Police Logs for May 8
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, HCSO, State Police Crime Updates and More
BAR HARBOR––A plethora of complaints regarding intoxicated people and arrests and charges for operating under the influence are a sure sign that warmer weather is on its way to Mount Desert Island.
On May 2, after conducting a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Troy Stanwood arrested Rachel A. Wells, 32, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence.
On May 2, officers responded to a report of a possibly intoxicated motor vehicle operator at an Eden Street business in Bar Harbor. The person left the area before officers arrival and was not located.
Also, on May 2, after receiving a report of a possibly intoxicated driver in Bar Harbor, Officer Elias Burne arrested Keisha Barnes, 30, of Eastport, for alleged operating under the influence alleged operating without a license.
On May 3, Officer Caleb Mora assisted an intoxicated man in Bar Harbor and found him a safe place to stay.
Also on May 3, Officer Stanwood responded to a report of an intoxicated man at a Bar Harbor business who was causing problems. The man was given a ride home and warned for trespass at the complaining business.
On May 4, Officer Kaleb Payson arrested Maegan Hall, 40, no town listed, for alleged operating under the influence and alleged operating without a license in Bar Harbor.
On May 4 in Southwest Harbor, Lt. Franklin Burke responded to a complaint of an intoxicated man that had been dropped off at his residence, but the complainant felt that the man needed to be checked on. Lt. Burke located the man who was definitely intoxicated but otherwise fine.
JALIQUE KEENE APPEAL DENIED
The Ellsworth American’s Jennifer Osborn reports that “convicted rapist and murderer Jalique Keene has lost an appeal about evidence presented in his case and effectiveness of his trial counsel among other issues raised, which Justice Robert Murray heard in March.”
He could appeal to Law Court but has no further options for appeal via Maine Superior Court.
Murray stated in his decision, Osborn reports, that “the court is fully satisfied that petitioner’s trial counsel was not constitutionally ineffective.”
Keene was found guilty in September 2019 for the murder and rape of Mikaela Conley in May 2018. He appealed his conviction in 2020, arguing that he could not receive a fair trial in Hancock County. That appeal was denied in August 2020.
FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ARRESTED
ELLSWORTH—The Bangor Daily News’ Bill Trotter has reported that a former sheriff’s deputy and police officer for Bar Harbor “has been charged in court with sexual exploitation of a minor and other charges.”
Larry Fickett, 41, worked for the Bar Harbor Police Department approximately eight years ago and also worked as a Hancock County Sheriff’s deputy and for the Presque Isle Police Department. Trotter reports that Fickett “also has been charged with possession of child pornography and endangering the welfare of a child.”
He was arrested at his Ellsworth home on Thursday, May 2. The Maine State Police was in charge of the investigation.
“He was released the following day on $10,000 cash bail, according to jail staff,” Trotter wrote.
“The allegations occurred between Jan. 1, 2021 and March 1 of this year, according to the complaint,” Trotter wrote. “Sexual exploitation of a minor is a class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The child porn possession charge is a class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, while the child endangerment charge is a misdemeanor.”
BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT
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, April 29, 2024
Officer Judson Cake assisted the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy and Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier assisted someone in Bar Harbor with resources for a civil issue.
Sgt. Chris Dickens took a report regarding early morning noise being generated by the Main Street construction in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
MHL Tozier met with someone in Bar Harbor at that person’s request.
Officer Stanwood assisted the ambulance personnel with a call in Bar Harbor.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Officer Nathan Formby received a report of a property damage crash in Bar Harbor that did not meet the threshold of a reportable crash. The unnamed operator of the involved vehicle was warned for leaving the scene of a property damage crash however.
Ann DeYoung, 54, of Searsport, parked her 2023 Ford Mustang in a parking space on Main Street in Bar Harbor and found damage to the passenger’s side of the rear bumper and quarter panel when she arrived back at her vehicle. The offending vehicle and its driver are unknown.
A resident called to report a recurring speeding problem in their Bar Harbor neighborhood.
Sgt. Hardy spoke with a Bar Harbor resident regarding vehicles going the wrong way on a one-way street.
Officer Burne responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert, located the vehicle, and spoke with the operator about his motor vehicle operation.
Officer Liam Harrington conducted a security check on a property in Bar Harbor.
A Bar Harbor resident called the police department and spoke with Officer Harrington regarding a minor motor vehicle crash that occurred on private property.
Officer Stanwood responded to a suspicious behavior complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Harrington removed a deceased deer form a roadway in Bar Harbor.
Officer Burne assisted with a civil issue in Mount Desert.
Officer Formby was advised of a loose dog complaint in Mount Desert and the dog was returned to its owner.
Officer Stanwood gave someone a ride home from the emergency room in Bar Harbor.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Officer Payson conducted a well-being check on a Mount Desert resident and found them to be okay.
Officer Payson performed a security check at the Mount Desert Elementary School and found everything to be all set.
Officer Formby assisted an outside agency in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
MHL Tozier spoke with someone in Bar Harbor to help connect them with resources.
Officer Ted Cake responded to a complaint of someone blowing debris into the street in Mount Desert but failed to locate any debris or the suspect upon arrival in the area.
Officer Zackery Kline spoke with a person at the Bar Harbor Police Department regarding a fraud complaint and documented said complaint.
Officer Harrington took a report of fraud from a Mount Desert resident.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.
Officer Burne assisted a disabled motorist in Bar Harbor.
Officer Burne took a report of theft in Bar Harbor and is investigating the complaint.
Officer Burne handled a complaint of a loose dog in Bar Harbor. The dog was collected by its owner.
Officer Stanwood responded to a complaint of a dog off leash and left outside in Bar Harbor. Upon arrival, Officer Stanwood found the dog to be fine and on a leash.
Officer Payson located a disabled vehicle in Mount Desert which was off the road and found that the operator had already called a tow truck.
Officer Payson took a loose dog complaint in Bar Harbor and the dog was located by its owner shortly thereafter.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Charles Roberts, no age or hometown given, was arrested in Bar Harbor for two outstanding arrest warrants and also charged with alleged operating after suspension. Roberts was transported to the Hancock County jail.
Officer Judson Cake arrested Thomas McIntire, 42, of Mount Desert, in Mount Desert, for alleged criminal mischief.
Friday, May 3, 2024
MHL Tozier assisted a person in Bar Harbor who is unhoused.
Officer Kline took a complaint of a loud vehicle driving through a local Bar Harbor neighborhood at all hours of the day. Officer Kline advised the complainant to call when the vehicle is actually driving around the neighborhood.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a complaint of unsafe conditions for pedestrians at the intersection of Spring Street and Mount Desert Street and placed cones at each end of the crosswalk to make the area more visible.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a complaint of a motor vehicle passing a stopped school bus. The complaint is under investigation.
Sgt. Sundberg responded to a complaint of a vehicle being operated in an unsafe manner in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, and issued the operator a warning for speeding.
A Bar Harbor resident made a complaint of possible suspicious activity.
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a verbal argument between two people. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Sundberg spoke with a Bar Harbor business about a patron that had been warned not to return to the business.
Officer Stanwood arrested Kristoffer Hansen, 39, of Bar Harbor, in Bar Harbor, for alleged reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, alleged refusing to submit to arrest, and two counts of alleged violation of conditions of release. Hansen was transported to the Hancock County Jail and held without bail pending arraignment.
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Sgt. Dickens took a report of vandalism at a residence on the Northern Neck Road in Mount Desert. The complaint is under investigation.
Officer Amie Torrey received a complaint of erratic operation in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Payson assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.
Officer Payson conducted a requested security check at a Bar Harbor business and found everything to be fine.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Sgt. Sundberg assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.
Officer Stanwood engaged in a short pursuit of a motorcycle in Bar Harbor but terminated the pursuit when he lost sight of the motorcycle. The suspect was not located again.
Officer Payson assisted someone in Bar Harbor.
The Bar Harbor Police Department was contacted regarding a potential missing person. No further information or disposition was given.
Officers responded to a death in Somesville that was deemed not suspicious.
Officer Mora took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, located the vehicle and stopped it, and gave the driver a warning for operation.
Officer Harrington received a report of a motor vehicle operating erratically in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Logan T. Nason, 22, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee south on Cleftstone Road in Bar Harbor when a deer entered the roadway. The deer struck Nason’s vehicle. There was no reported injury. The vehicle received damage to the rear passenger door and passenger side headlight.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT
The following incidents occurred in Southwest Harbor last week according to the Southwest Harbor Police Department police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, April 29, 2024
The Southwest Harbor Police Department took an online scam complaint. The complainant advised that they had already taken protective actions for their online accounts.
Officer Ryan Blakeney responded to a loose dog complaint in the area of the Pemetic school but could not locate the dog.
Officer Blakeney handled a request to have a no trespassing notice served on a person.
Officer Blakeney fingerprinted a local resident for employment purposes.
A person called the Southwest Harbor Police Department and made a harassment complaint because another person looks at the complainant through their vehicle window whenever they drive by the complainant walking down the street. Officer Blakeney informed the complainant that this is not harassment.
Officer Blakeney responded to a residential burglar alarm and, after speaking with the property caretaker, determined that everything was okay.
A person found a loose dog in the area of the Pemetic School and took it to the Southwest Harbor Police Department where the dog was reunited with its owner.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department took a call regarding a waterline that had broken at a residence. The Southwest Harbor Water Department was notified and took care of the issue.
Officer James Kamorski and Officer Blakeney responded to Bass Harbor at the request of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department to assist a deputy at a domestic incident. They were released shortly after arriving in the area because they were not needed.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
A local business made a complaint about a vehicle in the business’s parking lot that possibly had drugs in it. Officers Kamorski and Blakeney responded and could see a bag containing white powder in the center console of the vehicle. The officers seized the bag which was tested by Maine Drug Enforcement on May 1 and found to contain no drugs.
Officers Kamorski and Blakeney responded to a complaint of a vehicle that had been illegally parked in front of a residence for approximately four days. The vehicle was gone upon the officer’s arrival.
Officer Kamorski investigated a complaint of missing property from a residence. The complainant told Officer Kamorski the next day that it was a misunderstanding with his neighbor.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Officer Blakeney responded to the Pemetic Elementary School regarding a child custody dispute and after speaking with the involved individuals was able to settle the issue.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Lt. Franklin Burke and Officer Brad Russell served a subpoena to a local resident.
Southwest officers responded to Mount Desert to assist Bar Harbor/Mount Desert officers with a call but were called off before arrival.
Friday, May 3, 2024
Lt. Burke handled a complaint of a strange vehicle at a residence but the vehicle was gone upon his arrival.
Lt. Burke and Officer Russell responded to a loose dog complaint at Beech Cliff Apartments, locate the dog and reunited it with its owner.
Lt. Burke received a complaint regarding a motor vehicle that was allegedly all over the road and almost hitting other vehicles. The suspect vehicle was heading out of town and neighboring agencies were notified of the complaint.
Saturday, May 4, 2024
No other incidents reported.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Officer Blakeney responded to a complaint of a suicidal person. The person was transported by ambulance to MDI Hospital by ambulance, without incident, for an evaluation.
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 Drug Enforcement Arrests Biddeford Man With More Than Seven Pounds of Fentanyl
SACO—The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announces the arrest of a Biddeford man for trafficking fentanyl throughout southern Maine, and the seizure of more than seven pounds of fentanyl, a loaded handgun, and drug proceeds.
Arrested was Almuntadhar M. Mohammed 24, of Biddeford, for arrest warrants charging, one count, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs, fentanyl, class B and one count unlawful aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, fentanyl, class A.
For the past eight months, MDEA agents from the Cumberland and York District Task Forces conducted an investigation into the illegal trafficking of drugs, including fentanyl by Mohammed. The investigation revealed Mohammed purchased large amounts of fentanyl from out of state sources, repackaged the fentanyl into various dose amounts which he sold throughout Cumberland and York Counties. During the investigation, agents made several undercover purchases of fentanyl from Mohammed at various locations throughout Cumberland and York Counties.
On Wednesday afternoon, May 1, 2024, agents from the Cumberland and York District Task Forces and officers of the Saco Police Department arrested Mohammed without incident when he arrived at a Saco business parking lot to deliver fentanyl to an undercover agent.
Mohammed was transported to the York County Jail where he later was bailed for the sum of $7,500.
After Mohammed’s arrest, agents and officers from the Biddeford Police Department executed a search warrant at 21 Ray Street, Biddeford, Mohammed’s apartment. As a result of the search, over seven pounds (3381 grams) of fentanyl was seized along with a loaded handgun, $2,500 in suspected drug proceeds, and items indicative of drug trafficking.
Due to the new evidence seized during the search warrant at Mohammed’s residence, agents were granted additional arrest warrants on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for Mohammed charging him with the five counts of unlawful aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, fentanyl. The aggravated enhancements were due to total drug weights and firearm possession.
Mohammed was arrested by agents in Saco without incident and transported to the York County Jail. Bail was set on the warrants at $100,000.
Based on evidence seized during the May 1, 21 Ray Street, Biddeford, search warrant and fentanyl seizure, agents charged Alyssa Staples, 23, of Biddeford, with unlawful aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, fentanyl. Staples and Mohammed are in a domestic relationship and live together at the 21 Ray Street apartment. The aggravated enhancement was due to total drug weights and firearm possession.
Staples was charged by summons with an initial appearance court date of July 30, 2024, in York Unified Court.
Assisting in this investigation, arrest and search warrant over the past eight months were officers and agents from the South Portland, Portland, Scarborough, Saco, and Biddeford Police Departments, as well as troopers from the Maine State Police.
The approximate street value of the seized fentanyl is more than $300,000.
The investigation is continuing, and additional arrests and charges are anticipated.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners 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.
If you or someone you know suffers 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.
Maine State Police Investigating Motorcycle Fatality on the Turnpike in Biddeford
BIDDEFORD—On Friday, May 3, 2024, at approximately 6:28 p.m., troopers responded to the area of mile marker 32 southbound on the Maine Turnpike for a motorcycle crash. Initial investigation shows that 21-year-old Zachary Swain, of Connecticut, was exiting the highway and failed to negotiate the curved southbound off-ramp.
Swain struck the guard rail and was ejected from the motorcycle. He was pronounced deceased on scene by rescue personnel. The off-ramp was closed for two hours while the crash was investigated. The Biddeford Fire Department, Maine Turnpike Authority, and Ray’s Truck Service assisted with the investigation and the re-opening of the ramp.
Officer Involved Shooting in Oxford County
This press release was issued on behalf of all involved agencies: Maine State Police, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police, Norway Police, and Paris Police.
OXFORD COUNTY—On Monday, May 6, 2024, at approximately 7:18 a.m., the Paris Police Department responded to the report of a suspicious male. The man was identified as 37-year-old Gary Porter who is unhoused. Porter was arrested for an outstanding felony theft warrant. He was transported to Stephen’s Memorial hospital where he was treated and released for conditions that were unrelated to the arrest.
Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey transported Porter to the Oxford County Jail. While attempting to remove Porter from the vehicle at the jail Porter was able to slip his cuffs from the back to the front and move to the driver’s seat and steal the Paris Police cruiser. Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey was thrown from the moving vehicle while attempting to stop Porter.
Police Officers from Norway, Oxford, Paris, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Marshal’s Office, and Maine State Police responded and began pursuing Porter. Porter crashed on Route 117 in Paris. Officers confronted Porter and gunfire was exchanged. Porter was struck but fled and stole an Oxford County Sheriff’s police vehicle which he crashed a short distance up the road.
Porter was taken into custody and treated at a local hospital. Once Porter was released, he was transported to the Oxford County Jail and charged with two counts of theft, assault on a police officer, escape, eluding, and violation of conditions of release.
The Office of the Attorney General will investigate the law enforcement use of force and Maine State Police Major Crimes South will complete a criminal investigation.
All involved officers are being placed on administrative leave which is a standard practice in any officer involved shooting in Maine.
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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