Unattended Restaurant Fire Luckily Stopped By Water Supply Line
Bar Harbor Police Log
BAR HARBOR— On August 21, at approximately 4:50 a.m., an employee entered the Thirsty Whale Tavern to find the building full of smoke. The employee called the fire department. Upon arrival, firefighters determined that there had been a small fire in the basement which had been extinguished by chance.
According to Fire Chief Matt Bartlett, employees from the Thirsty Whale Tavern had done a load of laundry from the restaurant. After the laundry had been washed and dried, it was set aside. The pile of laundry then spontaneously combusted. Fortunately, it was located beneath a plastic water supply line which melted from the flames. The water from the line then extinguished the fire.
After ensuring that there was no further fire danger, the firefighters ventilated the building and assisted the employees of the business with getting back to an operational status so that they could open that day.
Chief Bartlett said that spontaneous laundry combustions have happened on multiple occasions in town and would like the public to be aware of the dangers of washing grease permeated fabrics onsite. Chief Bartlett says that over time, the fabrics build up grease that the washing process does not remove. Once dry, the laundry continues to heat and can sometimes combust without a flame source.
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor last week according to the Bar Harbor police log, which is publicly released information.
Monday, August 21, 2023
Officer Nathan Formby gave someone a ride.
Timothy Fox, 55, of Trenton, was driving a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek south on Route 3 when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by Fox’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury. The Subaru sustained moderate damage, and the deer fled from the scene.
Officer Lucas Keene took a report of the front lawn of a business having been vandalized. No further information given.
Officer Keene responded to a report of a trailer in the roadway, but the trailer was gone by the time he arrived.
Lt. Chris Wharff assisted another agency with information regarding a former resident.
Officer Keene handled a dispute over parking. No further information given.
Jocelyn Duff, 35, of Hampden, Maine, parked her 2020 Honda CRV in a legal parking spot on Kennebec Street and while it was parked, it was struck by an unknown vehicle causing damage to the driver’s side front bumper.
Officer Elias Burne responded to a complaint of people yelling at each other. After investigation, no charges were issued.
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Officer Keene handled a civil issue between a business owner and a former employee.
Lt. Kevin Edgecomb handled a hit and run accident on Cottage Street where a United States Postal Service vehicle’s mirror was struck by an unknown vehicle.
Patricia Rice, 59, of New York, was driving a 2007 Acura and backing out of a driveway when the dog that was in her backseat distracted her and caused her to swerve and leave the roadway. There was damage to the exterior of the vehicle and the undercarriage, causing the vehicle to have to be towed. No personal or canine injury was reported and there was no information given regarding what she struck.
A woman called the police department asking for advice on transferring an item to someone else.
Officer Chris Dickens spoke with an individual who had been scammed out of money by a gift card scam and gave them some information on avoiding scams in the future.
Officer Dickens spoke with a property owner regarding property that a renter had left behind. Officer Dickens gave the homeowner instructions on the appropriate state statutes pertinent to the disposal of abandoned items.
Officer Dickens and other officers responded to a complaint of a road rage incident on Eden Street. All of the involved people were spoken to but no charges were filed.
Officer Judson Cake received a complaint from a bar about someone using a fake identification but could not locate the person.
Officer Liam Harrington took a complaint of erratic motor vehicle operation. No further information or a disposition was given.
Officers responded to a disorderly complaint on Eden Street. Everyone involved was dispersed and asked to quiet down.
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Officer Amie Torrey received a complaint of dead turkeys in the roadway. No further information or a disposition was given.
A business called the police department regarding a disorderly man in their store. They asked that he be issued a trespass warning for the store if located. No further information or a disposition was given.
Officer Torrey handled a report of an accident which turned out to be located in Acadia National Park and was given to the park service to handle.
Officer Torrey responded to a report of a woman sitting in the middle of the roadway, but the woman was gone when Officer Torrey arrived.
David J. Henning, no age given, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was driving a 2023 Infiniti QX8 in the parking lot of the West Street Hotel when he attempted to make a right-hand turn. Henning allegedly turned too sharply and struck a 2018 Volkswagen last operated by Giovanni M. Scricco, no age given, of Frenchtown, New Jersey, and which was parked. There was no reported personal injury and minor damage to both vehicles.
According to witnesses, a truck owned by Pine State Trading Company and which was being driven by Joshua C. Smith, no age given, of Newport, Maine, was being backed across West Street when the truck allegedly struck a small propane line, breaking it. The truck then left the scene. The propane supply line belongs to Ocean Properties and a small amount of propane escaped before the line could be shut down. According to the responding officer, they believe that the propane line was so small that Smith didn’t realize that he had hit it.
Maynard W. Deering Jr., no age given, of Hampden, Maine, was driving a 2014 Prevost bus south on Main Street when, according to witnesses, he allegedly sideswiped a 2022 Toyota pickup truck which was legally parked and last operated by Eric H. Pierce, no age given, of Medford, Massachusetts. There was no reported personal injury. The Toyota had damage to the driver’s side and there was no noticeable damage to the bus.
David A. Stevens, 65, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, was operating a 2016 Ford Fusion southbound on Route 3 when he decided to make a U-turn. Stevens pulled over to the right-hand side of the roadway and began to make his U-turn. Stevens allegedly did not realize that Christopher S. Cox, 32, of Brownsburg, Indiana, was following behind in a 2018 Dodge Ram. Cox’s vehicle struck Stevens’ vehicle in the driver’s side. There was no reported personal injury. Stevens’ vehicle had to be towed from the scene and Cox’s vehicle sustained damage to the front fender. Stevens was issued a citation for allegedly reversing direction without adequate vision.
Samuel Pitrowski, no age given, of Illinois, was driving a 2013 Dodge pickup and was attempting to exit a legal parking spot on Main Street. While trying to leave the parking spot, Pitrowski allegedly hit a 2014 Nissan which was legally parked and last operated by Young Lee, 23, of New Jersey. There was no reported personal injury. The Nissan sustained minor damage and the damage to the pickup is unknown.
Kristin R. Hutchins, 64, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2015 Ford motorcoach eastbound on Cromwell Harbor Road. Jared J. Malsom, 47, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was driving a 2012 Dodge Ram westbound on the same road. When the two drivers passed each other, their mirrors collided. There was no reported personal injury and the driver’s side mirrors of both vehicles were damaged.
Aubriana Hudiburgh, 22, of Centennial, Colorado, was driving a 2023 Ford SUV eastbound on Eagle Lake Road when a deer entered the roadway and was struck by Hudiburgh’s vehicle. There was no reported personal injury and the vehicle sustained minor damage to the driver’s side front corner.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Officer Formby “enforced a portion of the Bar Harbor municipal code.” No further information or a disposition was given.
Officer Keene arrested Linda Gelardi, 56, of Clinton, Massachusetts, on an arrest warrant for failure to appear. Gelardi was transported to the Hancock County Jail where she was issued a summons for being a fugitive from justice.
Paul Bridges, 64, of Florida, was driving a 2010 Ford E450 on Cromwell Harbor Road. John Morehead, 70, of Ohio, was driving a 2014 Ford F150 in the opposite direction on Cromwell Harbor Road. When the two vehicles passed each other, their mirrors hit, causing damage to the driver’s side mirror on both vehicles. There was no reported personal injury.
According to a report by Assistant Harbor Master Chris Johansen, “a tender boat from a cruise ship transited the harbor channel causing a wake large enough to potentially cause injury to other boaters operating in the area.”
Bradley Stager, 67, of Southwest Harbor, was driving a 2007 Honda minivan and was attempting to pull into a parking spot on Cottage Street when he allegedly struck a 2021 Jeep Gladiator, that was last operated by Karen Harper, 52, of Bar Harbor and was parked in front of the spot that Stager was trying to enter. There was no personal injury. The Jeep received minor damage to the front left corner and there was no damage to the Honda.
The police department received a noise complaint about a recreational vehicle that was on private property. The police department contacted that property manager who was going to take care of the issue.
Officer Burne received a complaint “about a traffic pattern.” No further information or a disposition was given.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg investigated a complaint of suspicious behavior and found that there was no criminal behavior involved.
Officer Tim Bland responded to a noise complaint, located the vehicle involved, and was able to get the people inside the vehicle to stop being loud.
Friday, August 25, 2023
Officer Liam Harrington provided a ride to a couple of people in need.
Officer Harrington spoke with a business regarding health code violations.
Officer J. Cake took a report of a rental vehicle that had been vandalized.
Officer Burne responded to a complaint of a traffic hazard in a roadway and removed a tree from the roadway.
Officer Burne was advised of a vehicle in Trenton that was heading towards MDI with no lights on after dark but was unable to locate the vehicle.
Officer Formby is investigating a report of theft from a business.
Officer Kaleb Payson performed a security check at MDI High School and found everything to be secure.
Officer Formby received a report from an individual not in the towns of Bar Harbor or
Mount Desert. The reporting party was clearly having a mental health episode. The complaint
the individual made was confirmed to be physically impossible and the agency where the individual lives was contacted.
Officer Payson responded to a citizen dispute and both people went their separate ways after Officer Payson spoke with them.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Officer Formby received some information which he is now investigating.
A woman was reported running into the roadway but when Officer Mora checked the area, he could not locate her, and no further complaints were received.
Officer Mora checked on a reported traffic hazard but could not locate anything when he arrived.
Officer Mora investigated a report of a man making an unwanted comment to an employee, but the man could not be located.
After receiving a complaint of erratic vehicle operation, during which the vehicle struck a curb and blew out a tire, Jonathan Mullen, 50, of Bar Harbor, was arrested for alleged operating under the influence.
Sgt. Sundberg conducted a well-being check and found that the individual did not require any assistance.
Officer Jerrod Hardy assisted the Southwest Harbor Police Department with two disorderly people.
Officer J. Cake arrested Griffin Costello-Sanders, 24, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence and summonsed Costello-Sanders for alleged driving to endanger.
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Officer Harrington provided a ride to a family in need.
Christopher Lester, 48, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2019 Honda Odyssey northbound on Main Street when his vehicle’s mirror struck the mirror of a parked 2015 Honda Odyssey, driver unknown. There was no reportable damage.
Sgt. Sundberg took a report of fraud but the victim did not lose any money.
STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASES
These are the Maine State Police press releases that we’ve received in the last few days. The Bar Harbor Story will include this each week though most (and sometimes all) do not occur in Bar Harbor.
SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH IN FRANKLIN
Agencies Involved:
MSP Northern Field Troop, Bangor Regional Communications Center, Franklin Fire and Rescue
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service:
Saturday, August 19, 2023 1:08 am
Location of Call for Service:
Franklin, Maine
Summary of incident:
On Saturday, August 19, 2023, at approximately 1:08 am, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received a report of a single vehicle crash that occurred in the area 45 West Franklin Road in Franklin.
It was reported that a passing motorist located a 2010 Silver Chevy Aveo upside down on the opposite side of the roadway and the driver appeared to be unconscious and seriously hurt.
Upon arrival, Troopers learned the male operator of the vehicle 51-year-old John Emerson of Franklin was deceased.
The initial investigation indicates that Emerson had crossed the center line, prior to leaving the roadway and striking a large rock, which resulted in his vehicle overturning.
Speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. The Maine State Police was assisted by the Franklin Fire Department and EMS.
Agencies Involved:
MSP Southern Field Troop, York County Sheriff’s Office, Kennebunk PD, Augusta Regional Communications Center, Biddeford Emergency Communications Center, Hollis, Goodwins Mills, Waterboro and Buxton Fire/Rescue
FOUR TROOPERS HIT BY CAR
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service:
Sunday, August 27, 2023 10:00 pm
Location of Call for Service:
Hollis, Maine
Summary of incident:
On Sunday, August 27, 2023, at approximately 10:00 pm Trooper’s Jake Mowry, David Lemieux, Dakota Stewart and Trooper Recruit Shane St. Pierre responded to a family dispute / complaint at the intersection of the Hollis Road (Rte. 202) and Star Lane in the town of Hollis.
The Troopers were conducting interviews in the breakdown area / driveway of a residence. At approx. 11:12 pm, a vehicle traveling eastbound on Hollis Rd. drove into the breakdown lane and struck all four Troopers.
The vehicle was operated by a 24-year-old male from Westbrook. He also had a passenger in the vehicle. It is unknown at this time why the vehicle drove into the breakdown lane. The driver was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries.
The Troopers were also transported to Maine Medical Center (MMC).
Trooper Stewart was treated and released from the hospital with several broken bones in his right foot. Troopers Lemieux, Mowry, and Trooper Recruit St. Pierre remain at MMC and are being treated for their serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Tr. Jake Mowry, 28, was hired in February 2023. Tr. David Lemieux, 33, was hired in August 2019. Tr. Dakota Stewart, 33, was hired in January 2023. Tr. Recruit Shane St. Pierre, 22, was hired in July 2023.
The crash is being investigated by the York County Sheriff’s Office. The scene was reconstructed by the Kennebunk Police Department. Investigators have conferred with the York County District Attorney's Office and will work with them moving forward.
VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD IN LITTLETON
Agencies Involved:
MSP Troop F, Houlton Regional Communications Center, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department Littleton Fire, Southern Aroostook Ambulance, Westerdahls Towing, Versant
Date & Time of Initial Call for Service:
Monday, August 28, 2023 9:02 am
Location of Call for Service:
Littleton, Maine
Summary of incident:
On Monday, August 28, 2023, at approximately 9:02 am, Troopers responded to a report of a vehicle that went off the road and into the woods on Houlton Road (Rt.1) in Littleton.
Passing motorists reported that two people were walking away from the scene. Southern Aroostook Ambulance arrived on scene and began treating one of the men. The second man continued and could not be found initially.
The vehicle was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed and lost control causing the vehicle to skid off the right side of the road and hit a pole before coming to rest in the woods.
The operator, 20-year-old Dominick Webber of Corinna was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The second man was later heard yelling for help in the woods and was located by Troopers. The passenger was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Rt. 1 was shut down for approximately one hour while crews removed the vehicle and replaced a utility pole. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
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