Political Signs Still Hot Ticket Item in the World of Local Theft
Police logs
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Choco-Latté Café.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—This week there were at least five separate reports of alleged political sign thefts between the four island towns. Last week there were at least four in Bar Harbor and Mount Desert and “multiple” reports on October 20 in Southwest Harbor. These obviously don’t include the unreported or the unnoticed thefts or destruction of political signs.
The motivation for these thefts is, in most cases, known only to those committing the act. The question for some becomes is such a strong bias against a favored candidate’s opponent or an overwhelming belief in being right in a hotly debated local issue worth the risk of being charged with and potentially found guilty of a civil violation or a crime.
According to a 2022 NPR article by Scott Neuman, a 2015 study “led by Donald Green, a political science professor at Columbia University, found that political signs can in fact make a difference—‘somewhere between 1 and 2 percentage points on average,’ Green says.” This small of a difference could only be a deciding factor in an extremely close race.
According to Maine Statute, title 23, chapter 21, section 1917-A, the penalty for removing signs from an area that is a public right-of-way, which is a civil violation, is $250. Removing a sign from someone’s private property is the crime of theft, most likely class E, and if the accused was found guilty, could result in a penalty of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
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.
NOTE: Due to the increased volume of calls during the summer and early fall, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.
Monday, October 21, 2024
Someone reported the theft of political signs in Mount Desert to Officer Troy Stanwood.
After receiving a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Doug Brundrett located the vehicle, stopped the vehicle, and gave the driver a warning for making improper passes.
Officer Caleb Mora received a report of stolen political signs in Bar Harbor.
A Mount Desert resident reported being harassed by another Mount Desert resident.
Sgt. Brundrett took a report of real estate fraud from a Bar Harbor property owner.
A woman reported a theft of a political sign in Somesville.
Officer Mora checked on a dog in a car in Bar Harbor and determined that the dog was fine.
Sgt. Brundrett worked a security detail on the Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora responded to a verbal domestic in Bar Harbor and the parties were separated for the night.
A Bar Harbor business requested a security check and it was found that an employee had set off the alarm.
Officer Liam Harrington assisted a motorist whose vehicle had run out of fuel in Bar Harbor.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
A resident reported a theft as well as property damage to Officer Mora in Bar Harbor and the complaint was forwarded to the code enforcement officer.
Officer Stanwood received information in Bar Harbor from another agency.
A motor vehicle struck a fence at a residential property in Bar Harbor and left the scene. The offending vehicle has not yet been located.
Officer Stanwood performed a request for a well-being check in Bar Harbor but could not make contact with the person being checked on. No further information or disposition was given.
Someone provided the Bar Harbor Police Department with some information.
Officer Harrington took a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
A Mount Desert resident reported to Officer Amie Torrey that a dog was chasing his chickens. The dog was returned to its owner.
Officer Kaleb Payson observed a parking issue in Mount Desert and made contact with the vehicle owner who said that they would rectify the situation.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a complaint of a parking issue on Roberts Avenue. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Torrey received a child custody complaint in Bar Harbor and it was referred to the court system.
Officer Torrey received a complaint regarding political signs in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Ted Cake spoke with someone on the phone in Bar Harbor who had questions regarding another person who had been arrested in 2023.
Officer Torrey is investigating a complaint of repair fraud in Mount Desert.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of a missing child. The child was located in Bar Harbor and reunited with his parents.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy spoke with someone regarding a parking problem on Rodick Street in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Officer Payson took a littering complaint in Bar Harbor but was unable to locate the offender.
Someone left a firearm at the Bar Harbor Police Department for safekeeping and retrieved it later in the week.
Officer Torrey received a request to check on a man in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer T. Cake assisted a motorist who had a dead battery in Mount Desert.
A woman went to the Bar Harbor Police Department to get fingerprinted for non-criminal purposes.
Officer Payson received a report of a traffic hazard in the roadway in Bar Harbor, but it had been removed from the roadway before his arrival.
Officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a Bar Harbor business and found a person who was having an emotional crisis. The person was transported to the MDI Hospital for care.
Officer Judson Cake was requested to give a person a ride home from the MDI Hospital, but by the time he arrived, the person had a friend there to give them a ride home.
Officer J. Cake performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be tired but all set.
Officers spoke with someone in Bar Harbor regarding a family matter.
Friday, October 25, 2024
Officer J. Cake charged Michael Metaxas, 25, of Bar Harbor and Cristian Pinchi Vela, 35, of Seal Harbor, with alleged disorderly conduct (fighting) in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg took a complaint regarding unsafe vehicle operation in Mount Desert.
Officer Mora performed a conditions of release (bail) check on someone in Bar Harbor and found no violations.
Officer Mora performed a well-being check on a “good morning project” participant in Mount Desert. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Mora received a “general” motor vehicle complaint regarding a Bar Harbor resident.
After finding a person walking on the side of Route 102, Sgt. Chris Dickens gave a ride to someone in Mount Desert.
Sgt. Dickens received a request from a resident to perform extra traffic enforcement patrols along the 35 mph stretch of Route 102 in Town Hill.
Sgt. Dickens added the Whitney Farm Road in Mount Desert to the roster for additional patrols in response to a report of unsafe vehicle operation.
Sgt. Dickens is investigating a report of a missing mobility walker at a Bar Harbor apartment complex.
Officer Harrington is investigating an assault that was reported in Bar Harbor.
An individual went to MDI Hospital for treatment for a dog bite. Sgt. Dickens took the report.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Officer Harrington took a report of a possible special amusement permit violation in Bar Harbor but determined that it was unsubstantiated.
A rock wall was damaged in Bar Harbor, but Officer Mora determined that there was insufficient evidence to conduct a criminal investigation.
Sgt. Hardy responded to a disorderly event at a Bar Harbor business and found the parties separated prior to his arrival. No further information or disposition was given.
A Bar Harbor resident expressed concerns regarding a Mount Desert resident. Officer Harrington determined that person in Mount Desert to be fine.
Officer Justin Burnett assisted a motorist with a disabled vehicle. The vehicle had been in an accident in Bar Harbor.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Officer Burnett assisted an intoxicated man in Bar Harbor.
Officers assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call.
Someone made a parking complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Mora took a delayed complaint of a suspicious person in Bar Harbor.
Philip Tedder, 79, of Switzerland, was walking in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Albert Meadow and Main Street in Bar Harbor. Patrick Corson, 47, of Ellsworth, was turning from Main Street onto Albert Meadow and allegedly struck Tedder. Tedder was checked by EMS personnel and had no apparent injury. Corson was not injured, nor was his vehicle.
Officer Mora responded to a report of an open door at a residence in Bar Harbor and determined that it had just been improperly secured.
A motor vehicle complaint was made in Bar Harbor and the suspect vehicle was stopped by another agency and the driver was issued two traffic citations.
Someone reported that their AirPods had been stolen in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
After receiving a report of two people yelling late at night in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Hardy located the couple and warned them for disorderly conduct.
After receiving a report of loud music coming from a vehicle late at night in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Hardy checked the area of the report and found that the vehicle had already left.
Monday, October 28, 2024
After responding to a report of a wrecked vehicle on the Crooked Road, near Sweets Lane, in Bar Harbor, Officer Burnett arrested Victor Larazro, 41, of Carrollton, Texas, for alleged operating under the influence. Larazro was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer T. Cake received a report of erratic vehicle operation in Mount Desert and the vehicle was located and stopped by another agency.
Someone reported political signs stolen in Mount Desert.
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.
NOTE: Due to the increased volume of calls during the summer and early fall, we are not going to print minor traffic accidents.
Monday, October 21, 2024
Chief John Hall attempted to locate a vehicle in Southwest Harbor that was the subject of a motor vehicle complaint that was passed on from another agency, but Chief Hall could not locate the suspect vehicle.
A Tremont resident turned in an old broken rifle that he had found while renovating a building that he owns.
Someone called the Southwest Harbor Police Department and spoke with Chief Hall regarding an experience he had in a Southwest Harbor business during which the complainant said that he was verbally accosted for his political attire. Chief Hall informed the complainant that he could not doing anything about a freedom of speech issue and the complainant told Chief Hall that he appreciated the opportunity to vent.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney attempted to perform a well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the person and believed that they were not home at the time. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to an abandoned vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor, contacted the registered owner of the vehicle and learned that they had sold the vehicle a while ago. No further information or disposition was given.
A Tremont business reported a suspicious person on their property but figured out later that it was someone who was allowed on the property and who was dropping something off for an employee.
Chief Hall assisted the MDI Housing Authority with making contact with a tenant in Southwest Harbor so that the housing authority could perform repair work.
Chief Hall and Sgt. Blakeney visited the Tremont school, spoke with several classes, and gave two police cruiser tours.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating a report of possible vandalism from someone in Southwest Harbor.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Officer Bradley Russell assisted another agency with making contact with someone in Tremont.
Officer Russell spoke with someone regarding an encounter that they had on a roadway in Southwest Harbor earlier in the week.
Officer Russell spoke with someone in Southwest Harbor about an ongoing civil issue and gave the person some possible options on how to proceed.
When responding to a report of gunshots in Southwest Harbor, Officer Russell could not find anything out of the ordinary.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Sgt. Blakeney visited the Pemetic School in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Blakeney took a motor vehicle complaint in Tremont in which both parties involved in the complaint called the Southwest Harbor Police Department. He gathered information and generated a report.
Someone in Southwest Harbor reported having a political sign removed from their property.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor but was unable to locate the suspect vehicle.
Friday, October 25, 2024
Chief Hall responded to a report of a suspicious man walking on Main Street in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the man.
Chief Hall responded to a report of a fire between the Pemetic School and post office in Southwest Harbor and found some leaves on fire. The school was evacuated and the fire department arrived and put the fire out.
Officer Russell received a complaint regarding a family member being concerned because someone was parked very close to a burial plot of a relative in a Southwest Harbor cemetery. Officer Russell responded to the cemetery and spoke with the individual who was parked close to the plot and was able to come to a resolution.
Officer Russell attempted to perform a well-being check on an individual who was walking outside without shoes on in Southwest Harbor and the reporting party said that the walker was “not well.” Officer Russell could not locate the barefoot walker.
Officer Russell responded to a complaint of a dog running around a Southwest Harbor intersection but could not locate the dog.
Officer Russell responded to a complaint of someone having fallen asleep outside of a Southwest Harbor business. Officer Russell spoke with the alleged sleeper and learned that they had just sat down to take a rest before continuing home.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Officer Russell responded to a complaint of a dog running in the roadway in Southwest Harbor, but before he could arrive, the dog’s owner had taken it back home.
Officer Russell and Officer James Kamorski attended the Southwest Harbor Coast Guard base’s trunk or treat event and handed out candy.
Officer Russell responded to a residential burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor but before he arrived, he was advised that it was a false alarm .
Chief Hall responded to an alarm at a Southwest Harbor business, found the door open upon arrival, and checked the building. The person who reported the alarm reset the alarm after the building had been checked.
Chief Hall agreed to check on a building in Southwest Harbor because the tenant was moving out and was concerned that it would get broken into.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
No reportable incidents.
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 State Police Continues to Investigate Missing Aroostook County Teenager
NEW SWEDEN—On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Maine State Police Troop F received the report of a missing juvenile, Stefanie Damron, who is now 14 years old. Stefanie was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden on September 23, 2024. Maine State Police Troop F and the Major Crimes Unit North began investigating the circumstance surrounding Stefanie’s disappearance.
The Major Crimes Unit North also collaborated with the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (CARD) to ensure that all resources were utilized in finding Stefanie. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Stefanie remains missing.
Investigators have conducted many interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally, and in Canada. The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit have searched large parcels of land near Stefanie’s last known location. The Major Crimes Unit will continue to investigate the case in partnership with the FBI’s CARD team.
Stefanie is described as 5'0, 130 lbs., green eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair. Stefanie was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots. Anyone with any information about Stefanie’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1 (800) 924-2261 or (207) 532-5400.
Maine State Police’s Computer Crimes Unit Executes Search Warrants in Penobscot and Hancock Counties
EDDINGTON—On Tuesday October 22, 2024, shortly after 7:00 a.m., the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed an arrest warrant and search warrant at 153 Rooks Road in Eddington. Taken into custody was 42-year-old Norman Dean Fannin on an extraditable arrest warrant out of Oregon for class B felony sexual abuse – encouraging child sexual abuse. A search of Fannin’s residence was also conducted relating to an ongoing investigation by the Maine State Police for disseminating sexually explicit material. He is being held at the Penobscot County Jail pending extradition proceedings.
HANCOCK—On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, around noontime, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 1484 Rt. 1 in the town of Hancock in reference to an ongoing investigation into possession of sexually explicit material. 47-year-old Peter Dysart was home at the time of the warrant and has been cooperative with the investigation. Once the investigation has been completed it will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Maine State Police Investigating Pedestrian Death in Readfield
READFIELD—On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 6:11p.m., Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to 759 Main Street in Readfield for a report of a truck vs. pedestrian crash. The initial investigation indicates 76-year-old Andrews Tolman, of Readfield, was walking across Main Street after leaving the Readfield Historical Society when he tripped and fell in the east bound lane. The driver of a 2021 Ram 5500 was travelling in the eastbound lane at the time and did not see Mr. Tolman lying in the road, resulting in Mr. Tolman being struck and killed.
Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation. MSP was assisted by the Readfield Fire Department and Winthrop EMS.
Maine Drug Enforcement Arrests Four People on Drug Trafficking Charges
CASWELL—On Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024, following a several months long investigation, four individuals were arrested and charged with felony drug crimes.
For the past several months, MDEA’s Aroostook District Task Force has been conducting an investigation, into suspected drug trafficking occurring at a residence located at 1057 Van Buren Road in the town of Caswell. Acting on evidence and information gathered during the investigation agents obtained a search warrant for the property.
On Tuesday morning, agents along with deputies from the Aroostook County Sherriff’s Office and US Border Patrol agents executed the search warrant. Agents seized over 2 pounds of fentanyl, over a pound of methamphetamine and over $19,000 in suspected drug proceeds. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is over $200,000.
As a result of the search four individuals were arrested and charged with class A, unlawful trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Andrew McHatten, 47, of Caswell, Maine.
Whilo Recio, 27, of Mattapan, Massachusetts.
Ramon Recio, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts.
Diomedes Del Rosario Cotreras, 35, of the Dominican Republic.
The four individuals were transported to the Aroostook County Jail. Bail was set at $15,000 cash.
Assisting in the arrests and search warrant were the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office and Caribou Police Department.
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 in the State of Maine.
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.
Maine State Police Investigating Stabbing in Palmyra
PALMYRA—The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a stabbing that occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024, at a residence at 482 Madawaska Road in Palmyra. The adult male suffered serious injuries. He was transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield and later transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he was listed in critical condition.
The road was closed for much of the day while Detectives conducted interviews and Evidence Response Technicians processed the scene.
The adult male who was critically injured in the October 11 stabbing in Palmyra succumbed to his injuries at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor on Friday, October 18, 2024. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed. The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Todd Parsons of Palmyra. The cause and manner of death are not being released at this time.
The investigation is active and ongoing. There continues to be no known threat to the public. Additional information will be released when it’s available and appropriate to do so.
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.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
Nice story Shaun. I would like to say that I wish on public land signs for any candidate be limited to 1 or even 2 signs every two thousand or more feet apart. When you have the same sign on public ways, and it is just one after another for quite a distance it can be distracting and leaves no room between those signs for others to put theirs. Also, I wish the candidates would follow the law about removing all sign from the roadways after the election. Some just never remove all their signs. Please if you put a sign out on a public road/property please pick them up within 2 days after the election. They become eyesores.