Aroostook County

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 9:17 am, the Maine State Police received a report of a man identified as 35-year-old Corey Vick, who was outside of a residence at 154 Castonguay Rd. in Van Buren, acting erratically.  At 9:25 am, the State Police received a call from a woman reporting that her husband had been assaulted by Vick outside the residence in an unprovoked attack.  The woman and her husband were able to flee the area to safety.  Troopers, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Border Patrol Agents responded to Castonguay Rd. to locate Vick.  When they arrived on scene, they determined that Vick was inside the residence and was verbally aggressive towards law enforcement and attempting to entice them to enter the residence. Vick reported that he had a firearm and would kill officers if they entered his home.  Law Enforcement set up a perimeter and began to contact him by cell phone.  The man continued to taunt and threaten to kill law enforcement if they came into the residence.  The State Police Tactical Team was consulted and responded to the scene along with the Crisis Intervention Team.  The Castonguay road was shut down. A search warrant was issued for the residence at 154 Castonguay Rd. and an arrest warrant was issued for Vick's arrest. The Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to deescalate Vick throughout the night without success.  At approximately 6:30 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the Tactical Team made entry into Vick's residence and took him into custody.  Vick was transported to Cary Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and then transported to the Aroostook County Jail.  Vick has been charged with two counts of Assault, Criminal        Threatening, Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Aggravated Criminal Mischief, and creating a police standoff.

From the desk of Shannon Moss DPS PIO.

 On January 16, 1993, Maxine Bitomski was murdered inside her Kittery home. Despite extensive investigative efforts, no one has been arrested for Maxine’s murder, yet. The Maine State Police has made recent progress in the case and is looking for people to come forward with information that will lead to the arrest of Maxine’s killer. On Thursday, January 20, 2021, detectives from the Kittery Police Department and the Maine State Police’s Major Crimes Unit held a news conference in Kittery along with Maxine’s grandchildren to talk about the developments and ask the community can help.  
  
Recently Seacoast Crime Stoppers announced a $10,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an indictment and/or arrest of a suspect in the Maxine Bitomski unsolved homicide.

Since 1983 Seacoast Crime Stoppers has been funded solely by the generosity of the Seacoast community. Because of that support they have received thousands of tips that have helped law enforcement agencies solve hundreds of crimes.

“Seacoast Crime Stoppers is committed to making our community a better and safer place,” said President Scott Forte. “We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Maxine Bitomski and are hoping that the $10,000 reward we are offering can help bring a resolution to the unsolved homicide investigation.
 If you have any information about the Maxine Bitomski case please visit https://www.seacoastcrimestoppers.com/submit-a-tip/ or call 207.439.1199. The reward is eligible for anyone who provides a tip that leads to an indictment or an arrest. Seacoast Crime Stoppers can only make rewards and efforts like this possible with the generosity of our community. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Seacoast Crime Stoppers today at https://www.seacoastcrimestoppers.com/donation”
 

Two drivers escaped serious injury after a head-on collision over the holiday weekend.

On Nov. 26, 2021, Michael Deabay, 72, of Presque Isle, was driving his 2020 GMC Terrain SUV East bound on Route 163 in T11 R4 Wels when he lost control of his vehicle on the snow-covered roads and crossed the center line.  Linda Mastro, 69, of Portage, was traveling West bound on Route 163. Mastro noticed that the vehicle in the opposite lane was swerving out of control. Mastro attempted to get her vehicle over towards the ditch to avoid contact. Mastro was not able to get out of the way and Deabay struck her head on. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage in the crash. Both Deabay and Mastro were taken to the hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. It is believed that poor weather conditions, road conditions, and speed were factors in the crash.   

On Nov. 16, 2021, at approximately 5:48 a.m. the State Police were called to mile marker 276 in Island Falls for a tractor trailer that had jackknifed, blocking both lanes of travel.  

Tp. Tim Saucier learned that Rayon Pyne, 27, of Brooklyn, NY, was traveling north when lost control of the vehicle due to icy road conditions and the unit jack-knifed in the roadway striking a guardrail and coming to rest blocking both travel lanes.  Pyne was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.  

The tractor trailer was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.  The interstate was closed for approximately 90 min before the unit could be removed.   
 

UPDATE:  The situation has been resolved and the shelter in place/lock doors request has been lifted. Thank you for your assistance. 

Due to a critical incident in Mars Hill, law enforcement are asking for the public to shelter and lock their doors. We will update as the situation evolves.

Media inquiries should be directed to the Aroostook County SO for more information.

A 20-year-old driver escaped serious injury after a crash over the weekend.

At approximately 3 p.m., on April 18, 2021, State Police in Troop F received a report of a rollover crash on Route 11 in Nashville Plantation (just north of Ashland).  Trooper Ted Martin responded to the crash as did Ashland Police Department, Fire Department, and Ambulance Service.  Trooper Martin’s investigation revealed that 20-year-old Lindsey Brown of Eddington had been traveling north in a 2010 Chevrolet Aveo when she attempted to pass another vehicle.  As she was in the process of passing the vehicle, Brown lost control of the vehicle she was driving, it rolled over, and came to rest on its roof in the roadway.  Ms. Brown was able to exit the vehicle on her own and was treated at the scene for minor injuries.  

One lane of Route 11 was closed for a short period of time until the wreckage could be removed from the roadway.  

Speed and inexperience were contributing factors in the crash.  As a result of the investigation, Brown was charged with Illegal Transportation of Alcohol, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
 

Two Sherman men are facing felony theft charges after stealing a catalytic converter from another resident.

On March 26, 2020, at approximately 7:38 a.m., State Police received a report of theft in Sherman.  The victim discovered a catalytic converter had been cut off his vehicle.  Tr. Tim Saucer responded, and his investigation led him to a residence on North Street in Sherman belonging to 36-year-old Chris McNally. 

The residence was secured with the assistance of Maine Game Wardens and Maine Forest Rangers while a warrant could be drafted.  As Troopers, Wardens and Rangers secured the perimeter of the property fresh footwear impressions were

found leaving from the rear of the residence.  A State Police K-9 team tracked the suspects to a point where they were believed to have been picked up on a nearby roadway.  McNally, who was on probation for possession of schedule drugs, eventually turned himself in to State Police back at his residence. He was arrested on a probation hold and charged with felony theft.  

42-year-old Larry Morgan, also of Sherman, was arrested at a nearby residence a short time later.  Morgan had a warrant from Penobscot County for possession of schedule drugs and was charged with felony theft.

Both McNally and Morgan were transported to the Aroostook County Jail.  

State Police have recently seen a rise in property crimes to include burglaries and thefts this week on the Mahaney Rd in Easton and Waddell Rd in Castle Hill.  Anyone with information on any of these crimes or witnessing suspicious activity is encouraged to call the State Police in Houlton at 207-532-5400. 
 

Slippery conditions contributed to a tractor trailer rollover in Smyrna.

On March 23, 2020, at approximately 10:39 p.m., State Police were called to a tractor trailer off the road on Interstate 95 in Smyrna. Tpr. Tim Saucier responded to investigate the crash. He determined that the driver, Biniam Tewelde, 41, of Dallas, Texas, was travelling southbound hauling a load of potatoes when he lost control on the slippery roadway and went off into the median, rolling the tractor and trailer onto its side.
Tewelde was not injured, but the unit suffered disabling damage.

On March 24, 2020, The potatoes were unloaded by hand and the unit was removed from the roadway.
 

State Police are currently investigating multiple crashes on Route 161 in Cross Lake one of which is a five vehicle crash with injuries. Route 161 will be closed due to white out conditions in Cross Lake until further notice and motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if at all possible. Visibility due to high winds is making driving conditions poor in other areas of Aroostook County as well.

Morgan Fields, 34, of West Bath, was traveling southbound on US Route 1 in Littleton when she reached for something inside her vehicle causing her to cross the center line and go into the northbound lane in front of a northbound tractor trailer unit driven by Charles Michaud, 58, of Caribou. Michaud swerved to avoid a head on collision. Fields struck the back side of Michaud’s trailer and spun coming to rest in a snowbank on the northbound side. There were no injuries. 

Field’s vehicle had disabling damage to the front passenger side corner and was towed from the scene by York’s of Houlton.

Michaud’s tractor trailer unit, owned by Carmichael Transport INC of Bangor, sustained disabling damage to the trailer and was removed from the scene by Westerdahl’s. Michaud was hauling US Mail.

Field’s was cited for Failure to Maintain Control of a Motor Vehicle.