Two Pickup Trucks Journey Off-Road in Two Different Crashes

And the rest of the area (and state) police logs

Nov 12, 2024

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.

MOUNT DESERT—On Monday, November 4, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Mark R. Merrill, 36, of Ellsworth, was driving a 2019 Chevy Silverado east on the Indian Point Road in Mount Desert when the vehicle left the roadway to the right and began traveling in the ditch. While in the ditch, the vehicle crossed Driftwood Way and then struck a street sign and telephone pole before coming to rest, still in the ditch.

According to the press release accident report by Officer Liam Harrington, he observed what appeared to be minor cuts on Merrill from the accident, but Merrill refused to be evaluated by ambulance personnel.

After an investigation, Merrill was arrested by Officer Harrington for alleged operating under the influence and was summonsed for alleged violation of conditions of release and alleged failure to report an accident by quickest means. The truck was towed from the scene due to serious, disabling front end and body damage.

BAR HARBOR—On Friday, November 8, at approximately 9:09 a.m., Kyle Senter, 32, of Clifton, Maine, was driving a 2007 Ford F-150 south on Route 3 in Bar Harbor when the vehicle allegedly left the roadway to the right and struck a guardrail which sent the truck airborne and into a telephone pole before coming to rest.

According to the press release accident report by Sgt. Soren Sundberg, Senter refused medical transport and there is no report of injury. The truck was towed due to disabling damage.

BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT POLICE LOGS

The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor and Mount Desert last week according to the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department police logs, which is publicly released information.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Officer Troy Stanwood found two dogs running loose on the Knox Road in Town Hill and was able to secure the dogs until the owner was located later.

Someone made a late report of a road rage incident in Bar Harbor to Officer Stanwood.

Officer Caleb Mora received a report from a Mount Desert resident of an email scam attempt. No crime was committed, he wrote.

An off-duty Bar Harbor police officer alerted on duty officers of a domestic situation occurring in a parked vehicle on Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor. Responding officers determined that it was only a verbal dispute and one of the people involved was warned for disorderly conduct.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Officer Mora responded to a report of an open door at a residence in Bar Harbor and determined that it was simply an unsecured door.

In Mount Desert, a civil dispute was reported to Officer Lukas Keene.

Officer Mora verified a VIN number for someone in Mount Desert.

Sgt. Jerrod Hardy performed a security check at a Bar Harbor Municipal Building and found no issues.

Officer Justin Burnett performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found them to be fine.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Sgt. Soren Sundberg documented some information for someone in Bar Harbor.

After receiving a report of someone acting in an odd manner in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Sundberg located the person and found that no crime or violation had occurred.

Lt. Kevin Edgecomb responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Higgins Farm Road in Bar Harbor but upon arrival could not locate any gun use.

Sgt. Chris Dickens and Sgt. Hardy assisted the MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor with a patient experiencing crisis.

Sgt. Dickens checked on seasonal residences on Mill Cove Road in Mount Desert.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department officers assisted Acadia National Park with a park call for service in Bar Harbor.

Sgt. Dickens performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be all set.

Officer Zack Kline checked on a parking compliant on Main Street in Bar Harbor but could not locate any illegally parked vehicles.

A Bar Harbor resident called the Bar Harbor Police Department to document an incident that had occurred outside their home.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Sgt. Hardy served a subpoena to a Bar Harbor resident.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Officer Burnett received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a possible road rage incident in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.

Sgt. Doug Brundrett and Officer Mora assisted with the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s bed races in Bar Harbor.

Officer Mora responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, but the vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

A Bar Harbor resident reported low hanging wires on Greeley Avenue in Bar Harbor and Consolidated Communications was made aware of the issue.

After receiving a complaint of firewood strewn along the roadway from the Trenton bridge to the Somesville Fire Station, Officer Mora was able to locate the cause: an unsecured load of firewood on a trailer in Somesville. The operator of the vehicle pulling the trailer was warned for having an unsecured load and promptly retrieved all of the missing firewood from the roadway.

Officer Harrington took a report of a disturbance at a Bar Harbor business. No further information or disposition was given.

After receiving a report of a downed tree affecting a power pole on Sargeant Drive in Mount Desert, Versant was made aware of the situation.

Officer Kaleb Payson responded to a report of erratic operation of a motor vehicle in Bar Harbor, located the suspect vehicle, but did not observe any erratic operation.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of an alleged shellfish violation at Clark Cove in Bar Harbor, which was referred to the Maine Marine Patrol.

After conducting a conditions of release compliance check in Town Hill, Officer Mora summonsed Thomas McIntire, 43, of Ellsworth, for alleged violation of conditions of release.

Officer Burnett performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor who was found to be fine.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Officer Shelby O’Neil stood by while the Bar Harbor Ambulance performed a medical call in Bar Harbor. Officer O’Neil’s assistance was not needed.

Officer Kline is investigating a late report of a possible domestic incident in Bar Harbor.

After receiving a report of harassment in Bar Harbor, Officer Nathan Formby issued written harassment warnings to two people.

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, November 4, 2024

Chief John Hall received a complaint of political signs being placed in a prohibited area in Southwest Harbor. After checking with officials, the signs were removed.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Chief Hall responded to a report of a wire on the roadway on the Seal Cove Road in Southwest Harbor. Chief Hall determined that it was a cable wire and notified the proper company.

Sgt. Ryan Blakeney responded to a Southwest Harbor residence for a possible medical issue. It turns out that the resident was testing their medical alert button.

Someone reported to the Southwest Harbor Police Department that there was a water main break on Herrick Road in Southwest Harbor. The water department was already aware and working on it.

Sgt. Blakeney responded to Tremont for a report of a possible trespasser but could not locate anyone.

Sgt. Blakeney took a report from a Tremont resident that a vehicle was following them in Bass Harbor. The complainant had no further issues.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Officer Bradley Russell performed a well-being check on someone in Tremont and found them to be fine but having phone issues.

Officer Russell responded to a noise complaint at a Southwest Harbor residence and issued the noise makers a warning for disorderly conduct.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Sgt. Blakeney performed a school visit at the Pemetic School in Southwest Harbor.

Sgt. Blakeney performed a school visit at the Tremont School in Tremont.

Sgt. Blakeney responded to a barking dog complaint in Southwest Harbor, but the dog stopped barking shortly after he arrived in the area.

Sgt. Blakeney responded to a burglar alarm at a Southwest Harbor residence and met with the keyholder who said that everything was all set.

Sgt. Blakeney served court paperwork at a Southwest Harbor residence.

Sgt. Blakeney attempted to serve court paperwork at a Tremont residence but was unable to do so.

Sgt. Blakeney attempted to serve court paperwork at another Tremont residence but was unable to do so.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Officer Russell responded to Tremont for a report of an intoxicated person who had showed up at a residence and was causing problems. By the time Officer Russell arrived, the person was unresponsive and was transported to the hospital by an ambulance.

Officer Russell assisted someone in Southwest Harbor with getting back into their apartment after they had locked themselves out.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Officer Russell responded to a residential burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor and found the residence to be secure with no issues.

Officer Russell responded to a residential burglar alarm in Southwest Harbor, met with the keyholder, and found there to be no issues.

Officer Russell attempted to serve court paperwork to someone in Tremont but was unable to do so because the person is out of town for the week.

Officer Russell served court paperwork to someone in Tremont.

Officer Russell attempted to serve court paperwork to someone in Tremont but was unable to do so because the person was at work.

Officer Russell attempted to serve court paperwork to someone in Tremont but was unable to do so because the person wasn’t home but Officer Russell spoke with the person via their Ring doorbell and they picked the paperwork up later at another local police department.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Sgt. Blakeney responded to Tremont for a report of ATVs being operated on the roadway but was unable to locate the ATVs.

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 on Mount Desert Island.

Maine State Police Investigating Wrong Way Driver on I-295 in Portland

PORTLAND—On Monday, November 4, 2024, at approximately 11:50 a.m., the Bangor Regional Communications Center started taking calls of a wrong-way driver going northbound in the southbound lanes of I-295 in the city of Portland between exits seven and eight. Troopers from Troop I began responding to the area. Yarmouth Rescue was traveling northbound at the time and saw the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser going the wrong way. The ambulance turned around to try to get the driver’s attention. The driver positioned the ambulance at an angle on I-295 to block the wrong-way vehicle.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle began backing up when she saw the ambulance had stopped up ahead of her. A trooper pulled up to the wrong-way vehicle with its cruiser’s emergency lights on and the driver stopped. The trooper was able to put the vehicle in park and get the keys. The driver was a 78-year-old female from Westbrook who appeared to be having a medical event. She was initially trying to get to Mercy Hospital, so Yarmouth Rescue, the ambulance that stopped to help transported her there. The vehicle was towed from the scene. Maine DOT assisted in a lane closure while the scene was being cleared up. The Portland Police Department also assisted on scene.

Maine State Police Investigates Tractor-Trailer vs. Pedestrian Crash on I-95 in Newport

Photo: Maine Department of Public Safety

NEWPORT—On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the Maine State Police responded to a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a pedestrian on I-95 southbound near mile marker 157 in Palmyra. The incident occurred as a worker from Northeast Paving was placing cones on the highway for an evening paving project. A tractor-trailer, carrying recycled paper, struck the construction vehicle, causing the worker, identified as 24-year-old Charles Miller, of Enfield, to be thrown from the truck. Miller sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 38-year-old Boureima Dicko, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and employed by JT Freight Inc. of Des Plaines, Illinois, was not injured. Additionally, the driver of the construction vehicle was unharmed. One lane was closed while both trucks were towed from the scene and the crash was reconstructed. The Maine State Police is investigating the crash.

Maine State Police Investigating Crash in Bradford

BRADFORD—On Friday, November 8, 2024, at approximately 7:33 a.m., troopers responded to a vehicle vs. horse and buggy crash on Main Road in Bradford. The initial investigation indicates the driver of a white 2017 Ford SUV was traveling southbound and attempted to pass the horse and buggy when another vehicle was approaching from the opposite direction. To avoid that vehicle the driver of the SUV, 28-year-old Kendra Page, of Bradford, tried to wedge between the horse and buggy to avoid hitting the car. Page didn’t have enough room and struck the buggy from behind.

The three occupants in the buggy were ejected and the horse suffered life threatening injuries which caused it to be dispatched. The three occupants of the buggy and Page, the driver of the SUV, were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Maine State Police Investigates Two Separate Multi-Vehicle Crashes on I-95 in Bangor

BANGOR—On Saturday, November 9, 2024, at approximately 10:57 a.m., troopers responded to two separate multi-vehicle crashes on I-95 northbound in Bangor. The initial investigation indicates that a vehicle traveling in the passing lane sped up and crossed into the travel lane to take exit 186. That action caused a vehicle in the right lane to brake quickly to avoid a collision. As a result, this created a chain reaction crash involving three vehicles that blocked both the passing and travel lanes. The vehicle that took the exit was not involved in the crash and did not stop.

The initial crash caused a secondary crash also involving three vehicles. Two occupants in one of vehicles involved in the secondary crash were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Traffic was blocked for just about an hour while the scene was cleared. Assisting Troop I was the Northen Field Troop, Bangor Police Department, Bangor Fire Department, Union Street Towing, and Bouchard’s Towing. The crash remains under investigation.

Fire Marshal’s Office Investigators Arrest Steuben Man for Arson

STEUBEN—On Sunday, October 13, 2024, the Fire Marshals Office Investigations Division was requested to respond to the Pinkham Bay Road in Steuben for a reported vehicle fire. As a result of the investigation, 30-year-old Cameron Brown, of Steuben, was arrested for arson (class A), theft by unauthorized taking or transfer (class B) and theft by unauthorized use of property (class D). The investigation is ongoing and additional arrest and charges are expected.

Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fatal Fire in Bangor

BANGOR—On November 10, 2024, at approximately 9:14 p.m., the Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to respond to a fire that occurred inside a tent at 49 Cleveland Street in Bangor. The tent was occupied at the time by an adult male who was discovered deceased. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed, and positive identification can be established.

Investigators are working closely with Bangor Fire Department and the Bangor Police Department on the cause and origin of the fire. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.