Troop C

Two men from Benton have been arrested and are facing Burglary charges in connection with break-ins in Benton and Belgrade. June 19, 2020, Troopers from Troop C, executed a search warrant at 16 River Road, Apt. 3, in Benton, after obtaining information about the location of stolen property related to a burglary complaint on May 30, 2020, at the “Sticky Diamond” marijuana dispensary on Rte. 225 in the town of Rome. A second attempted burglary occurred in the town of Belgrade on the same day.

With the public’s help, State Troopers were able to identify the two men involved in both incidents as Scott Gordon, 19, of Benton, and Raheem Goodwin, 19, of Benton. After conducting a search warrant where stolen property was recovered, both Gordon and Goodwin were arrested and charged with Burglary, Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer and Criminal Mischief. Both were booked at the Kennebec County Jail with bail set at $8,000. for each of them.

On Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 4:35 pm the Maine State Police received a report of a green sports car with no registration plates failing to maintain its proper lane and driving erratically on Interstate 95 near mile marker 140 south bound in the town of Clinton.
 
A Trooper from Troop C located the vehicle on the interstate in Waterville, and conducted a traffic stop after witnessing the reported erratic operation. Once the vehicle was stopped the Trooper attempted to identify the operator and noticed he was alone in the vehicle. The driver failed to remain at the scene, and a pursuit took place as the vehicle continued to operate erratically. Troopers from Troop D assisted in the pursuit as the vehicle continued south on Interstate 95 into Augusta where the operator exited at mile marker 113 and proceeded east on Route 3. Trooper Mickael Nunez, a 3 year Trooper with the department, was outside of his vehicle as he attempted to deploy a tire deflating spike mat on Route 3 in China when the offending vehicle struck him at a high rate of speed. The offending vehicle then crashed, and the operator was later identified as Robert Belmain (53) of Caribou. Belmain was brought to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for injuries sustained in the crash. Tr. Nunez was brought to Maine General Medical Center in Augusta and is undergoing surgery for a broken leg. He is listed in stable condition.
 
Charges are pending against Robert Belmain for Failure to Maintain Proper Lane, Criminal Speed, Eluding, Failing to Submit to Arrest/Detention, Destruction of Evidence, Reckless Conduct, Operating Under the Influence, Driving to Endanger, Possession of a Scheduled Drug, Sale/Use of Drug Paraphernalia, Operating After Suspension-Habitual Offender and Violating Conditions of Release.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tr. Nunez and his family for a speedy recovery. 
 

Members from the Maine State Police-Troop C (Skowhegan Barracks) accepted and completed a challenge from the Skowhegan Police Department, and Chief Dave Bucknam. Tr. Jacob Roddy, Tr. Keith Barton, Tr. Blake Conrad, Tr. Randy Hall, Lt. Jason Madore and his two son’s, Cameron and Nathan Madore; helped Chelsea Carrier and her team load up trucks and cars with food boxes for children throughout Somerset County. We were honored to provide this community service for the children of Somerset County.

An area man is facing charges for felony drug trafficking after a traffic stop in Augusta.

On March, 3, 2020, Troopers from the Troop C Barracks out of Skowhegan stopped a pick-up truck for a registration violation in Augusta. Immediately upon arriving at the driver’s side door of the vehicle, signs of criminal activity were noted as well as indications of the operator being impaired by alcohol.

Accordingly, the driver was removed from the vehicle and K-9 Tess was summoned for a vehicle search. Shortly thereafter, the driver was arrested for Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled W Drugs for possessing 1.9 ounces of cocaine, as well as Operating Under the Influence (OUI). As of 03/04/2020 the matter is still under active investigation, therefore no names will be released at this time.

A Clinton man was arrested and is facing felony charges for a fatal crash that killed two men in November of 2019.

On March 2, 2020, Troopers from Troop C arrested David W. Johnson, 44, of Clinton, Maine, after a lengthy investigation that included Specialists from the Maine State Police Traffic Safety Unit and several members of Maine State Police Troop C in Skowhegan.

This was as a result of a crash on November 23, 2019 on Hill Road in Canaan that killed Scott Miller, 55, of and Robert Archer, 58, both of Clinton.

David Johnson is charged with two counts of Class A Felony Manslaughter, two counts of Class B Felony Aggravated OUI causing death, one count of Class C Aggravated OUI causing serious bodily injury and one count of Class D OUI, 1 Prior. Johnson is being held at Somerset County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

A Mount Vernon man is in custody after fleeing from police on foot before stealing a snowmobile to continue eluding police.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2020 around 2:45 pm. Trooper Travis Luce from Troop C located and stopped a vehicle on the Bean Road in Mount Vernon in an attempt to arrest one of the occupants in the vehicle for two active criminal arrest warrants. Caleb Hupper (30) of Mount Vernon ran from the vehicle and a foot chase ensued through the woods and onto a snowmobile trail where he stole a snowmobile and continued to elude police. Law Enforcement Officers from Troops C and D, the Maine Warden Service, Maine Fire Marshalls Office, Maine Forrest Service Airwing and Winthrop Police Department assisted in the call. Shortly before 5 p.m. Trooper Hunter Belanger and K9 Dallas located Caleb on a snowmobile trail near Maranacook Community School in Readfield which is approximately 7 miles from where the initial foot chase took place. School officials were made aware of the incident and were asked to take precautionary steps to ensure the safety of anyone on school grounds.
 
Hupper was arrested on active criminal warrants for Violating Conditions of Release stemming from charges of Operating After Habitual Offender status, Driving to Endanger and Failing to Notify of a Motor Vehicle Accident. The second warrant was for charges of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer of Property, Failing to Submit to Arrest or Detention and Violating Conditions of Release.
 
Hupper was issued new criminal charges for Eluding, Failing to Stop, Failing to Submit to Arrest or Detention, Theft by Unauthorized Taking for Transfer of Property and additional Title 12 violations.  He was transported to the Kennebec County Jail without injury or further incident.
 
The Maine State Police credits the unified and dedicated work by all the agencies involved in apprehending Hupper. They would like to thank the members of the public who assisted in providing updated information to patrol units as it became available.

State and Clinton Police say three Clinton teenagers and pre-teens died early Sunday morning when the car they were passengers in slammed into a tree on the Hinckley Road in Clinton.  Two others in the car, including the driver, survived the crash and are being treated at Maine Medical Center for non life threatening injuries . Troopers said the car struck an icy patch on the road, went into an uncontrolled skid and struck the large tree on the passengers side of the 2007 Toyota Corolla.

The three victims are 15 year old Thomas Porfirio , 14 year old Emily Baker and her 12 year old sister, Ashland Baker. The three were dead inside the car when first responders arrived at the crash site.

The injured ,who were also found inside the car, are 14 year old Nevaeh Wilson of Clinton  and the driver is a 16 year old Clinton boy.  His name is being withhold as investigators and district attorney's office continue to review the crash investigation.  The cause is likely to be driver inexperience and speed and the boy did not have a driver's license.

The crash was reported at 7:16 AM by another driver and a team of troopers joined  Clinton Police and Fire Department personnel at the scene.   The crash took place on a straight section of the Hinckley Road, near the intersection of the True Road. 
 

On Dec. 23, 2019, Cpl. Diane Vance responded to a serious personal injury accident in Sidney where Emily Thu had lost control of her vehicle and become grievously injured. Passer-by, John Kay, stopped to render assistance and comfort to Emily until help could arrive. 

“To be honest, I’m not sure what made me stop. I think maybe just human nature. We all have it, it’s just a matter of whether or not you act on it,” said Kay in an email. “If you see that someone needs help, it really shouldn’t be a question. The events of that night will stay with me forever. Emily was in the vehicle in front of me when her accident occurred, there is no way I could have just continued down the road. For this, I am forever grateful.”

Kay noted the reason for his being out that evening was far from a happy one, as he was on his way to the emergency vet where he had to unexpectedly put his family dog down.

“But now we have a new friend from the outcome,” he said. “Emily will hopefully always be a part of our life.”

Cpl. Vance was able to provide first aid, including a tourniquet, staying with Emily and holding her hand during the ordeal. Thu was flown by LifeFlight to Lewiston, and while being treated, Thu requested a visit so she could thank Cpl. Vance. Cpl. Vance went in to CMCC on her day off to visit with Emily. Cpl. Vance also helped connect Emily with Kay who stopped to render aid and comfort. Kay and his wife have also been to visit Emily while she was in the hospital. We are happy to report that Thu was recently released from the hospital. 

“[Kay’s] Presence kept me strong until responders arrived. I have developed a strong bond with John and his wife Lulu, and Cpl. Vance,” Thu said in an email. “This may seem like an ordeal to some, but it introduced me to some of the kindest people, and I am forever thankful for that.”

We are sharing this post with Emily Thu and John Kay’s permission. We would like to thank them for allowing us to share this post with you.
 

A crash left one dead and two injured in Canaan. The road was closed for five hours as Troopers investigated the incident.

On Nov. 23, at approximately 7:09 p.m., 2019, Maine State Police Trooper Garrett Booth, Trooper Eric Sucy, Corporal Rick Moody, and Sergeant Peter Michaud responded to the area 1292 Hill Road in Canaan for a report of a single vehicle crash involving three occupants. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the driver of a 2004 Mustang convertible failed to negotiate a left turn, went off the roadway and struck a tree head-on where it came to rest.  The driver, David Johnson, 44, of Clinton and passenger Robert Archer, 58, of Clinton, were both taken to a local hospital then then transferred Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for serious injuries.  The third passenger, Scott Miller, 55, also of Clinton, was killed in the crash.

Preliminary investigation suggests alcohol to be contributing factor in the crash, however the investigation is ongoing.  

Troop C personnel were assisted by Specialist Pion of the Maine State Police Traffic Unit for mapping and reconstruction purposes.  Canaan Fire Dept and Somerset Sheriff’s deputies also assisted in the emergency response.  The Hill Road was shut down for approximately 5 hours while Troopers completed the scene investigation. 

Maine State Police say a woman was killed this morning when her pickup truck overturned off the Middle Road in Sidney.  Trooper Eric Sucy said Elizabeth Simmons,38, of Sidney, Simmons was not wearing her seat belt when the truck overturned off the Middle Road.   Troopers said the truck was speeding and the woman was not wearing her seat belt.  The truck went off the road on a slight curve and came to rest on its roof at the intersection of the Reynolds Hill Road. The woman, the truck’s only occupant , was killed instantly.  The crash was reported about 8:15 a.m.  The crash was less than two miles from the Augusta city line.

(Updated to include name and photo)