September

On Friday, September 27, 2024, at approximately 10:53 PM, the Biddeford Police Department received a 911 call for shots fired on Foss Street. First responders arrived to find an injured male. Emergency responders attempted to render aid, however the male, later identified as 46-year-old Gene Dares of Biddeford died at the scene. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed. The cause of death is gunshot wounds, and the manner of death is homicide. There is no known specific threat to the public. The Biddeford Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South continue to investigate the incident. No other information is being released at this time.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, Troopers from Central Field Troop responded to 142 Augusta Rockland Road in Windsor for a report of an out-of-control female that had assaulted a business owner and fled that location in what was discovered to be a stolen pick-up truck. The Maine State Police published a social media post requesting assistance with a photograph of the female subject taken by a witness to the assault. The State Police received one credible tip based on this post and identified the female as 33-year-old Jenyfer Clark of Augusta. The investigation continued well into the morning hours and through the assistance of Troopers from Troop I, Central Field Troop Troopers were able to confirm Clark’s whereabouts. At approximately 3:40 am, Clark was found hiding from Troopers in Pittsfield on the Canaan Road and was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta. She was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Assault, and Violating Conditions of Release. Clark also had an active Probation Revocation warrant as well as a warrant charging her with Assault, Disorderly Conduct, and Refusing to Submit to Arrest. The Maine State Police would like to thank the public for assisting them in identifying the suspect in this case. The male business owner was not injured. The investigation continues and more charges are likely to follow.

On Thursday, September 26^,. 2024, at approximately 7:09 AM, Oxford County dispatch received a 911 call reporting a fire at 5 Tucker Street in the town of Mexico. The Mexico Fire Department and several area fire departments responded to the scene. First responders observed a fire burning, primarily from the front porch area. Firefighters were able to rescue one female from the residence using a ladder. She was not injured. Once the fire was extinguished firefighters on scene discovered a deceased female inside the residence. The Maine State Fire Marshall’s office responded to the scene as well as the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South to conduct an investigation.  The deceased female was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed. The results of the Autopsy are pending. The identity of the deceased is not being released at this time. The investigation remains open and ongoing at this time. There is no danger to the public. Additional information will be released at a later date.

On Friday,  September 27, 2024, at approximately 6:58 AM, a white GMC work van with 5 occupants was traveling north on I-295 in Freeport when for an unknown reason the driver, 29-year-old Edison Uscha-Roto of South Portland went off the roadway to the left, struck the crossover, rolled over and came to rest blocking lane one of I-295. Uscha-Roto was operating the vehicle with a suspended license. He and 3 other passengers were transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Cumberland, Freeport and Yarmouth Rescues responded to assist as did Yarmouth and Freeport Police Departments. Copp Motors removed the overturned work van which was freighted with construction tools and equipment strewn across lane one and into the median. Lane one north bound was shut down for just shy of two hours. It has since re-opened. The investigation is ongoing.

On Monday, September 23, 2024, at approximately 12:03 PM, Troopers from the Maine State Police – Southern Field Troop responded to Dayton Sand and Gravel for a report of a worker who’d been struck by a front-end loader. The investigation showed that 43-year-old Cory Maddox of East Waterboro was walking across the yard of Dayton Sand and Gravel when he was hit by the bucket of the front-end loader that was being operating by another worker at the time. Resuscitation efforts were made but were unsuccessful. The incident is under investigation by OSHA. There is no sign of criminal activity involved. The Maine State Police was assisted by the York County Sheriff’s Department, Wells Police Department, Goodwins Mills Fire and Rescue, Mine Safety and Health Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

On September 21, 2024, at approximately 11:58 PM, Trooper Lambert of the Maine State Police Central Field Troop stopped Daniel Pallis (35) of Dresden on Route 201 in Fairfield for inoperable taillights. Based on Trooper Lambert’s observations of the occupants, he recognized both the driver and the passenger, Maria Jackson (30) of Richmond, as individuals who fought with a Maine State Trooper in Augusta on August 10, 2024, as the Trooper was attempting to arrest Jackson as a result of a drug investigation.

Trooper Lambert subsequently arrested Pallis for Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs and two counts of Violating Conditions of Release. Maria Jackson was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs and an arrest warrant for Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention and Violating Conditions of Release. Two other passengers were also arrested; Paul Duplin (35) of Whitefield was arrested for Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs, Violating Conditions of Release, and Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drugs (MDMA). David Levasseur (38) of Lisbon was arrested for Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs and Trafficking in Prison Contraband.

On September 20, 2024, at approximately 7:41 PM, State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash report on East Benton Road in Albion. James T. McGarey (53) of Albion was operating a 2012 Dodge pick-up southbound on East Benton Road that left the roadway and struck a rock.  Life-saving measures were attempted; however, they were unsuccessful, and Mr. McGarey succumbed to his injuries. The crash remains under investigation, and if anyone has any information or witnessed anything relating to the crash, please call the Maine State Police Central Field Troop at 207-624-7076. 

On 9/20/2024, the Waterville Police Department and Maine State Police Major Crimes Central Detectives arrested 20-year-old Tyler Quirion of Waterville, charging him with Murder, Manslaughter, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

The arrest stemmed from a shooting occurring on 2/19/24 on Grove Street in Waterville. The victim, 22-year-old Justin Iraola, died as a result of the shooting. An autopsy was conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on 2/19/24 and determined the cause and manner to be multiple gunshot wounds, Homicide.

The Waterville Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes conducted an extensive investigation into the shooting, and on 9/19/24, the Kennebec County Grand Jury indicted Quirion, charging him with Murder, Manslaughter, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Quirion was transported to the Kennebec County Jail and held without bail. Quirion’s appearance will likely be Monday, September 23, 2024.

On 9/20/24 at 9:15 AM, Maine State Police Major Crimes Central Detectives arrested 54-year-old Lisa Barney of Oakland, charging her with Manslaughter. 

The arrest stems from a yearlong investigation into the death of a 4-month-old infant on 9/8/2023.  The incident occurred in Oakland on 8/31/2023.

On 9/8/2023, an autopsy was conducted at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta, who later ruled the death a homicide.

On 9/19/2024, the Kennebec County Grand Jury indicted Lisa Barney, charging her with Manslaughter. 

Barney was transported to the Kennebec County Jail and appeared today at 1:00 PM.  Bail was set at $100,000 cash/surety.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash at the curve of the Exit 45 northbound toll in South Portland. The initial investigation indicates the driver of a tan 2019 Toyota Tacoma crashed his vehicle and then took off on foot with his dog. The driver later identified as 41-year-old Ryan Simpson of Portland ran through the nearby woods and into the Applebee’s parking lot on Maine Mall Road. A Trooper engaged him in the parking lot, but Simpson’s dog got in between him and the Trooper prompting Simpson to take off running across Maine Mall Road towards the mall. Once he reached the intersection of the Turnpike Spur and Maine Mall Road  (next to Jareds) Simpson attempted to make entry into a car that was stopped at a red light. The passenger door was locked, and he could not get inside. The Trooper was then able to effectively deploy his taser and safely immobilize Simpson before taking him into custody without further incident. Simpson was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland to be evaluated. Once he is released, he will be transported to the Cumberland County Jail. Simpson had two outstanding warrants. He will also be charged with Operating after Suspension, Failure to Submit to Arrest and Detention, Attempted Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident.  The dog was not injured. It was safely taken into custody by a South Portland Animal Control Officer.   

*Troopers are looking to speak to the woman who was driving the vehicle Simpson was attempting to get into. The vehicle is a white station wagon/hatchback, possibly a Toyota. If this was you or someone you know please contact the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207.624.7076 and ask to speak to Cpl. Doug Cropper.