News Release

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, Troopers from the Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to the area of Unity Road in Benton following multiple 911 calls reporting a man walking down the road and recklessly firing a pistol, including toward homes. Troopers quickly located the individual and safely detained him without incident.

The man, identified as 32-year-old Joseph Costa, who is currently unhoused, was found to be in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Costa was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. He was later transported to the Kennebec County Jail and charged with 12 counts of aggravated reckless conduct with a firearm and one count of discharging a firearm near a dwelling. Costa was denied bail and is awaiting his initial court appearance.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076 or email Trooper Tyler Nadeau at Tyler.W.Nadeau@maine.gov.

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central in response to a death at a residence on Canaan Road in Hartland.

The deceased, an adult female was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed on Monday, April 14, 2025. The deceased has been identified as 78-year-old Velma Withee of Hartland. The manner of death has been ruled homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. 

The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation. There is no known threat to the public. There is no further information available at this time.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, a Trooper from the Maine State Police Central Field Troop observed a black Chevrolet Impala on Townhouse Road in West Gardiner. The vehicle was driven by 34-year-old Pearle Thomas of Augusta, with her husband, 33-year-old Zebbie Thomas of Charleston, as a passenger. Zebbie Thomas has multiple active arrest warrants issued by other law enforcement agencies for felony robbery, aggravated assault, and violating conditions of release.  

Zebbie and Pearle have evaded law enforcement multiple times in past weeks during efforts to apprehend them. Today an attempt to initiate a traffic stop was made, but the Impala failed to pull over and a pursuit ensued. For the safety of the public and responding personnel, the Trooper executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on West Road in West Gardiner, successfully terminating the pursuit.

Both Pearl and Zebbie Thomas were taken into custody without further incident. Both are being treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and will be transported to the Kennebec County Jail upon release. Pearle and Zebbie Thomas are charged with Eluding, Driving to Endanger and Failure to Stop. West Gardiner and Gardiner Fire Department’s assisted on scene.

On April 19, 2025, at approximately 10:30 AM, the Maine State Police responded to 128 Boots and Saddle Road in Palermo for a welfare check. Upon arrival, Troopers discovered the body of a deceased male outside of the residence. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit Central responded and determined the circumstances of the death to be suspicious.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was conducted.

The individual has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Bruso of Palermo. The manner of death has been ruled homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. There is no known danger to the public.

Bruso owned a golden retriever named Lennie, who has not yet been located. Anyone with information about the location of Lennie, or who may have seen a golden retriever in the area of Route 3 near Boots and Saddle Road and/or Level Hill Road in Palermo, is asked to contact the Augusta Regional Communication Center at 207.624.7076

On May 2, 3, and 4, 2025, the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and numerous volunteers from search and rescue organizations will conduct planned searches in the New Sweden area for Stefanie Damron, a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing by her family on September 24, 2024. The timing of the searches reflects improved weather conditions and coordination of available resources.

The public should expect to see a large law enforcement presence in several areas, including searches on foot, by vehicle, and with the use of drones. These are routine, coordinated efforts, and there is no danger to the public.

As a reminder, the FBI is offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to Stefanie’s safe return or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-532-5400.

Linda Maxwell, age 18, was last seen in the Calais area on August 23, 1984, after spending the evening with friends. Two days later her body was recovered along the shoreline of the St. Croix River in Robbinston, in Washington County. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, the case remained unsolved.  

On Thursday May 1, 2025, over 40 years later, the Maine State Police made an arrest in Linda Maxwell’s murder. Following an intensive and expanded investigation by Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved (MCU-U) and the Major Crimes Unit-North (MCU-N), the Attorney General’s Office presented the case to the Washington County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment charging 65-year-old Raymond Brown of Bangor, formerly of Pembroke, with Murder. 

Today, at approximately 4:15 PM, Brown was taken into custody after a traffic stop on Broadway in Bangor.  Brown will be transported to the Washington County Jail, where he will be held without bail.

This arrest reflects the continued commitment of the Maine State Police and the Attorney General’s Office to pursue justice in homicide cases, regardless of how much time has passed.

Anyone with information related to this case, or any unsolved homicide or missing persons case, is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police.

Augusta: 207-624-7076 or 1-800-452-4664
Bangor: 207-973-3700 or 1-800-432-7381
Houlton: 207-532-5400 or 1-800-924-2261

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, at approximately 7:58 AM, Maine State Police Troop G responded to a report of a tractor-trailer crash near mile marker 30 northbound on the Maine Turnpike in Arundel. Troopers arrived to find the tractor-trailer had struck the median guardrail and caught fire.

The driver, who sustained minor injuries, is believed to have suffered a medical event prior to the crash. He was transported to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford for treatment.

The tractor-trailer was loaded with general freight. As a result of the crash, the left and middle northbound lanes were closed for several hours while crews worked to investigate and clear the scene. Traffic was moderately impacted. The crash remains under investigation.

Agencies assisting at the scene included Wells Fire, Kennebunk Fire, Chandler’s Towing, National Towing, and the Maine Turnpike Authority.

On Monday, May 5, 2025, at approximately 1:42 PM, Maine State Police Troopers responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at 1277 Sokokis Trail North in Cornish.

The initial investigation indicates that 51-year-old Dawn Webber of Limerick was operating a Ford Fusion northbound on Sokokis Trail when she crossed the center line and veered into oncoming traffic. Her vehicle collided head-on with a Ford F-350 commercial vehicle that was towing a trailer carrying two pickup trucks. The driver of the Ford F-350 was not injured. Webber was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The road was closed for approximately six hours while members of the Maine State Police Traffic Safety Unit reconstructed the scene. The Commercial Vehicle Unit also assisted, along with surrounding fire and EMS agencies. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The annual observance at the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The memorial, located on State Street near the Maine State Capitol in Augusta, honors Maine law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was dedicated on May 25, 1991, by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. Michael Tracy, Executive Director of the Association and former Oakland Police Chief, said, “This memorial service is a time for all of us—law enforcement and community members—to come together and honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of Maine’s fallen officers. We invite the public to join us in remembering the heroes behind the badges and supporting the families they left behind.”

This year, the Maine Chiefs of Police Memorial Committee received applications to have two additional names inscribed on the memorial wall. Following a review process, the committee voted to include both names. The new names will be added to the memorial, bringing the total number of honored officers to 90.

• Richard A. Betters, Portland Police Department – Died on January 14, 2009, after suffering a heart attack shortly after entering a burning building and helping evacuate residents while working his shift.

• Herbert G. Tarbox, Falmouth Police Department – Died on April 19, 1959, after suffering a heart attack while administering first aid to an individual who had collapsed.

The ceremony will be attended by police officers from across the state, families of the fallen, dignitaries, and members of the public. Governor Janet Mills will deliver the keynote address as part of the commemoration.

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at approximately 2:23 PM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Route 1 in Milbridge. The initial investigation indicates that 79-year-old Clyde Samuelson Jr. of Columbia, was traveling east on Route 1 in a 2011 Ford pickup truck when the vehicle left the roadway on the north side and entered a ditch between Route 1 and the Sunrise Trail. Samuelson was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

First responders removed Samuelson from the vehicle and initiated life-saving measures but unfortunately, those efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Traffic was not impacted during the response.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Milbridge Fire Department assisted on scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.