News Release

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at approximately 5:30 PM, Troopers with Maine State Police’s Southern Field Troop responded to a report of a fatal crash in the area of 661 Cape Road in Hollis. The initial investigation indicates that a blue 2004 Dodge Ram operated by 60-year-old Sean Foley of Lyman was traveling southbound on Cape Road and a silver 2008 Subaru Impreza operated by 28-year-old Emily Rea of Saco was traveling northbound when Rea pulled into the oncoming lane to make a turn and was struck by Foley who could not stop his vehicle in time. A male passenger in Rea’s vehicle, 51-year-old Troy Tanguay of Saco was pronounced deceased on scene. Rea was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries. Foley was not injured. The road was shut down to traffic for several hours. Hollis Fire and Rescue assisted on scene. The crash remains under investigation.

In the early morning hours of July 4, 2024, the Augusta Regional Communications Center began receiving calls about an abandoned pick-up truck and boat in the travel lane of State Route 160 in the town of Parsonsfield. Troopers Travis Doughty and Nate Jamo with the Southern Field Troop responded to the crash and determined that the driver of the pick-up, a 2009 blue Chevy 1500 with a 12-foot aluminum boat in the truck bed, was traveling on State Route 160, missed a turn and crashed into a parked vehicle and garage of a residence in Parsonsfield. The driver than backed up and left the scene. Due to the extent of damage to the offending vehicle, the driver of the pick-up left a debris field to include the boat which fell out of the truck. The driver continued driving subsequently shredding the front driver’s side tire until it was completely separated from the rim.  It was at this time that the operator abandoned his pickup and fled the scene. Trooper Jamo identified the driver as 23-year-old Joshua Hermance of Parsonsfield who is cooperating with the investigation. Hermance is charged with Failure to Give Notice of Accident by Quickest Means, Failure to Notify Owner of PD Accident, Failure to Produce or Return to Scene of Accident, and Leaving Scene of a PD Accident. Hermance and the homeowner were not injured.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, at approximately 11:00 AM, the Biddeford Fire and Police Departments were dispatched to 37 Emery Street in Biddeford for an unresponsive 1 month old boy. The baby was transported to Southern Maine Hospital in Biddeford and later transferred to the Maine Medical Center. Due to the age of the baby and is standard protocol, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South were called into assist the Biddeford Police Department. On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the baby died. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta on Friday, June 21, 2024. Cause and Manner of death are being withheld at this time. The Biddeford Police Department and the State Police Major Crimes Unit South continue to work together on the investigation surrounding the child’s death.

On Monday, July 1, 2024, at approximately 11:30 AM Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 on the Gray/Cumberland line. The initial investigation indicates that a 2021 GMC Sierra towing a camper trailer was traveling northbound when the driver’s side rear tire of the GMC Sierra (not the trailer) became dislodged. The tire traveled over the median guardrail striking a 2018 Mercedes sedan that was traveling southbound on I-95. The driver of the Mercedes, 49-year-old Justin Nsenga of Old Orchard Beach was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the GMC Sierra, 43-year-old Jean-Francois Chartrand of Saint-Hubert, Quebec and his four passengers were not injured. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207. 624.7076 and ask to speak with Trooper Tom Welch.

While this crash was being investigated, a secondary crash happened southbound on I-95 when a motorcycle driven by 31-year-old Tiffany Bowden of South Paris lost control in the slowing traffic and skidded before coming to rest in the roadway.  Bowden was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crashes are being investigated by Maine State Police Troop G and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU).  

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, the Maine State Police, Southern Field Troop responded to an incident in Norway. The initial investigation indicates an Oxford Police Department Reserve Officer, 31-year-old Joe Correia of Norway was off duty and outside his vehicle when he was struck by a vehicle on Crocket Ridge Road in Norway. After being struck, a physical altercation occurred between the officer and the male suspect who was operating the other vehicle being driven by 29-year-old Michael Carleton of Paris. Carleton was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Oxford County Jail.  He was charged with Class A Aggravated Assault, Class C Reckless Conduct with Dangerous Weapon. Correia was transported to a local hospital where he is having surgery for non-life-threatening injuries. There is no threat to the public. The investigation is on-going.

On the evening of June 20, 2024, Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North Detectives responded to a shooting incident on Westmanland Road in Westmanland. As a result of the shooting, on June 22, 2024, 22-year-old Brandon Belanger of Presque Isle, died of his injuries. The case and circumstances remain under investigation by the Major Crimes Unit-North. There is no danger to the public. Additional information will be released when it’s appropriate to do so.

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at approximately 12:12 PM, Troopers responded to the four-way intersection of Route 117 and Route 11 in Limington for a three-vehicle crash. Two vehicles were still in the roadway, and one struck the front porch of a house at the intersection. A Subaru Impreza and a Lexus RX300 were traveling in opposite directions on Route 11 and a Jeep Cherokee was traveling north on Route 117 when the crash occurred. The rear passenger in the Subaru Impreza, 32-year-old Casey Lubell of Ipswich, Massachusetts was pronounced dead on scene. Three other occupants in the Subaru Impreza were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Lexus RX300 was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The circumstances which led to the crash are still under investigation. The road was shut down for approximately three hours. The State Police was assisted by Gorham PD, Limington Fire and Rescue, Hollis Fire and Rescue, and Standish Fire and Rescue.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at approximately 6:02 PM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a domestic violence complaint from a 70-year-old woman in Readfield. The woman told dispatchers her ex-husband 71-year-old Carl Hiebert of Belgrade had a firearm and assaulted her at her Morrill Road home. Also in the home at the time was the couple’s 41-year-old son who resides at the residence. Troopers arrived on scene and found the female victim in the driveway. She was safely removed from the location and treated by Winthrop Rescue. A perimeter was set up around the residence with the help of Troop G, Troop I and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. The son was able to remove himself from the residence and was unharmed. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the residence and was able to take Hiebert into custody. Hiebert was arrested and charged with DV Criminal Threatening with a Dangerous Weapon, Reckless Conduct with a firearm and DV Assault. Hiebert was transported to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM, the Maine State Police Southern Field Troop, assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 361 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for the two males that fled on foot from a June 14, 2024, crash on Sokokis Avenue after the vehicle they were driving struck a school bus. The two males were identified as 33-year-old Robert Hargis and his brother 30-year-old Patrick Hargis of Hiram. Troopers developed information that the brothers were staying at the Sokokis Ave address. After a search of the property, with the help of a K-9, the brothers were located hiding inside a wall in an upstairs bedroom. They were both taken into custody without incident and transported to the York County Jail.  Robert had nine active arrest warrants. Patrick had one and is also on probation. Patrick was charged with Felony Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon. He will also be charged with Operating After Suspension, Operating with Suspended Registration, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, three counts of Violating Conditions of Release

The body of a man reported missing by his family on May 18, 2024, was discovered on Lincolnville Beach on June 3, 2024. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) identified the deceased as 30-year-old Jonah Farley of Union. The OCME determined the death was not suspicious.

Following the discovery, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central. On June 17, 2024, the State Police Dive Team located and recovered Farley’s vehicle, a 2010 Chevy Silverado near the Ferry Terminal in Lincolnville. The investigation has ruled the death a suicide. There is nothing further to release at this time.