February

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, at approximately 4:00 PM, Troopers responded to a 911 call from a female reporting a domestic violence situation. Troopers arrived at the residence on West Old Main Rd in Lowell and were able to assist the victim to safety. Her husband, 55-year-old Andrew York of Lowell, remained inside the residence and refused to come out.

Officers maintained a presence at the scene while attempting to establish contact with York. On Monday, February 24, 2025, at approximately 2:30 PM, the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team arrived to assist. By 4:30 PM, negotiators successfully secured York’s surrender. York was arrested without incident and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Once released he will be transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he will be charged with domestic violence-related offenses. No injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing.

On Friday, February 21, 2025, at 12:10 AM, Troopers from Troop G responded to mile marker 2 on I-95 southbound in Kittery for a single vehicle rollover.

Troopers arrived on scene and located a gold Buick sedan on its roof blocking the left and middle lanes. Troopers observed the driver, identified as 48-year-old Kristopher Robidas-Adams of Berwick trapped inside the vehicle. Troopers, along with Kittery Police, attempted to extricate Robidas-Adams from the vehicle but were unsuccessful due to the severity of the damage.

Kittery Fire/EMS along with York Fire/EMS provided medical aid and extricated Robidas-Adams from the vehicle. He was transported to Portsmouth hospital where he listed in critical condition. The Turnpike was fully closed southbound from exit 7 for approximately 2 hours. The crash remains under investigation.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at approximately 10:02 AM, the Maine State Police and Winthrop Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Giles Road in Readfield. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered a deceased adult female outside the house.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Margaux Whittemore of Belfast. Responding officers found 67-year-old Dorothy Whittemore, the homeowner suffering from injuries inside the residence. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where she was listed in critical condition. Her condition has since been upgraded.

The suspect, 34-year-old Samuel Whittemore of Belfast fled the scene and was taken into custody by a Trooper a short distance away. He was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for an evaluation and has since been transported to the Kennebec County Jail where he has been charged with Murder. Margaux and Samuel Whittemore were married and lived in Belfast. At the time of the incident, they were visiting Samuel’s parent’s home on Giles Road in Readfield. Dorothy Whittemore is Samuel’s mother. His father was not inside the house at the time but arrived shortly after the incident occurred.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed Thursday morning, February 20, 2025. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. Samuel Whittemore is expected to make his initial appearance in court tomorrow.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at approximately 10:02 AM, the Maine State Police and Winthrop Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Giles Road in Readfield. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered a deceased adult female outside the home. They discovered an injured adult female inside the residence. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where she is listed in critical condition.

The suspect, an adult male fled the scene and was taken into custody by a Trooper a short distance away. He was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for evaluation. The three individuals were related.

The deceased female will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. Detectives and Evidence Response Technicians with Major Crimes Unit Central are on scene and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. There is no danger to the public. 

Names are being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification. Additional information will be released as appropriate.

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, at approximately 6:05 AM, Maine State Police Troop G responded to a fatal motor vehicle crash at mile marker 14 southbound on I-95 in Ogunquit.

The initial investigation indicates a tractor trailer unit owned by EW Logistics of Hauppage, NY and operated by 35-year-old XIAOYING MA of New York City, NY was traveling northbound when he lost control and crashed through the median guardrail into two vehicles traveling southbound. The first vehicle was a Cadillac sedan operated by 64-year-old Linda Huelsman of Kennebunk who died on scene from her injuries. The second vehicle struck was a Mack Box truck owned by EAN Holdings of Tulsa, OK and operated 55-year-old Brian Ellis of Kittery.

Mr. Ellis was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital but later died from his injuries. The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to York Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Turnpike was shut down southbound at Exit 14 in Wells. Two lanes have since re-opened. Weather conditions are believed to be a factor in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing and will be submitted to the York County District Attorney’s Office for review of any criminal charges. Assisting the Maine State Police was the Ogunquit and Wells Fire Departments, Maine DEP, Maine Turnpike Maintenance and National Wrecker.

The Maine State Police will hold a funeral service to honor K9 Preacher, who was killed in the line of duty, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Point, 345 Clarks Pond Parkway, South Portland.

Members of the media are invited to attend. Media wishing to be inside for the service must be in place no later than 10:15 AM.

For those looking to cover the procession, it will begin at approximately 10:15 AM from Crosby Farm on the Maine Turnpike in South Portland. The route is as follows:

•Southbound on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike)

•Exit 45, left onto Route 703

•Exit J, right onto Main Mall Road

•Right onto Philbrook Avenue

•Right onto John Roberts Road

•Left onto Clarks Pond Parkway, entering The Point

During the procession K9 handlers and their partners will be lined up along John Roberts Road in tribute to Preacher.

Media Parking

Media should park in the overflow parking lot at Home Depot, located across the street from The Point.

Livestream Information

For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be livestreamed. The link will become active five minutes before the ceremony begins.

https://www.thepoint.community/live/

Honoring K9 Preacher

K9 Preacher gave his life protecting his fellow officers and the citizens of Maine. More than one hundred law enforcement officers from Maine and across New England are expected to gather to honor his service and sacrifice and pay their respects to handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, the Maine State Police K9 Unit, and the Tactical Team.

On Friday, February 7, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident at a home on Walnut Drive in Norridgewock.  Upon arrival, Deputies discovered a deceased male and another male with severe head injuries inside the residence.

Area police departments were notified to be on alert for 38-year-old Kendall Purnell of Norridgewock who was seen driving the homeowner’s vehicle. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded and began investigating. Around 1:00 AM on Saturday, February 8, 2025, Officers with the Waterville Police Department observed the vehicle at Irving’s Gas Station on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville. Officers identified Kendall Purnell as the driver. Purnell was brought to the Waterville Police Department and questioned by Detectives.

Purnell was later arrested for Murder and taken to the Somerset County Jail. The deceased male was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be conducted. The injured male was transported to Reddington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan and later transported via LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he is currently listed in critical condition.

Names of the victims are not being released at this time. Additional information will be released as the investigation progresses.

On Saturday, February 8, 2025, at approximately 7:15 am, Troopers responded to a single vehicle, single occupant crash on Interstate 95 northbound at mile marker 155 in Palmyra. Initial investigation indicates that 20-year-old Tatiana Medeiros of East Providence, Rhode Island, was in the left-hand lane when her 2008 Toyota Matrix left the roadway and crashed into the median. Medeiros was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

Maine State Police K-9 Preacher, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois, was killed in the line of duty on Monday, February 3, 2025, during a tactical team operation in Portage.

Preacher and his handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, served the greater Southern Field Troop area and the Maine State Police Tactical Team. Sgt. Russell and K-9 Preacher attended the Maine State Police K9 Patrol School in the fall of 2023, where they became a certified patrol team. The tactical team was deployed in response to a domestic dispute that led to armed standoff involving 29-year-old Steven Righini, who had shot an Aroostook County deputy. The standoff lasted several hours before the suspect attempted to flee the residence around 8 p.m. K-9 Preacher was deployed to apprehend the suspect when he was shot in the abdomen.

Following the shooting, the suspect was engaged by Sgt. Russell and Specialist Andrew Hardy, who returned fire. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. K-9 Preacher was immediately rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic in Presque Isle, where he underwent surgery. Despite the efforts of veterinary staff, he succumbed to his injuries early this morning. He was surrounded by Sgt. Russell and several members of the tactical team when he passed.

“K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog—he was a dedicated partner, a protector, and a hero,” said Maine State Police Colonel Ross. “Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm.”

The Maine State Police extends its heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Jonathan Russell and the entire K-9 Unit. The loss of Preacher is a profound reminder of the courage and dedication of our law enforcement officers and their K-9 partners.

On Monday morning, February 3, 2025, the Maine State Police and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office responded to 20 Ranger Street in Portage for a report of a domestic dispute with a female and 29-year-old Steven Righini. The female reported Mr. Righini had been fighting with her and pushed her into the wall.  She requested assistance from law enforcement to help her leave the residence.

When the Troopers and Deputies arrived, the female was out of the residence and Mr. Righini was inside with their 4-week-old infant. Troopers and Deputies communicated with Mr. Righini through a window and on the telephone and persuaded him to come outside. Troopers and Deputies attempted to take Mr. Righini into custody but he resisted. A struggle ensued and Mr. Righini pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at the officers as he retreated into his residence.

As the Deputies and Troopers attempted to back out of the driveway Mr. Righini then grabbed another firearm and fired at the retreating cruiser, striking Deputy Shane Campbell in the shoulder. Deputy Reid Clark then shot at Mr. Righini. Maine State Police negotiators attempted to negotiate with Mr. Righini for several hours.

Mr. Righini refused to surrender and eventually tried to flee the residence in a vehicle. Maine State Police Tactical Team members disabled Mr. Righini’s vehicle, and he fled on foot. Just before 8:00 pm, Mr. Reghini fired a shot at a State Police K-9 unit and wounded him. Mr. Righini then pointed his gun at the Troopers. Troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell then shot Mr. Righini, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The infant child was not injured and was returned to her mother. K-9 Preacher was transported to an emergency vet and is currently in surgery with serious injuries. Deputy Reid Clark, Trooper Andrew Hardy and Trooper Jonathan Russell are all being placed on administrative leave as is standard protocol while the Office of the Attorney General investigates the use of deadly force in the police involved shooting. Deputy Shane Campbell was transported to Northern Light hospital in Presque Isle for treatment and was later released. 

Please direct all further inquiries to the Attorney General’s Office.