Woman Rescued After Icy Fall in Acadia National Park
Pair of Men Summoned for Allegedly Driving 102 MPH in Trenton
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
Woman Falls 25 Feet After Icy Slip
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—According to Acadia National Park Public Affairs Officer Amanda Pollock, around 4 p.m. on March 10, 2025, 27 people amassed to rescue a 55-year-old woman who had been hiking on the Pemetic Northwest Trail.
Despite wearing traction devices on her footwear, the woman slipped on ice and fell 25 feet. After the rescuers performed a technical rescue to retrieve the woman, she was transported by the Mount Desert Fire Department ambulance to MDI Hospital. The woman suffered head and leg injuries in the fall.
Assisting Acadia National Park personnel were the Mount Desert Fire Department, the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, Land and Garden Preserve personnel, and MDI Search and Rescue.
“The park is grateful to our rangers and partners who helped ensure the carryout operation took place safely and successfully,” said Pollock.
Two Men Summoned For Allegedly Driving 102 MPH in Trenton
TRENTON—After having received multiple reports of early morning speeders on the Bar Harbor Road in Trenton, Hancock County Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Archer decided to see if he could do something about it.
On March 4, 2025, Lt. Archer was out early, before 5 a.m., and set up in the stretch of road between Stanley Subaru and the former Cannon Outlet. Lt. Archer said that speed is an issue along that route in the morning and he could have stopped multiple vehicles, but one in particular had been reported as being a habitual speeding offender and he didn’t want to give away the fact that he was there that morning by stopping vehicles for more minor speed infractions.
At approximately 5:03 a.m., Lt. Archer witnessed two different vehicles, one behind the other, passing a slower moving vehicle heading toward Bar Harbor. The vehicles registered 102 mph on Lt. Archer’s radar in a 50-mph zone and he pulled out behind them in an attempt to stop them. The rear vehicle pulled over and allowed Lt. Archer to stop the first vehicle. Once the rear vehicle got under way again, the driver pulled over again when Lt. Archer signaled him to do so.
Evan Houlson, 18, of Ellsworth, was summoned by Lt. Archer for alleged criminal speed (30 mph or more over the posted speed limit).
Andrew Brown, 36, of Brewer, was also summoned by Lt. Archer for alleged criminal speed (30 mph or more over the posted speed limit).
Both men were summoned and released from the scene.
Lamoine Fisherman Gets Two Years for Attack on Coworker
ELLSWORTH—Last Wednesday, Duncan Haass, 32, of Lamoine was sentenced for two years after attacking a coworker in July 2023.
Dmitry Dubrovsky, 31, of Bar Harbor, previously of Ellsworth had also been sentenced in the case. That sentencing occurred in December, 2024. Dubrovsky received 25 years, with all but 15 suspended.
The attempted murder case involved a Lamoine man who had been shot in the head, beaten, and driven from Lamoine to Ellsworth, according to police. Once in Ellsworth, the duo had planned to dump the man’s body in Whittaker Brook, police reported.
Among other charges, Haass pled guilty to kidnapping, burglary, and conspiracy to commit murder: all felonies. He received seven years, with all but two suspended, as well as four years of probation. According to police, Haass helped place the man into a truck and drove the truck. He also helped tie up the man. All had worked together on Haass’ boat.
Dubrovsky had pled guilty to aggravated attempted murder, attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault, as well as aggravated assault. He had shot the man as well as beat him and dragged him out of the truck and into the brook. The man managed to swim away and hid in a nearby shed for hours before getting help from a driver on the Bayside Road that he had waved down.
According to the Bangor Daily News’ Bill Trotter, “The victim, who is 39 years old, ‘suffered serious, life-long debilitating injuries from the gunshot wound and subsequent beating with the pistol,’ Granger said. ‘He has permanently lost hearing in his left ear as the bullet passed through his ear canal before passing out through the back of his head below the ear. He remains permanently disabled and suffers extreme paranoia from the event.’”
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, March 4, 2025
The Bar Harbor Police Department took a report of a vehicle operating erratically. No further information or disposition was given.
A Bar Harbor resident reported information regarding their neighbor’s residence to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
An officer assisted the Middleboro, Massachusetts Police Department with locating a vehicle and its driver in Bar Harbor. The driver and vehicle had been involved in a crash in Middleboro. The vehicle and driver were located.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett is investigating a report of an assault between two juveniles in Bar Harbor.
Officer Nathan Formby is investigating a reported theft that occurred in Bar Harbor.
Following an investigation, Sgt. Jerrod Hardy arrested Kyle W. Spruce, 55, of Bar Harbor, in Bar Harbor, for alleged domestic violence criminal threatening, alleged domestic violence reckless conduct, and alleged threatening display of a weapon. Spruce was transported to the Hancock County jail.
Officer Shelby O’Neil performed a motor vehicle stop in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Sgt. Brundrett responded to a report of a truck blocking Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor and had the operator move the vehicle.
Lotty Boissonnault, 38, of Addison, was driving a Chevy Cobalt (year not given) in the area of Devon Road and West Street Extension and drove the vehicle off the road for unstated reasons. There were no injuries reported and the vehicle was towed. Boissonnault was summonsed for alleged operating after suspension.
Officer Caleb Mora responded to a report of construction debris in the roadway in Bar Harbor and moved the debris onto the shoulder of the road.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Officer Ted Cake assisted the Mount Desert Fire Department with a lift assist in Northeast Harbor.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Tozier spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about family distress and problem solving.
Officer Mora provided an escort for someone in Bar Harbor to retrieve their belongings.
Sgt. Chris Dickens is investigating a theft in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens took a report of an attempted fraud in Bar Harbor. No money was lost.
Sgt. Dickens took a report of an unsecured building on Prospect Avenue in Bar Harbor. No further information or disposition was given.
Officer Zack Kline was on his way to perform a requested well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor but the requesting person said that no police response was needed because they had made contact with the person to be checked on before he could arrive.
Friday, March 7, 2025
Officer Kline assisted a Bar Harbor resident with getting home.
Mathew R. Vigue, 35, of Windham, was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 south on Route 3 in Bar Harbor when he allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle and allegedly lost control of the vehicle. The truck crossed the northbound lane, left the roadway, and struck some rocks which caused the truck to overturn. Vigue received minor injuries and the truck was towed due to disabling damage. Vigue was also summoned for alleged having an inadequate tire.
Sgt. Dickens spoke with a local business group in Mount Desert about recognizing and preventing frauds and scams.
Caitlin Abbott, 27, of Orrington, was driving a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek north on the Indian Point Road in Mount Desert when the vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck a tree. Abbott did sustain unnamed injuries and the vehicle was towed due to disabling front end damage.
Jennifer Rodriquez, 25, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2021 KIA Seltos on Rodick Street in Bar Harbor and had gotten out of the vehicle when it began to roll backward. Rodriquez got back into the vehicle and attempted to put it in drive when the vehicle’s open door struck a nearby metal fence damaging both the fence and the door. Rodriquez denied medical attention according to the report.
Following a traffic stop, Officer Formby arrested Andrew Smith, 45, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating after suspension. Smith was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance in Mount Desert that was determined to be only verbal in nature.
Sgt. Dickens looked for a suspicious vehicle in Bar Harbor at the request of anther agency. No further information or disposition was given.
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Officer Formby looked for a vehicle in Bar Harbor at the request of the Maine State Police. The state police located the vehicle in another town.
A woman in Bar Harbor reported to Officer Amie Torrey that her dog had run off . Another person found the dog and it was reunited with its owner.
After receiving a report of paintball damage to a Bar Harbor business, officers were able to locate four juveniles who were involved. Two 16-year-olds from Bar Harbor, one 17-year-old from Mount Desert, and one 17-year-old from Southwest Harbor.
Someone called the Mount Desert Police Department to provide some information.
Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to document some information.
Officer Torrey received a report of damage to a crosswalk sign in Mount Desert.
An officer spoke with someone suffering from mental health issues in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens gave a Bar Harbor resident a ride to the hospital at their request.
After receiving a report of erratic motor vehicle operation in Bar Harbor, officers were able to locate the vehicle and warn the driver for their vehicle operation.
Officer Torrey responded to a report of a possible burglary in Mount Desert and found that it was a window that needed repair.
Officer Formby assisted the Maine State Police with an investigation in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of suspicious activity at a Bar Harbor business. No further information or disposition was given.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Officer Mora attempted to locate someone in Bar Harbor at the request of another law enforcement agency and it was determined that they no longer live in Bar Harbor.
Officer Formby received some information in Bar Harbor but could not locate the person involved.
Monday, March 10, 2025
After receiving multiple vehicle complaints regarding the same vehicle in Bar Harbor, the vehicle was located by Officer Mora who stopped it. After an investigation, Shannon Smith, 54, of Bar Harbor, was arrested for alleged operating under the influence and alleged violation of conditions of release. Smith was transported to the Hancock County Jail
Brynn Reese, 27, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2011 Subaru outback east on Crooked Road in Bar Harbor when Reese allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to icy road conditions and struck an oncoming 2004 Honda Accord that was being driven by Sarah Flood, 38, of Bar Harbor. There were no injuries reported and both vehicles sustained front end damage but were drivable.
A Bar Harbor man updated his sexual offender registry information at the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Sgt. Brundrett spoke with a Bar Harbor resident regarding ongoing family concerns.
Officer Mora performed a VIN verification in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora is investigating a possible theft in Bar Harbor.
Officer Justin Burnett gave a Bar Harbor resident a ride home from the hospital.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby arrested Jonathan Mullen, 51, of Bar Harbor, for alleged operating under the influence and alleged operating without a license. Mullen was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
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, March 3, 2025
Officer James Kamorski served a subpoena to a Tremont resident on behalf of the Ellsworth Police Department.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Chief John Hall responded to a report of a vehicle being stuck by a gate in Southwest Harbor. Chief Hall located the vehicle stuck at the Acadia National Park entrance. The vehicle operator had already called for a tow truck and was all set.
A Southwest Harbor resident brought a loose dog into the police department that they had found on the Seawall Road. The police department posted a picture of the dog on social media and the owner came to pick it up after responding to the post.
Officer Kamorski retrieved some drug paraphernalia that had been found at a Southwest Harbor business and made sure that it was properly disposed of.
Wednesday, Mach 5, 2025
Officer Kamorski responded to a report of a suspicious person in the parking lot of a Tremont apartment complex but could not locate anyone in the area upon arrival.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Officer Kamorski responded to a residential burglar alarm in Tremont and found that the alarm had been set off by an animal and that there were no signs of forced entry.
Chief Hall responded to a complaint of harassment or road rage in which a vehicle followed the complainant’s vehicle into the parking lot of a Southwest Harbor store and waited in the parking lot while the complainant went into the store. The vehicle was gone upon Chief Hall’s arrival and he could not locate it.
Officer Kamorski is investigating a report of vandalism to a Southwest Harbor residence.
Friday, March 7, 2025
Chief Hall performed a requested well-being check on a Southwest Harbor resident who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and was supposedly out driving her vehicle. Chief Hall located the woman at her residence and she was all set.
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Officer Kamorski performed a requested well-being check on a Tremont resident and found them to be all set.
Chief Hall is investigating a van that was damaged and in a ditch in Tremont, but Chief Hall believes the damage to the van was not caused at the location where the van was in the ditch.
Officer Kamorski performed a requested well-being check on a Tremont resident and found them to be all set.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Officer Kamorski is investigating reported harassment in Southwest Harbor.
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.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fireworks Injury in Lewiston
LEWISTON—On Monday, March 3, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted by the Lewiston Fire Department to assist with a fireworks related injury investigation. A team of investigators responded to an apartment building located at 69 Horton Street and determined that a 39-year-old adult male was seriously injured when a consumer firework exploded inside his apartment.
The adult male was flown by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland where he is listed in critical condition. Damage to the apartment where the incident happened was minimal. No other injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Maine Drug Enforcement Arrests Three in Bangor for Drug Trafficking
BANGOR—On Thursday March 6, 2025, following an investigation into fentanyl trafficking in the greater Bangor area, 3 people were arrested for aggravated trafficking of schedule W drugs (fentanyl). The charges were aggravated by drug weights.
Arrested and Taken to the Penobscot County Jail were:
Joseph Rusaw, 48, of Holden, Maine, currently held on $10,000 cash bail.
Meaghan Sulinski, 37, of Holden, Maine, currently free on $500 cash bail.
Geiser Baez, 20, of the Dominican Republic, currently held on $150,000 cash bail.
During the investigation undercover agents arranged for the controlled purchase of fentanyl at a Bangor hotel. Rusaw and Sulinski arrived to deliver the drugs and were taken into custody by MDEA agents. Seized from Rusaw and Sulinski were approximately 38 grams of fentanyl, 29 grams of methamphetamine, and 3 grams of cocaine base (crack).
Information garnered from the arrests led agents to a different Bangor hotel where they believed the source of the drugs was staying. Agents conducted surveillance on the room, ultimately obtaining a search warrant. Agents secured the room and located Baez inside attempting to dispose of fentanyl in the toilet. Baez was taken into custody and the fentanyl was recovered.
Seized from the room was approximately 349 grams of fentanyl, 1.5 grams of cocaine base (crack), and $1340 in suspected drug proceeds. The estimated street value of the drugs is estimated at over $40,000.
During the investigation agents were assisted by the Bangor Police Department, US DEA, and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI).
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.
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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