Augusta

A vehicle defect led to felony drug trafficking charges in Augusta.
 
On April 5, 2021, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Tr. Tyler Harrington stopped a vehicle for operation and a vehicle defect on I-95 in Augusta near mile marker 109 northbound. A narcotics K9 was called to assist with the investigation and as a result of the investigation, approximately 1.5 Kilos of Fentanyl and $3,200 in cash were seized as evidence. Kristopher Churchill, 38, of Bradford, Maine, and Erick Mejia, 26, of Lawrence, Mass., were arrested with Class A Trafficking Fentanyl. Bail was set at $75,000 each. 

Cpl. Record, K9 Tess, Tr. Bronson, Tr. Roddy, Recruit Bachelder assisted with the investigation.
 

State Police say Interstate 95 in Augusta was shut down on the northbound side as police dealt with a man sitting alone inside a car with a gun. The incident was on the off ramp at exit 113 in Augusta, and State and Augusta Police are on scene.    Northbound Interstate traffic was diverted at exit 112 ( Civic Center Dr. )  and motorists traveling north had to use secondary roads to get back on the Interstate at Sidney.  Southbound Interstate traffic was not effected.  The situation resolved around 8:30 a.m. No further details are being released at this time.

State Police are investigating the murder-suicide deaths of a couple in Augusta as a domestic violence homicide. The woman who was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in Augusta is 30 year old Loryn McCollett. Her boyfriend is 30 year old Eric Ryan, formerly of Clinton, who shot and killed himself as Augusta Police Officers knocked on the apartment door. Loryn McCollett’s body was found in her bed, and Eric Ryan’s body was found in a bathroom with a handgun at his side. The couple shared an apartment with a friend at 93 Northern Avenue in Augusta. It was that apartment in Augusta where the two bodies were found.

Detectives continue to conduct interviews today while Evidence Response Team Members process the apartment for evidence.   

Autopsies on the two bodies are taking place Tuesday at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta.