News Release

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at approximately 7:46 AM, Maine State Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in Cross Lake Township. A woman reported that her boyfriend was making threats and damaging property at their residence. The woman left the residence prior to Troopers arriving.

Upon arrival, Troopers determined the man involved, 37-year-old Nicolas Dionne of Cross Lake Township remained inside the home and was refusing to come out. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated and responded to the scene. After several hours of communication, Dionne exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident at approximately 8:00 PM.

Dionne was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening, Domestic Violence Terrorizing and Creating a Police Standoff. He was transported to the Aroostook County Jail.

No injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing. The Maine State Police were assisted at the scene by North Lakes Fire Department and ASI Ambulance Service.

On the morning of Friday, January 16, 2026, the Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a 911 call reporting that a 12-week-old infant had become unresponsive. Members of the Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to provide aid to the infant. The infant, identified as Lyla Samuels, was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Due to the facts and circumstances of the case the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North was called in to investigate.

As a result of the investigation Major Crimes Unit-North Detectives arrested the infant’s father 24-year-old Shawn Samuels of Orrington for Domestic Violence Elevated Aggravated Assault (Class A) and two counts of Violation of Bail (Class E) on Saturday, January 17, 2026. 

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Detectives learned that the 12-week-old infant had died. An autopsy was performed at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta the following day. The cause of death is tentative pending final testing. The manner of death was ruled homicide. After the autopsy, Major Crimes Unit-North Detectives arrested Samuels for Murder at the Penobscot County Jail, where he remains in custody. Shawn Samuel’s initial appearance will occur at the Penobscot County Judicial Center in Bangor via Zoom on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11:45 AM.

This is an isolated incident with no ongoing public safety concerns. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with relevant information related to this case should please call 207.973.3700 EXT. 9 and ask to speak with Det. Dana Austin.

Information related to this case may also be submitted to the Major Crimes Unit – North via an on-line tip portal. https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/report-crime/major-crimes-unit-north

If you or someone you know is a victim of a crime related to domestic abuse in the State of Maine, please call the Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-HELP.

On Saturday, January 17, 2026, at approximately 1:57 PM, Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash on the Falmouth Spur eastbound near the on-ramp to I-295 north in Falmouth. It was reported that a car had gone off the road into the guardrail. Troopers responded along with Falmouth Fire and Rescue to find the driver of a white 2013 Subaru Impreza trapped inside her vehicle. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Joamaliz Orozco of East Hartford, Connecticut, was transported to Maine Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Weather and road conditions are thought to be the primary cause of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing. Falmouth Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene, as did Maine DOT and Stewarts Towing.

The Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (Troop K) participated in the national safety initiative called Operation Safe D.R.I.V.E. (Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement) hosted by the FMCSA this week. FMCSA stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This three-day enforcement action resulted in 390 trucks being inspected with 80 trucks being put out of service for imminent safety risks to the public.  During this event FMCSA personnel worked side by side with our Troop K members inspecting trucks and interacting with drivers to promote safe operations with commercial vehicles. Throughout this event, smart roadside technologies were used to screen large volumes of trucks so that Troopers and Inspectors could focus on the vehicles with defects and violations. These technologies include, tire anomaly sensors, thermal imaging for brakes and License Plate Readers for company credentials and safety scores. The most dangerous truck inspected this week was initially flagged by the tire anomaly sensors. Troopers conducted an inspection on this particular truck and found 37 violation including bald tires and missing brakes. This technology allows our limited staff to screen nearly 600,000 trucks every year helping to detect and inspect the unsafe operators and trucks on our Maine roads.

*Operation Safe D.R.I.V.E. is a high-profile enforcement and education effort targeting unsafe driving behaviors that contribute to crashes involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta has ruled the death of a woman in Skowhegan a homicide following an autopsy conducted as part of an ongoing Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central investigation. The victim has been identified as 46-year-old Nichole Jackson of Skowhegan. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt force and sharp force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Based on information developed during the investigation, Maine State Police identified Jackson’s boyfriend 55-year-old Dane Burke of Skowhegan as a suspect in her death. Burke was believed to be traveling in a 2018 silver Jeep Compass with Ohio license plates.

On January 17, 2026, at approximately 8:00 AM, the vehicle was located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Local law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to comply, resulting in a pursuit. Massachusetts State Police joined the pursuit, which continued into New Hampshire.

The pursuit ended in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree on Route 13, just north of Barnard Road. Following the crash, Burke barricaded himself inside the vehicle. The New Hampshire State Police SWAT Team responded and ultimately took Burke into custody at approximately 10:30 AM.

Burke was transported to Concord Hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. He was arrested on a Maine warrant charging him with murder and will remain in New Hampshire custody pending his return to Maine. Once released from the hospital, Burke will be transported to a New Hampshire jail.

This investigation remains ongoing. Additional updates will be provided when appropriate.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Skowhegan Police Department received a 911 call at 11:37 PM for a person not breathing at 361 West Front Street.  Upon arrival officers discovered a deceased female at the residence. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central was called to assist. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy that was conducted on Thursday January 15, 2026.

Detectives and Evidence Technicians worked throughout the day conducting interviews and gathering evidence. The identity of the female as well as cause and manner of death are being withheld until positive identification and notification to family can be made. The investigation is still ongoing.

There is no known danger to the public and no further details will be released at this time. Updates will be provided when appropriate. 

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at approximately 9:37 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a fatal pedestrian crash on I-95 southbound near mile marker 127 in Waterville. The Maine Department of Transportation had closed the traveling lane at the end of the southbound on-ramp from Kennedy Memorial Drive using cones and a posted stop sign as part of bridge construction work, with MaineDOT workers present at the site. The initial investigation indicates the operator of a gray Kia minivan failed to stop at the posted stop sign and then attempted to enter the passing lane (lane one) of I-95 southbound, where the minivan was struck by a tractor-trailer which was traveling southbound.

As a result of the collision, the minivan was forced into the work zone, striking three Maine Department of Transportation workers who were working at the site. The impact propelled two of the workers over the bridge and onto Kennedy Memorial Drive below. The two workers were pronounced deceased at the scene. They have been identified as 60-year-old James Brown of Waterville, and 51-year-old Dwayne Campbell of Waterville. A third worker was transported to a local hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The operator of the minivan, 34-year-old Samantha Tupper of Augusta had two young children in the vehicle. The children were not injured. Tupper was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

Due to the crash, all lanes of I-95 southbound were shut down for several hours while the Maine State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit conducted its investigation. One lane of I-95 southbound has since reopened. Additionally, Kennedy Memorial Drive was shut down westbound, and one lane was shut down eastbound for several hours to allow emergency response and investigation. The crash remains under investigation. The Maine State Police is being assisted by the Waterville Police Department, Waterville Fire Department, Waterville Public Works, Delta Ambulance and Dostie’s Towing.

The Maine State Police extend our condolences to the family, coworkers and loved ones of the MaineDOT workers impacted by this fatal crash.

On Friday January 9, 2026, at approximately 7:12 AM Troop G Troopers were investigating a single vehicle crash in the median northbound on the Maine Turnpike in Wells at mile marker 19. Three Troopers had parked their marked cruisers with emergency lights activated to divert traffic away from the crash in the median.

Trooper Christopher Caldeira was sitting in his marked blue 2020 Ford Explorer MSP Cruiser with its emergency lights activated when he was hit from behind by a 2023 Mercedes-Benz sedan operated by 31-year-old Priscilla Eydra Kifayatullah of Germantown, WI. The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles. Both Kifayatullah and Trooper Caldeira were transported to York Hospital for evaluation of possible minor injuries.

The highway remained open however traffic was significantly backed up because only one lane was open for travel for approximately one hour. The scene is now clear and traffic is flowing normally. Assisting the Maine State Police on scene were the Maine Turnpike Authority, York Fire Department, Ogunquit Fire Department, Wells Fire Department, and National Wrecker Service. This incident is still under investigation.   

*This crash serves as a reminder of Maine’s “Move Over” law, which applies to any stopped vehicle displaying flashing lights or hazard lights. Drivers are required to move into the adjacent lane when it is safe to do so, or slow down and proceed with caution if a lane change is not possible.

*The initial crash was a slide off into the median. No injuries to the driver.

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at approximately 3:49 AM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received a report from a passerby of a tractor-trailer crash on I-95 northbound near mile marker 141 in the town of Clinton. The initial report indicated the tractor-trailer had left the roadway and struck the center median.

The driver was transported to Thayer Hospital in Waterville by Clinton Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Due to the commercial vehicle being located in the median, an extensive recovery operation is required. The passing lane (Lane 1) will be blocked to allow crews room to safely conduct recovery efforts. The tractor-trailer was carrying grocery goods. Motorists should avoid the area or expect traffic impacts in the area.

MASARDIS

On January 5, 2026, at approximately 9:02 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a tractor-trailer truck on Route 11 in Masardis that was stuck in the power lines. Troopers investigating the scene determined that the driver had just received a load of wood from the mill in Masardis and attempted to cross an intersection at the mill with an overfilled load. This caused the boom on the vehicle and the load on the trailer to get stuck in the power lines. The incident blocked the northbound lane of travel on Route 11 for multiple hours. Troopers were assisted by various departments to include the Ashland Fire Department, Masardis Fire Department, The Maine Forest Service, Ashland EMS and Versant Power.  

Nashville Plantation

On Monday, January 5, 2026, at approximately 09:36 AM, Maine State Police received a report of a vehicle off the roadway on Portage Road in Nashville Plantation.  At the time of the crash the roadway was icy, a contributing factor which caused the vehicle, a 2007 Kia Spectra to slide off the roadway and strike a guard rail. A Maine Forest Service Ranger was in the area and responded to the location to provide traffic control while Troopers were responding to the scene. As a wrecker was attempting to retrieve the Kia, the Forest Ranger was attempting to shut down the roadway to the north of the crash scene using emergency lighting in his patrol vehicle. At this time, a 2016 Western Star, configured as a log truck with a loaded trailer, rounded a blind corner near the crash scene. The tractor trailer attempted to brake but began sliding due to icy roadway conditions. The vehicle began to jackknife and struck the rear of the Maine Forest Service vehicle. The Forest Ranger was out of the vehicle at the time, but the driver of the Kia was in the Maine Forest Service vehicle at the time of the crash. He was transported from the scene to the hospital by Ashland Ambulance Service for minor injuries. The Kia and Maine Forest Service patrol vehicle were towed from the scene due to disabling damage. The Forest Ranger and driver of the tractor trailer were not injured in the crash. The Ashland Fire Department responded to the crash and provided traffic control while the crash was investigated by members of the Maine State Police. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Maine Forest Service, Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit (Troop K), Ashland Ambulance Service, and Ashland Fire Department. The investigation is ongoing.

PATTEN

On Monday, January 5, 2026, shortly after 12:00 PM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a tractor-trailer truck off the road near the intersection of Route 11, and Winding Hill Road in Patten. The vehicle had taken out 3 utility poles and power lines were across both lanes of travel. Troopers determined the driver lost control of the vehicle due to icy road conditions The incident blocked off both lanes of travel on Route 11 for several hours.