August 2020

Incident Type:         ASSIST OTHER AGENCY

Date:                          8/04/2020

Town:                        presque isle

Trooper:                   Tr. Kilcollins

Brief Synopsis:       Sgt. Clark, Tr. Kilcollins and Tr. Martin responded to Presque Isle to assist the police department with a shots fired call.  It was reported that a man just shot at another person’s residence and was walking around in the area.  He was eventually located and taken into custody without incident.

 

Incident Type:         operating without license

Date:                          8/04/2020

Town:                        Saint francis

Trooper:                   Tr. Desrosier

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier was conducting traffic enforcement in Saint Francis.  He observed a motorcycle with an infraction and went to stop the bike.  The driver pulled into the driveway of a residence and then left on foot.  Tr. Desrosier located the man and an investigation determined he did not have a motorcycle endorsement on his license.  The man was issued a summons for the violation and the bike was towed from the scene.

Incident Type:         recovered stolen vehicle/warrant

Date:                          8/05/2020

Town:                        houlton

Trooper:                   Cpl. Quint

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Quint responded to Houlton where a Game Warden, who had been getting fuel, observed a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Mars Hill (case being investigated by Cpl. Michaud).  The offender stated he and his girlfriend moved to Maine from Texas and had been staying with her family in Litchfield when they kicked them out.  The couple met the owner of the stolen vehicle at a truck stop in the Lewiston area and he invited them to stay at his house in Mars Hill.  When the man, who is a truck driver, went back on the road, the offender stole his van and went to Litchfield to get their property.  A neighbor reported seeing the van leaving to the victim and he called the State Police.  The owner came to Houlton to recover his vehicle.  The offender had an extraditable warrant out of Texas for a sexual assault on a child under 14 years of age parole violation.  The man was arrested by Cpl. Quint and taken to the Aroostook County Jail where he will wait the extradition process.

 

Incident Type:         false attachement of plates

Date:                          8/06/2020

Town:                        littleton

Trooper:                   Cpl. Quint

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Quint was conducting traffic enforcement on US Highway 1, Littleton, when he observed a small car making an unsafe pass around a pickup.  Cpl. Quint stopped the car and the driver immediately admitted to attaching false plates and not having insurance on the vehicle.  The man stated the truck pulled out in front of him, but Cpl. Quint explained that was not true and how the entire event was captured on the cruiser’s Watch Guard camera system.  The man hung his head and was silent.  He was issued a criminal summons for false attachment of plates.  He was also issued a traffic summons for unsafe passing and for not having liability insurance on the vehicle.

Incident Type:         theft

Date:                          8/08/2020

Town:                        WOODLAND

Trooper:                   Tr. Rider

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Rider received a report of a stolen handgun in Woodland.  Complainant owns a meat shop and previously had an employee working for him for a few weeks.  Complainant left the gun in his bedroom and last saw the gun on 08/05/2020.  The handgun was a Taurus Raging Bull .44 magnum.  Investigation is ongoing. 

Incident Type:         Plane Crash

Date:                          8/05/2020

Town:                        T17R3

Trooper:                   Cpl. Michaud

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Michaud responded to a wooded area in T17 R3 after receiving a report that a plane had crash landed in a clear-cut just south of Long Lake.  Cpl. Michaud and Warden Ryan Fitzpatrick located the two occupants of the plane a short distance from the crash site.  The student pilot and his instructor had been practicing different procedures when the motor in the plane stopped working.  The instructor took control of the plane and was able to crash land it in a clear cut.  Both men suffered some small cuts and abrasions but were fine otherwise.  The FAA is taking over the investigation and attempting to determine why the motor failed.

Incident Type:         OAS

Date:                          8/04/2020

Town:                        Smyrna

Trooper:                   Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Trooper Mahon was patrolling northbound traffic on I-95 when he noticed a seat belt violation on a vehicle that went passed him.  A records check revealed that the operator’s right to operate was currently under suspension.  The vehicle was towed, and the man found a ride home.  He was cited for Operating After Suspension.

Incident Type:         OAS / VCR

Date:                          8/07/2020

Town:                        Hodgdon

Trooper:                   Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Trooper Mahon was watching traffic in Hodgdon when he saw a vehicle drive by and the operator was not wearing his seat belt.  Once the vehicle was pulled over, the operator admitted that he did not have a license.  A records check also revealed that he was on bail.  The man was cited for OAS and VCR.  A licensed driver was able to drive the vehicle from the scene.

A Patten man is facing charges after reportedly threatening various public officials.

On August 11, 2020, at approximately 10:09 AM the Houlton RCC received a call from the Patten Town Office reporting 49 year old Fred Whitney of Patten called the town office threatening to shoot a fire fighter who allegedly cut him off.

Throughout the day Fred Whitney also called the Aroostook County SO and Maine District Court switchboard stating he was no longer coming to his court appearances and if any law enforcement showed up at his residence he would shoot them.  Tr. Tim Saucier drafted an arrest warrant for terrorizing and disorderly conduct as well as a search warrant for Whitney’s residence in Patten.  

At approximately 4:24 PM Troop F Troopers along with members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to Pleasant St in Patten where Whitney was arrested without incident.  Whitney was transported to the Penobscot County Jail.  

Multiple vehicles were involved in a crash in the Northbound lane of I-295 in Falmouth near mile marker 12 that briefly closed both lanes to traffic.

On Aug. 12, 2020, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Tpr. John Darcy was investigating a hit and run crash in the breakdown lane at mile 12 northbound on I-295 in Falmouth. One vehicle involved in the crash had continued northbound and was later located by Troop D Troopers. While Tpr. Darcy was speaking with the operator of the vehicle at mile 12, vehicles traveling by began to slow. The sudden slowing of traffic lead to several cars slamming on their brakes. One vehicle stopping short caused a rear-end crash. Several more rear-end crashes began happening. In total, an 8 vehicle pile-up occurred, blocking both travel lanes.

3 people were transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland by Falmouth Rescue with non-life threatening injuries.

5 vehicles were towed from the scene by Stewart’s Towing and Copp Motors.

Troopers from Troop B and G assisted as well as Maine DOT and the Falmouth Fire Department.

Thanks to all the help from the multiple agencies involved, the scene was cleared in 45 minutes.

There will be no charges in this case.

 

 

A South Paris man was arrested as a fugitive from justice earlier this week. 

On Aug. 12, 2020, at approximately 1 p.m., Troopers from Troop B and Agents from the Maine Violent Offender Task Force (US Marshals Service), apprehended Aaron Parsons, 43, of South Paris, ME, at a residence on Gary Street in South Paris.  Parsons was wanted on a warrant from Massachusetts State Police charging him with homicide and a sex assault offense.  The offense occurred in March of 2020 but a warrant was not issued until Aug. 11, 2020.
 
Mass. State Police received a tip earlier today and the Maine Violent Offender Task Force, acting on that tip, met with troopers from Troop B and coordinated the apprehension.  Parsons was arrested without incident, charged as a Fugitive From Justice and transported to the Oxford County jail.  He will be arraigned on Friday morning.
 

PITTSFIELD, Maine –  The Maine State Police, Troop C received a complaint of a silver 4-door sedan with Florida plates operating erratically and speeding southbound on Interstate 95 in Pittsfield. A Trooper located the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, however, the operator refused to stop and began passing several groups of vehicles in the break down lane. 

The vehicle was pursued into Clinton where it exited, turned towards Benton and ended in Fairfield. Patrick A. Smith (24) of Ohio, was taken into custody without further incident. Patrick was transported to the Somerset County Jail and has been charged with Eluding an Officer, Driving to Endanger, Criminal Speed and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident. Other agencies that assisted were the Fairfield Police Department, Maine Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Maine Warden Service.
 

# of School Visits conducted – 0

# of OUI Alcohol Arrests – 1

# of OUI Drug Arrests – 0

# of DV Arrests – 0

08-12-20

Trooper Andy Foss responded to Danforth for a report of a crash that had happened the day before involving Gregory Boucher (34) of New Hampshire.  As a result of the investigation, Boucher was summonsed for Failure to Report an Accident by Quickest Means.

08-13-20

Trooper Jeffrey Taylor arrested Drew Fletcher (21) of Columbia for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol as result of a traffic stop on Route 1 in Columbia.

08-14-20

Trooper Dana Austin responded to Franklin for a report of an assault. As a result of the investigation, Russell Merchant (60) of Franklin was arrested for Assault.

Trooper Dana Austin stopped a motor vehicle for a traffic violation in Ellsworth, as a result of the investigation, Jessica Sinclair (34) of Franklin was arrested for Violation of Conditional Release.

08-15-20

Sergeant Jeff Ingemi summonsed James Lewis (41) of Charlotte, for Falsifying Physical Evidence, Theft and Violation of Bail stemming from an incident on August 2^nd where Lewis stole evidence in Baileyville.  Baileyville Police Department assisted.

Trooper Dana Austin responded to Hancock for a report of an assault. As a result of the investigation, Paul Wikert (42) of Hancock was summonsed for Assault. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office assisted.

 

 

Three men from New York are facing drug trafficking charges after they threw baggies of drugs out of the car after being stopped by police.

On Aug. 16, 2020, at approximately 3 p.m., Maine State Police stopped a vehicle on I-295 at mile marker 44 Northbound for speed. Upon investigation, all three passengers began acting suspiciously. Ultimately, several white bags were thrown from the car window while the Trooper went back to his cruiser. The bags were located and seized and all three men were arrested. Ralph Scurlock, 31; William Pickney, 52; and Edward McDowell, 26; all from the Bronx, NY, were transported to Twin Bridges Jail in Sagadahoc County. The drugs were tested and Troopers learned there was 34 grams of cocaine, and 148 grams of fentanyl. All three were charged with Aggravated Trafficking class A crime.

(EDIT: fixed date and removed decimals on drug amounts)

Incident Type:         FRAUD

Date:                          8/10/2020

Town:                        Wallagrass

Trooper:                   Tr. Desrosier

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Desrosier received a fraud complaint at a redemption center in the town of Wallagrass.  The investigation revealed that a woman changed the numbers of returnable’s on a slip indicating more returnable’s than she actually had.  The redemption center over paid the suspect by $70.00.  Tr. Desrosier located the woman and charged her with theft.

 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          8/10/2020

Town:                        WADE

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin received a theft complaint the town of Wade.  Tr. Martin investigated a farm truck that had its catalytic converter cut off it.  The victim was a farmer that there are now suspects currently.  The farmer advised that he would be placing camera’s around his equipment in the future. 

 

Incident Type:         WARRANT

Date:                          8/11/2020

Town:                        Mars hill

Trooper:                   Tr. Martin

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Martin received information about two individuals with active felony warrants that were seen in a vehicle in Mars Hill by and off duty officer.  Tr. Martin and Tr. Flynn located the vehicle later on and arrested the two.  They were transported to the ACJ.

 

Incident Type:         threatening/ suspicious incident

Date:                          8/14/2020

Town:                        grand isle

Trooper:                   Tr. Levesque

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Levesque along with Lt. Harris, Sgt. Fuller, Cpl. Hafford and Tr. Rider responded to Grand Isle for a report of a male who had pointed a gun at a woman walking her dog.  The woman said that her dog was not on a leash and got away running towards the male with his dog and family.  The male unholstered a weapon and threatened to shoot the dog. Troopers looked for the male and were not able to locate him for several hours.  Tr. Levesque later located the male at a residence.  The male said that he was afraid for his safety and the safety of his family since the dog came up acting aggressive towards him and his family, so he pointed the gun at the dog in case it attacked him or his family.  No charges are expected at this time.

 

Incident Type:         warrant arrest

Date:                          8/13/2020

Town:                        caribou

Trooper:                   Tr. Levesque

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Levesque assisted Caribou PD with locating a male wanted on some warrants.  Tr. Levesque heard Caribou PD asking for assistance with a male who had taken off on foot.  Tr. Levesque responded to the location and got a description of the male from an officer on scene.  Tr. Levesque saw the male in the ditch down the road, the male took off on foot running down the road.  Tr. Levesque caught up to him and apprehended him.  The male was booked on the warrants as well as charged with new crimes including refusing to submit to arrest or detention.

 

Incident Type:         fatal crash

Date:                          8/13/2020

Town:                        orient

Trooper:                   Tr. Rider

Brief Synopsis:       Houlton RCC received a 911 call of a motorcycle accident on Route 1 in Orient.   Sgt. Fuller, Tr. Rider, Tr. Cotton responded and learned the following from their investigation.  71-year-old Thomas Harvey was traveling south on his motorcycle when he left the road and struck multiple trees causing him to get thrown from the motorcycle.  Harvey was pronounced deceased at the scene. Harvey was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.  The scene was reconstructed by Tr. Marc Poulin.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation  

 

Incident Type:         fatal crash

Date:                          8/15/2020

Town:                        new limerick

Trooper:                   Tr. Rider

Brief Synopsis:       Houlton RCC received a 911 call of a vehicle that was off the road on Drews Mills Rd in New Limerick.   Sgt. Fuller, Tr. Rider, Tr. Cotton responded and learned the following from their investigation.  61-year-old Vincent True was traveling west in his 1999 Dodge pick-up when he left the road and struck a tree causing the truck to roll over onto its side.  True was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation

 

Incident Type:         oui drugs

Date:                          8/13/2020

Town:                        stacyville

Trooper:                   Tr. Cotton

Brief Synopsis:       Houlton RCC reported a single vehicle in the ditch on the Grindstone Road with the sole occupant and operator unconscious behind the wheel.  First responders arrived on scene and determined that the operator overdosed and administered lifesaving doses of Narcan.  Tr Cotton located drug paraphernalia inside the truck and spoke to a witness who saw the male operating the truck minutes before the crash.  Later, Tr Cotton met with the operator at the Millinocket Hospital.  The male consented to a blood kit and Tr Cotton summonsed him for OUI drugs.

 

Incident Type:         Criminal Trespass

Date:                          8/15/2020

Town:                        Perham

Trooper:                   Cpl. Michaud

Brief Synopsis:       Cpl. Michaud responded to a Perham residence when owners of a home reported a man was trespassing at the residence.  Once Cpl. Michaud had spoken to all the parties, he determined that someone was actually renting the property from the owners and they were unhappy about the person’s visitor.  Cpl. Michaud explained the some of the options to the homeowners and they determined that the solution to their problem was to start the eviction process of their tenant.

 

Incident Type:         Criminal Trespass

Date:                          8/11/2020

Town:                        Mars Hill

Trooper:                   Tr. Casavant

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Casavant received a criminal trespass complaint from a homeowner in Mars Hill.  The owner of the property learned that an unwanted individual had been on her property earlier in the day.  The offender was not located immediately, but Tr. Casavant will served the individual a trespass warning once he is located.

 

Incident Type:         CRIMINAL SPEED

Date:                          8/12/2020

Town:                        Monticello

Trooper:                   Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Mahon charged a male juvenile with criminal speed in Monticello.  Tr. Mahon clocked the young driver at 95 MPH in a 55 MPH speed zone.  The juvenile turned down a side road in an attempt to avoid Tr. Mahon, but his effort was unsuccessful.  Tr. Mahon contacted the juvenile’s mother and she responded to the scene to take custody of the youth. 

 

Incident Type:         OUI

Date:                          8/15/2020

Town:                        Littleton

Trooper:                   Tr. Mahon

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Mahon was in his marked cruiser in a line of traffic on Route 1 in Littleton when a man operating a pickup pulled out and passed the entire line of traffic.  Tr.  Mahon got the man on radar at 84 MPH as he was passing him.  He was able to pull the man over, and when he did, found the man to have an open container of alcohol with him.  The operator failed field sobriety test and was arrested for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.  He refused a breath and blood test and was booked at the Aroostook County Jail.  He was also charged with his speed and having an open container of alcohol.

 

Incident Type:         ACCIDENT - FATAL

Date:                          8/10/2020

Town:                        Island Falls

Trooper:                   Tr. Saucier

Brief Synopsis:       On August 10, 2020 at approximately 3:30 PM the Houlton RCC received a 911 call from a passing motorist reporting a car off the road with people trapped.  Tr. Tim Saucier responded and learned the following from his subsequent investigation.  35-year-old Colleen Collins was driving North on the interstate in Island Falls in a full-size sport utility vehicle.  Also, in the vehicle was 62-year-old Mary Michaud and her son 42-year-old Keith Michaud both of Van Buren.  Collins lost control of the SUV and traveled off into the ditch coming to rest in the trees before catching fire.  Colleen Collins and Mary Michaud did not survive the crash and were pronounced deceased at the scene.  Keith was transported to the Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The crash remained under investigation.  Also assisting at the scene were Tr. Steve Mahon, Sgt. Josh Haines, Lt. Brian Harris, Maine Forest Service, Island Falls Fire and Island Falls Ambulance.     

 

Incident Type:         THEFT

Date:                          8/14/2020

Town:                        Patten

Trooper:                   Tr. Saucier

Brief Synopsis:       Tr. Saucier took a complaint from a Patten resident that a vehicle had been stolen from her property.  His investigation revealed that a local man had solicited a wrecker driver to pick up the vehicle because the man told him he owned the vehicle.  The vehicle was returned to the owner and all parties co-operated in the investigation.  The offender has not been located yet but will be charged for theft once he is found.

On Aug. 17, 2020, Maine State Police in Troop G was notified that a good Samaritan found a lost ring at the Kennebunk Service Plaza located on the Maine Turnpike. 

If you are the owner of the missing ring, please call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076 x9 and ask to speak with the Troop G supervisor on duty. Be prepared to describe the ring or provide proof of ownership. Thank you. 

Two juvenile males are in custody after leading police on a brief chase in Mars Hill. 

On August 19, 2020, at approximately 8:43 a.m., Sgt. Jeffrey Clark was traveling south on the West Ridge Road in Mars Hill when he met a pick-up traveling north and operating erratically.  The vehicle had a snow plow equipped that was dragging on the hot top and no registration plates.  Sgt. Clark attempted to stop the vehicle to address the violations.  

The operator, later determined to be a male juvenile, refused to stop and increased his speed to approximately 80 mph.  The vehicle continued to operate erratically and drove off the right side of the roadway, becoming airborne into a field and came to rest in the woodline.  Sgt. Clark placed two juvenile males into custody.  No one was injured in the crash.  The crash is being investigated by Cpl. Dennis Quint of the Maine State Police.