News Release

On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office received a request for a welfare check at 425 Millett Road in Minot. Deputies responded and checked the residence shortly after 6:00 AM and located the bodies of two deceased people. The Maine State Police Major Crimes unit was contacted to assist in the investigation.  The two deceased individuals were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Augusta where autopsies were conducted. The OCME identified the victim as 19-year-old Emali Sallee of Lewiston and ruled the manner of her death as a homicide. The second person was identified as 20-year-old Tyson Peters of Minot who died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sallee and Peters were in a relationship at the time. No further information is being released at this time. This incident appears to be isolated and there is no threat to the public.

On Thursday, April 11, 2024, at approximately 12:47 PM, Troopers responded to a report of a fatal motor vehicle crash on Route 1 in Steuben. The initial investigation indicates that a red 2014 Nissan Rogue being operated by 36-year-old Nicholas Libby of Addison was traveling east on Route 1 in Steuben when his vehicle crossed the center line of the road and struck a silver 2003 Subaru Forrester being operated by 51-year-old David Worcester of Lamoine. Worcester was pronounced deceased at the scene. Libby was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Hospital in Bangor to be treated for serious injuries. The crash remains under investigation. The State Police were assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Ellsworth Police Department and the Steuben Fire Department.   

On Thursday, April 4, 2024, at approximately 11:00 AM, Cpl. Klayton Peckham responded to a crash in the northbound median by Exit 24 on Interstate 295 in Freeport. The driver of the Silver 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrex handed her ID to Cpl. Peckham and then proceeded to run across the southbound lanes of traffic into the woods just off the Interstate. Dispatchers at the Augusta Regional Communications Center informed Cpl. Peckham that the driver 45-year-old Holli Tapley of Shelton, Connecticut had an extraditable warrant out of Connecticut for a parole violation associated with a kidnapping offense. Freeport Police were notified and Trooper Tom Bureau responded and set up on the southbound shoulder where she was seen entering the woods. Sgt. Dan Hanson responded to a residential area just beyond where Tapley entered the woods. Freeport Police Officers sent units to assist Trooper Bureau as well as Sgt. Hanson. While heading to the residential area a Freeport resident reported seeing a woman walking in the area away from the direction of the highway. Units got to the area and located a female in the driveway of a residence talking with a Freeport resident who was cleaning off his vehicle. Once Sgt. Hanson and Freeport Officers stopped to talk to the female she fled on foot into the back yard of the residence. The female was detained after a short foot pursuit and positively identified as Tapley. Tapley was transported to Cumberland County Jail where she is being held on a Fugitive from Justice charge.   

*Please contact the Cumberland County Jail for a booking photo.

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at approximately 1:18 PM, Troopers responded to Rt. 11 in Masardis for a report of a tractor-trailer that struck a train. The initial investigation indicates that the tractor-trailer, owned by Bartlett Forest Products of Amity and operated by 26-year-old James Tapley of Monticello was traveling southbound on Rt. 11 when the tractor-trailer struck a train that was crossing Rt. 11 at a railroad crossing. It appears the tractor-trailer which was hauling woodchips at the time was unable to stop when it hit the train causing the train to derail. Tapley sustained serious injuries and was transported via Ashland Ambulance to Northern Light Hospital in Presque Isle. Tapley had a dog in the vehicle at the time which was transported to a local veterinarian for treatment. The operator of the train was not injured. Rt. 11 will remain closed while the crash is investigated and the scene is cleared. That could take two to three days while equipment is brought in to remove the train. Detour signs are in place while Rt. 11 is closed. Please follow the posted traffic routes and do not approach the crash site.

Troopers were assisted by MaineDOT, Maine Forestry Service, Ashland Police Department, Ashland Ambulance, Masardis Fire Department, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

On Monday, April 1, 2024, at approximately 5:42 PM Troopers responded to a crash on I-95 at mile marker 138 northbound in Clinton. Initial investigation has determined that a tan 2009 Ford Fusion was traveling northbound in the passing lane when the driver passed a 2020 white Ford Escape in the travel lane. As the driver of the Fusion passed the Escape, the driver quicky changed lanes in front of the Escape and collided with the vehicle. The collision caused the driver of the Fusion to lose control and go off the right side of the roadway. The Fusion overturned and collided with a tree on the side of the roadway. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Escape was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

*The identity of the deceased will not be released until next of kin has been notified.

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, the Windham Police Department investigated a report of a missing person from their town. The family of 34-year-old Alex Jackson of Windham reported him missing with no contact since Friday, May 12, 2023, which was atypical behavior for him. Investigators with the Maine State Police, Windham Police Department, Lewiston Police Department, Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hampshire State Police worked to develop leads over the following ten months. On Friday, March 29, 2024, an arrest warrant was obtained for 30-year-old Joseph Chute of Leeds on the charge of murder. Chute was arrested Friday evening without incident and transported to the Androscoggin County Jail where he is being held without bail. The body of Jackson has not been recovered at this time. Chute will make his initial appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court on Monday, April 1, 2024. 

*Please contact the Androscoggin County Jail for a booking photo.

*No other information is available at this time.

On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Maine State Police were requested to respond to the South Strong Road in Farmington to investigate a serious personal injury crash that occurred during a motor vehicle pursuit. As Troopers were responding to the call, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 32-year-old Joshua Burdin of Strong was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The incident unfolded at approximately 4:59 pm when Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office were called to a residence in the town of Strong to investigate a sexual assault of a child.  Burdin was immediately identified as the suspect and had fled the residence before officers arrived on scene. 

At approximately 6:11 PM, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy located Burdin driving a 2006 Subaru Impreza in Strong and attempted to make a traffic stop.  Burdin failed to stop, leading Deputies on a low-speed pursuit through Strong and into Farmington on the South Strong Road where Officers with the Farmington Police Department were able to successfully deploy spike strips.  After the Subaru’s front tires were spiked, Burdin accelerated at a high rate of speed on the South Strong Road and struck a tree head-on.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed. The crash remains under investigation.

On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 7:00 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a residence on Drake Road in Bradford for the report of a domestic violence incident involving an armed male and his wife. Troopers arrived on scene and made contact with 60-year-old Timothy Philpot of Bradford. Philpot was carrying a firearm and was outside his residence on a public way refusing to comply with commands to surrender himself. For the safety of the public in that area a shelter in place advisory was issued. Philpot’s wife was able to get out of the house safely and was not injured. After several hours of negotiation with the Maine State Police Crisis Negotiation Team Philpot was taken into custody by the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Troopers from the Northern Field Troop.  

Philpot was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center and then to the Penobscot County Jail. Philpot has been charged with Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening, Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention, Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon, and Felony Level Criminal Mischief. The Bradford Fire Department and Mayo Regional Ambulance assisted on scene.

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, at approximately 9:00 AM, Troopers responded to a tractor trailer crash on Interstate 95 at 184 southbound in Bangor. Initial investigation indicates the driver, 34-year-old Edward Ross of Lawrenceville, GA was traveling southbound on the Interstate when he lost control of his vehicle causing the tractor trailer to roll over. Ross was not injured. The crash shut down exits 185, 186, and 187. The right southbound lane continues to be closed while crews offload the truck, upright it and remove it from the scene. That is expected to take another 2 hours or so. The tractor trailer was carrying french fries. Diving too fast for road conditions appears to be a contributing factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, at approximately 10:53 PM, Troopers from the Southern Field Troop responded to Long Street in Limerick for a domestic assault in progress. A neighbor called to report that 41-year-old Justin Savage of Limerick had assaulted his girlfriend 26-year-old Shawna Morse in front of their home. Troopers arrived and Savage was detained. During the investigation Savage became combative and a struggle ensued. Savage landed on a Trooper, Sgt. Adam Schmidt, breaking his ankle. In an effort to escape custody Savage also bit Trooper Jamie Fenderson causing two lacerations on his hand. During that altercation, Morse attempted to assist Savage. Sgt. Schmidt was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released. Sgt. Schmidt will require surgery. Savage was arrested and transported to the York County Jail. He was charged with Domestic Violence Assault, Assault on a Police Officer, Refusing to Submit to Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct. Morse was arrested and transported to the York County Jail. She is charged with Obstructing Government Administration and Refusal to Submit to Arrest.

*The Southern Field Troop is the same Troop where three Troopers and a Trooper Recruit were seriously injured when they were struck by a vehicle in Hollis back in August of 2023.