Biddeford

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Monday, July 19, 2021, at approximately 7:13 a.m. a car traveling southbound on the Turnpike struck the median guardrail just south of the Old Alfred Rd. overpass in Biddeford. 

The 2017 Mazda SUV then crossed all three lanes of traffic before going off the roadway and into the woods. The car continued to roll over multiple times before landing on its roof. 

The driver, 29-year-old Lindsey Fortin of North Berwick, was trapped inside the vehicle. 

Cpl. Doug Cropper of Troop G was the first Trooper on scene and was able to break the driver’s side window, cut through the airbag curtain and extricate Fortin from the car after she was able to remove her seatbelt.
Fortin was transported to Maine Medical in Portland by Biddeford Rescue with non-life-threatening injuries. 
The Biddeford Police Department also assisted at the scene.
 

A Sandford man is facing charges after fleeing from police.

On Nov. 23, 2019, at approximately 12 noon, a Corporal from Troop A attempted to stop a maroon Subaru station wagon for a traffic infraction on route 202 in Alfred. The driver and sole occupant, took off at a high rate of speed and a short pursuit occurred. After observing the driver make several bad passes in and out of traffic, the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.

The vehicle was later located at an address in Sanford. Numerous tips from the public came in and it was learned that John Mcdonald, 33, of Sanford was the driver. Mcdonald was located hiding in an apartment in Biddeford several nights later and was transported to the York County Jail.

He was charged with Eluding an Officer (Class C Felony) and Operating After HO Revocation (Class C Felony). Bail was set at $1000.00 and a probation hold was also placed on Mcdonald.

A bus driver for Biddeford is facing multiple charges after a Trooper stopped his for driving erratically with a bus full of students.

On Nov.  2, 2019, at approximately 7:57 p.m., Trooper Patrick Hall out of Troop A was on routine patrol southbound on I-95 in Scarborough when his attention was drawn to a school bus operating in front of him. Tpr. Hall noted that bus was speeding in a construction zone, failing to signal lane changes, and failing to maintain one lane. The bus was stopped for the erratic operation and speeding. The bus was filled with Biddeford High School Students returning from a field hockey game.  The bus was being operated by Richard Tanguay, 68, of Biddeford. Tpr.  Hall observed signs of impairment and conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.  As a result, Tpr. Hall brought Tanguay to Cumberland County Jail for an intoxilyzer breath test and an exam by a Drug Recognition Expert As a result of the investigation, Tanguay was charged with OUI-Drugs, Driving to Endanger, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  

Trooper Hall was assisted by Cpl. Ricci Cote and by Sgt. Paul Powers of Freeport PD who conducted the drug recognition testing. Bail was set at $500.00 which Tanguay posted and was released. Tanguay’s first court appearance will be on January 9, 2020 in Portland District court. The State Police have notified the Biddeford School District of the incident.