2023
After observing a disorderly situation while on patrol, Officer Harrington arrested Luis Rojas, no age given, of Bar Harbor, for alleged violating conditions of release and summonsed Rojas for alleged possession of schedule X drugs.
Officer Harrington took a report of trespassers at a hotel pool. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Stanwood responded to a report of a possible property damage accident but the vehicle was gone by the time that he arrived.
John Barlow, 70, of Colorado, was driving a 2019 Ram pickup truck with a bike rack on the back north on Main Street. Barlow’s bike rack allegedly made contact with and caused scratches to three legally parked vehicles. A 2023 Chrysler Pacifica, a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, and a 2022 Toyota Corolla, none of whom have any available driver/owner information given, were damaged.
Officer Stanwood responded to a report of someone smoking marijuana on the Village Green in violation of the town’s ordinance. The person was warned for the violation.
The police department received a report of a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner and heading onto the island. Officers responded but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Robert Thaggard, 67, of Southwest Harbor, was driving an Island Explorer bus and was turning from Firefly Lane onto Main Street. The bus allegedly made contact with a 2023 Toyota Sienna that was being driven by Albert Hadderingh, 64, of the Netherlands west on Firefly Lane. There was no personal injury reported. The bus suffered minor scratches and the Toyota suffered damage to the left rear corner.
Officer Hardy warned someone for harassment. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Formby gave a ride to two intoxicated people back to their hotel.
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.
CRASH IN WATERVILLE
Agencies Involved: MSP Troop I, MSP Commercial Vehicle Unit, Waterville Rescue, Delta Rescue, Life Flight
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Friday, September 22, 2023, at 1:39 p.m.
Location of Call for Service: Waterville, Maine
Summary of Call for Service:
On Friday, September 22, 0223, at approximately 1:39 p.m., troopers responded to a crash at MM 127 southbound on Interstate 95 in Waterville. Upon the troopers arrival, they located a 27-year-old male from Scarborough with life threatening injuries laying in front of his white 2020 Hino dump truck that was stopped in the breakdown lane. He was transported by Life Flight to a Bangor hospital.
The initial investigation has determined that the driver of a yellow 2023 GMC box truck, a 33-year-old male from Hampden, was traveling southbound on the Interstate when he struck the 27-year-old male. The investigation is ongoing at this time to learn why the injured man was in the breakdown lane and what caused the driver of the box truck to hit him. Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is urged to contact the Maine State Police for Trooper Randy Hall at 207-624-7076 ext 9.
ALLEGED BANGOR ARSONISTS ARRESTED
Agencies Involved: Fire Marshal’s Office, Bangor Fire Department, Bangor Police Department
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 3:45 a.m.
Location of Call for Service: Bangor, Maine
Summary of Call for Service:
On Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 3:45 a.m., the Bangor Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 271 Elm Street in Bangor. There were two people in the building at the time of the fire. They were able to get out safely and there were no injuries. Based on observations at the scene, the fire department contacted the Fire Marshal’s Office and requested an investigation.
Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and began an investigation with the assistance of the Bangor Police Department. The investigation determined that the fire was intentionally set. As a result of the investigation, an arrest warrant (for arson) was obtained for 19-year-old Joshua Fletcher. Joshua was arrested on Friday, September 15, 2023, at a youth shelter in Bangor by the Bangor Police Department.
As a result of further investigative efforts, 41-year-old Eric Hasenbank, of Harrington, was arrested at his residence on Thursday, September 21, 2023, and charged with arson as well. Both Fletcher and Hasenbank were transported to the Penobscot County Jail. Both men knew the people living in the Elm Street house. Investigators are still attempting to locate an adult female named Shelby.
Shelby is a white female, approximately 50 years old. She has a slender build and is approximately 5’8” with shoulder-length reddish/brown hair. She is known to frequent the area near the Hope House Health and Living Center on Corporate Drive in Bangor.
If anyone has information about the fire or Shelby’s whereabouts, they are asked to contact the authorities.
MDEA ARREST
Mexico, Maine—Three people have been charged with drug trafficking offenses following a two-month-long investigation into drug trafficking in the Mexico/River Valley area of Maine.
After receiving information from concerned citizens, investigators from MDEA’s Western
District Task Force began investigating a network of drug traffickers operating in the Mexico/River Valley region of Oxford County. Out of state drug traffickers were reportedly traveling from Massachusetts to Mexico, where they distributed illegal drugs with the assistance of Kellie Bernard, from her residence. On Wednesday afternoon, a search was conducted at Bernard’s residence at 199 Main St. in Mexico.
Arrested were:
Kellie Bernard – (36) Mexico, Maine, 1 count aggravated trafficking fentanyl, 1 count aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base), 1 count aggravated trafficking methamphetamine;
Joel Espinosa – (24) Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1 count aggravated trafficking fentanyl, 1 count aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base), 1 count aggravated trafficking methamphetamine;
Isiah Medina – (23) Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1 count aggravated trafficking fentanyl, 1 count aggravated trafficking cocaine (cocaine base), 1 count aggravated trafficking methamphetamine.
Bernard was currently on Maine bail for drug possession.
Espinosa is currently on U.S. federal probation for fentanyl trafficking.
Medina is currently on probation out of Plymouth County Superior Court in Massachusetts for fentanyl related drug charges.
All subjects were arrested and transported to the Oxford County Jail.
All three are being held without bail and are expected to appear in Oxford County District Court on Friday, September 22, 2023. Arrest photos are available at the Oxford County Jail.
Seized in connection with this investigation was over 224 grams of fentanyl, 53 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of cocaine HCL, 7 grams of cocaine base “crack,” a firearm, and $3400 in suspected drug proceeds. Approximate street value of the seized drugs is $25,000.
Assisting in this investigation and arrests were officers from the Rumford Police Department,
Mexico Police Department, and Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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.
TOW TRUCK KILLS CHILD IN CHELSEA
Agencies Involved: MSP Central Field Troop, MSP Commercial Vehicle Unit, Chelsea Fire Department, Gardiner Rescue
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 2:23 p.m.
Location of Call for Service: Chelsea, Maine
Summary of Call for Service:
On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at approximately 2:23 p.m., troopers with the State Police Central Field Troop responded to Windsor Road in Chelsea for a report of a child struck by a tow truck. After troopers arrived on scene, it was determined that a 62-year-old male driver from Chelsea was traveling northbound on Windsor Road in his 2007 GMC flatbed tow truck when he struck a child.
The child, who was 21 months old, was playing outside a residence on Windsor Road when she wandered into the roadway and laid down. The driver did not realize that it was a child laying in the road until the vehicle struck her. Troopers and witnesses performed CPR until Chelsea Fire and Gardiner Rescue arrived on scene. The child was transported to Maine General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Troopers continue to investigate the crash. No further information is available at this time.
HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASES
I hope the Police Mental Health Liaison will include working with officers to help them understand how implicit bias informs their decision making and how to set aside their explicit personal biases when on the job. Officers bring their personal strengths to their work and their personal weaknesses. Policing attracts a certain number of people who see it as an opportunity to enjoy being a bully with a badge and gun. These few rotten apples harm the public and their fellow officers.