The Finback Alehouse Receives Another Noise Complaint
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Hancock County Sheriff's, and State Police law enforcement press releases
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BAR HARBOR—According to the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department’s weekly press release, on June 18, 2025, at approximately 10:24 p.m., the Bar Harbor Police Department received a noise complaint on the Finback Alehouse on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy responded to the complaint which was in regards to live music being played at the establishment and took “decibel readings around the business” to establish if the Finback was in compliance with the Town of Bar Harbor’s Special Amusement Ordinance.
According to the press release, Sgt. Hardy “found that the noise levels were in compliance with the special amusement permit ordinance.”
This complaint came just one night after the Bar Harbor Town Council had renewed the Finback’s special amusement permit and after a public hearing opportunity and warning co-owner Dale Stockburger that if the establishment receives one more substantiated noise violation that it could lose its permit.
The Finback has received four noise complaints since August 3, 2024, two of which were substantiated by the police department and two of which were found to be unsubstantiated. This is the third unsubstantiated complaint.
Substantiated violations run on a 12-month cycle, so the Finback cannot receive a third substantiated violation prior to August 4, 2025.
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.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Officer Caleb Mora investigated a reported possible municipal code violation in Bar Harbor and deemed it to be a code enforcement issue.
Officer Shelby O’Neil responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer O’Neil had a line of contractor vehicles that were blocking a road in Mount Desert moved.
Officer Mora responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Sara Gordon, 42, of Baltimore, Maryland, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu on Holland Avenue in Bar Harbor when she allegedly drove the car off the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle sustained “extensive and disabling” damage to the front end and had to be towed.
Sgt. Chris Dickens spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about a trespassing issue that they were having.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a barking dog compliant on Kennebec Street in Bar Harbor. There was nobody home at the residence, the barking was intermittent, and there were no further complaints received.
Sgt. Dickens spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about a “concerning interaction” that occurred with a stranger in Bar Harbor. The reporting party just wanted the event on record.
Officer Troy Stanwood assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call.
A New Hampshire agency requested assistance from the Bar Harbor Police Department with locating someone in Bar Harbor. The person was located the following morning and taken to the hospital for an evaluation.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Officer Stanwood provided someone in Bar Harbor a ride home from the hospital.
A business in Mount Desert reported a parking issue in its private parking lot to the Mount Desert Police Department and then had the vehicle towed.
The Mount Desert Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint but all of the officers were busy on other calls so neighboring agencies were notified of the complaint.
Officer Justin Burnett took a report from a Bar Harbor business that they had been scammed. The business did prevent approximately $3,469 from being transferred into the fraudulent account.
Officer Mora responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
After receiving a request from another agency to locate a vehicle with a reportedly intoxicated driver, the vehicle was located in Bar Harbor. Subsequently, Bobby Spence, 35, of Calera, Alabama, was arrested for alleged operating under the influence. Spence was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Elias Burne responded to a parking complaint in Bar Harbor, located the owner of the vehicle, and asked them to move it.
Officer Burne responded to and investigated a report of suspected child abuse in Bar Harbor and found that no abuse was taking place.
After speaking with a local resident about speeding vehicles on the Pretty Marsh Road in Mount Desert, Sgt. Dickens added it to the roster of additional enforcement patrols.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of a missing child in Bar Harbor. Responding officers and the child’s parents located the child soon after the report was made.
After receiving a complaint regarding a disorderly person in Bar Harbor, Officer Nathan Formby located the person and warned them for disorderly conduct.
Officer Formby responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Formby took a suspicious situation complaint in Bar Harbor, located the person who was the subject of the complaint and determined that the issue was a misunderstanding.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
After receiving multiple complaints regarding the same vehicle in Bar Harbor, Officer Mora was able to locate the vehicle and summoned Morgan Daoust, 26, of Vassalboro, for alleged improper passing.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg responded to a report of a large vehicle that stopped in the roadway on the Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor and put its flashers on. The vehicle was gone when Sgt. Sundberg arrived.
Officer Mora took a delayed motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor.
A Bar Harbor business requested more frequent patrols of the area in which the business is due to ongoing vandalism.
Officer Mora looked for an RV that was reported to be dripping “black water” in Bar Harbor, but he could not locate the RV.
Officer Justin Burnett responded to a report of a dog at large in Mount Desert that was barking at passing vehicles. Officer Burnett found that the dog was not at large and was on its own property.
Officer Judson Cake spoke with a disorderly person in Mount Desert.
Someone in Mount Desert called the police department to report that someone was identifying themselves as a Versant employee and the reporting party was not sure if they were in fact a Versant employee.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Officer Formby received a vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle heading towards the island from Trenton. Even though he was already in the area, Officer Formby never saw the described suspect vehicle.
Following a traffic stop on Route 3 in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby arrested Shawn Dupuis, 49, of Haverhill, MA, for alleged operating under the influence. Dupuis was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer J. Cake gave an intoxicated person in Bar Harbor a ride to the police department so the person could call for a ride home.
Officer Formby is investigating a reported municipal ordinance violation in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Sundberg gave an active shooter training at a Bar Harbor establishment.
Officer O’Neil gave two people a ride home in Bar Harbor from MDI Hospital.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint for a vehicle that was heading off the island and no police units were in a position to intercept the vehicle.
Officer Ted Cake took a report of an unattended dog in a vehicle in Hulls Cove, but the owners of the vehicle returned prior to Officer Cake’s response.
Officer O’Neil recovered a lost dog in Bar Harbor and it was returned to its owner.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer O’Neil summoned Tamesha Buchanan, 22, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating after suspension.
Officer O’Neil assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department on a medical call.
Officer Burne conducted a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to not require any assistance.
After someone reported having lost their cell phone in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Hardy was able to determine that the finder of the phone had taken it to their residence and then discarded it in the woods. The location of the phone was tracked and the phone was returned to its owner who did not wish to pursue charges of theft against the finder of the phone.
A loose dog was reported in Mount Desert and officers were able to find the dog and get it back home.
Officer Stanwood spoke with a group of teenagers from the Maine Seacoast Mission’s EGDE program about careers in the military and law enforcement.
Officer Liam Harrington gave a ride to a group of visitors in Bar Harbor who had taken a long hike and come out at an unintended location far from their vehicle.
Officer Burne issued a trespass warning to someone on behalf of a Bar Harbor business.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Officer Harrington gave someone a ride from MDI Hospital to their residence in Mount Desert.
After responding to a report of disorderly conduct in Bar Harbor, Officer Burne issued a 27-year-old man from Bar Harbor warnings for disorderly conduct and trespassing.
Officer O’Neil responded to a report of a truck blocking a roadway in Bar Harbor and the truck was moved onto a business property.
Officer O’Neil responded to a report of a dead deer that was causing a traffic hazard in Bar Harbor and determined that the deer was not in the roadway or impeding traffic.
Officer O’Neil assisted another law enforcement agency.
Officer O’Neil issued trespass warnings to four people who were trespassing in Bar Harbor.
A man reported a parking issue in the area of Jordan Pond Road and Stanley Brook Road in Seal Harbor.
Officer T. Cake is investigating a report of harassment in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor regarding some motorcycles and found the complaint to be unfounded.
Officer Burnett performed a traffic control detail for an event in Hulls Cove.
A Mount Desert resident reported having found a lost dog but prior to police arrival, the complainant and the dog’s owner met and the dog was returned to its owner.
The Mount Desert Police Department took a report of a truck driving with trash coming out of the bed but no officers were in a position to intercept the truck.
Officer Burne responded to a noise complaint at a Bar Harbor wedding event and made the wedding coordinator aware of the complaint. There were no further complaints.
Officer Burnett conducted a well-being check on someone in Mount Desert and found them to be all set.
Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Harrington responded to a report of gunshots in Bar Harbor but could not locate the source of the gunshots.
Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Burnett arrested Dustin Gallant, 45, of Trenton, for alleged operating under the influence.
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Officer Kevin Edgecomb provided traffic control for a private event in Seal Harbor.
Officer Harrington took a report of theft from a Bar Harbor business. There are no suspects at this time.
Sgt. Dickens and Officer Stanwood moved an illegal camper along from Hadley Point Beach in Bar Harbor.
Monday, June 23, 2025
Sgt. Dickens and Officer Stanwood moved illegal campers along from the tennis court parking lot in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens and Officer Stanwood moved illegal campers along from Lower Main Street in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens conducted a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found them to be all set.
A Bar Harbor resident provided the police department with some information.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett assisted the Mount Desert Fire Department on a medical call in Pretty Marsh.
Officer Burnett received a complaint about speeding traffic on a Mount Desert road.
Sgt. Brundrett is investigating a report of assault made by a Sullivan man that allegedly occurred at a Bar Harbor business on June 20.
Matthew Richards, 25, of Dover-Foxcroft, was driving a 2012 Freightliner tractor trailer on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor when he allegedly was keeping right to avoid an oncoming vehicle and struck a bridge arch with the trailer. The was no reported injury and damage only to the trailer roof’s corner.
A Bar Harbor resident reported the theft of a package that contained clothing to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Sgt. Dickens spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about harassment and provided them with some options should the situation continue.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle that was heading towards Trenton and passed the complaint on to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Someone reported being stranded on Bar Island due to the incoming tide to the Bar Harbor Police Department. The complaint was passed on to the park service who picked the person up.
A loose dog was brought to the Bar Harbor Police Department and its owner came to pick it up.
Officers responded to Bar Island to assist park personnel with someone who was stuck on the bar.
Officer J. Cake responded to a noise complaint and found it to be unsubstantiated.
Sgt. Dickens provided a ride to a stranded hiker from Jordan Pond to a Bar Harbor business.
Following a traffic stop on Sound Drive in Mount Desert, Officer Formby arrested Adrian Morris, 21, of Tremont, on an outstanding arrest warrant. Morris was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer J. Cake gave someone a ride home in Bar Harbor from the hospital.
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, June 16, 2025
Officer Bradley Russell is investigating a complaint made by someone from Southwest Harbor that they are being harassed via the telephone.
Officer Russell conducted a keep the peace while someone in Tremont retrieved some of their belongings.
Officer Russell responded to a residential alarm in Southwest Harbor and found it to be a false alarm.
Officer Russell responded to a residence in Tremont to assist the Tremont Fire Department after a caller reported smoke coming from the residence.
Officer Russell assisted another agency with getting someone home to Tremont by meeting the other agency at the town line, picking up the individual, and transporting them to their residence in Tremont.
Officer Russell spoke with someone from Southwest Harbor who was reporting calls to their phone where the caller was asking strange questions.
Officer Russell responded to Tremont for a report of someone suffering from mental health issues. The person was eventually transported by the ambulance service to the hospital for treatment.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Officer Rick Graham assisted the ambulance service in Tremont by providing a lift assist.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Officer Rick Graham assisted the ambulance service in Tremont.
Officer Rick Graham assisted the ambulance service in Tremont.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Sgt. Ryan Blakeney conducted an escort for a boat that was being moved in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a report of someone in Southwest Harbor who was painting close to the road and was difficult to see. Sgt. Blakeney spoke with the painter and got them to move to a safer area to continue painting.
Officer James Kamorski responded to a noise complaint in Southwest Harbor and resolved the issue.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Officer Russell handled a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Kristen Roulet received a residential alarm in Southwest Harbor but was cancelled by the alarm company before a response could be made.
Officer Roulet took a report of fraud from someone who walked into the Southwest Harbor Police Department to make the report.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Officer Graham responded to a noise complaint in Southwest Harbor regarding drums and spoke with the drummer who advised that he would stop.
Officer Graham performed a vehicle stop in Tremont and issue the driver a warning for speeding.
Officer Graham responded to a vehicle operation complaint in Tremont but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Graham took a report from a man staying in a Southwest Harbor campground that he had been bitten by a dog in Acadia National Park. The man was referred to the park service.
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Officer Graham responded to a noise complaint regarding noise coming forma Southwest Harbor business on Main Street. Officer Graham was able to locate the source of the noise and get it to stop.
Sgt. Blakeney is investigating an event that took place between two people at the Southwest Harbor town dock and that was reported by one of the people involved.
Monday, June 23, 2025
Sgt. Blakeney responded to a report of a loose dog on a Southwest Harbor roadway but was unable to locate the dog.
Officer Russell responded to a report that there was a deer in the ditch alongside a Southwest Harbor roadway that was either dead or giving birth. Officer Russell found the deer to be alive and to be a doe giving birth to a fawn.
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.
MDEA and Kennebunk Police Department Arrest Kennebunk Man for Manufacturing Methamphetamine
KENNEBUNK—MDEA agents and the Kennebunk Police Department have been investigating the manufacture of methamphetamine in the Kennebunk region and on Monday, June 16, 2025, arrested Chadd Roper, 46, of Kennebunk, for unlawful operation of a methamphetamine laboratory.
For the past six months, MDEA personnel responded to multiple dump sites in Kennebunk and Wells where plastic bottles used in the manufacturing of ‘one pot’ methamphetamine labs had been found. These were all located by area citizens while walking or biking along the road.
A suspect was subsequently identified and on Monday, June 16, at approximately 1:20 p.m., a uniformed Kennebunk police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Maguire Road.
Officers located Roper operating the car. There was also a dog inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle located numerous backpacks, bags, and other items relative to to a one pot methamphetamine laboratory. The laboratory was in the active stages of the process of producing methamphetamine. Due to the extreme chance of explosion and fire, the road was shut down and the immediate area was evacuated for safety.
The Kennebunk Fire Department was notified and responded to monitor the safety of the scene pending the arrival of a specially trained agent from DEA, who is trained to mitigate the danger of the lab, render them safe, as well as collect samples for evidence.
Once the laboratory was rendered safe and all evidence had been gathered, the remaining toxic byproducts of the lab were turned over for destruction to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection who responded to the scene as well.
Roper was transported to the York County Jail. His bail was set at $25,000 cash. This investigation will continue, and additional charges are expected.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Arson Fire in Minot
MINOT—On Sunday, June 15, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Office of State Fire Marshal responded to 330 Garfield Road in Minot at the request of the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office.
A detached two-bay garage was destroyed by fire, and the adjacent home sustained significant fire, heat, and smoke damage. The home has been deemed uninhabitable, and three individuals were displaced as a result. The fire has been classified as incendiary. 57-year-old John Poulin who knew the homeowner and was staying at the residence was taken into custody in connection with starting the fire. He was later transported to a local hospital for an evaluation. He is expected to be arrested and charged with arson upon his release.
There were no reported injuries. Two vehicles and a motorcycle were damaged in the fire. The Office of State Fire Marshal would like to thank the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, Minot Fire Department, Poland Fire Department, Auburn Fire Department, and Mechanic Falls Fire Department for their assistance with the response and investigation.
MDEA and Winthrop Police Department Arrest Two for Aggravated Drug Trafficking in Winthrop
WINTHROP—For the past month, The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency South Central DTF and the Winthrop Police Department have been conducting a joint investigation into the sale of cocaine and fentanyl from a Winthrop Motel.
On June 18, agents obtained three search warrants. One for a motel and one for a storage unit in Winthrop and another for a storage unit in Gardiner. During the search of the motel, agents seized 116 grams of Fentanyl and 158 grams of cocaine. During the search of the Winthrop storage unit agents seized an additional 143 grams of cocaine and $6980.00 in suspected drug proceeds. No drugs or suspected drug proceeds were seized at the Gardiner storage unit.
The estimated street value of the fentanyl is $14,500 and the estimated street value of the cocaine is $30,000.
Arrested were:
Stephen Lee Smith, 34, of Broad Brook, Connecticut, for two counts of aggravated drug trafficking class A. Smith is currently being held at the Kennebec County Jail awaiting his initial appearance in court on $50,000 cash bail.
Katelynn Dubois, 32, of Winthrop, for two counts aggravated drug trafficking class A and one count unlawful trafficking schedule W drugs class B. Dubois is currently being held at the Kennebec County Jail awaiting her initial appearance in court on a bail of $500 cash with $5000 unsecured.
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 in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.
If you or someone you know suffers from 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.
Arrest Made in Lewiston Child Death Investigation
LEWISTON—On May 17, 2025, at approximately 4:55 a.m., the Lewiston Police Department received a 911 call reporting a 4-year-old child with a gunshot wound at 93 Pierce Street in Lewiston. The Lewiston Police Department, Lewiston Fire Department and United Ambulance Service responded.
The child, identified as Jasper Smith, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:08 a.m. Jasper was later transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy.
The Lewiston Police Department requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was notified as required by protocol when a child dies in a household.
Since that time, the investigation has continued. On June 18, 2025, at approximately 10:25 a.m., police arrested 35-year-old Robert McCoy, the child’s stepfather. He has been charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.
The child’s mother, 27-year-old Mikayla Smith, was also arrested on unrelated warrants.
Both were transported to the Androscoggin County Jail.
We would like to thank the Lewiston Police Department and DHHS for their continued assistance with this investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.
Search Warrant Leads to Seizure of Drugs, Firearms, and Arrests in Waldo County
BROOKS—On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, troopers with the Maine State Police, Central Field Troop executed a search warrant at 23 Gardner Drive in Brooks, following an investigation led by troopers, deputies from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department, and an investigator from the Maine Department of Corrections.
The search warrant was the result of a months-long investigation during which troopers identified the residence as a source of supply for fentanyl and crack cocaine in the greater Waldo County area. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms, a significant quantity of cash, approximately 87 grams of fentanyl powder, 5 grams of crack cocaine, and illegally possessed prescription drugs.
Arrested were:
Nature Gordon, 21, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs.
Ian Freeman, 38, of Brooks, was charged with aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Jamie Freeman, 39, of Brooks, was charged with aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Joseph Hills, 38, of Brooks, was charged with unlawful possession of schedule W drugs.
All individuals were transported to the Waldo County Jail. The investigation continues.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Vehicle Fire Linked to Lithium-Ion Battery Failure
HOLLIS—The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a vehicle fire that occurred on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at approximately 11:45 p.m., at a residence on Moderation Street in Hollis. The incident involved a custom show vehicle and a portable garage structure.
Preliminary findings indicate the fire was caused by a failure of a lithium-ion battery bank that was being charged at the time. The vehicle’s owner had been preparing the car for an upcoming audio show and was installing a custom built, battery-powered audio system. The system was connected to a battery charger when the homemade battery bank failed, igniting a fire that damaged both the vehicle and the adjacent portable garage.
The fire was witnessed, and no serious injuries were reported. Officials remind the public of the significant hazards associated with do-it-yourself (DIY) energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion batteries. They urge caution when charging or modifying high-capacity battery setups.
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.
Unless otherwise captioned, all photos courtesy of Maine Department of Public Safety
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