News Release

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, shortly after 6:00 AM, the Maine State Police Central Field Troop received a report from a woman regarding threats and violence in the town of Palermo. The victim reported her ex-partner 45-year-old Jason Grant of Oakland, had made threats to cause her and others in her residence harm. State Police Troopers, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Oakland Police Officers responded to Ayer Street in Oakland where efforts were made to have Grant peacefully come out of his home. After several hours, Maine State Police Negotiators along with Tactical Team members were able to safely take the Grant into custody. Grant was charged with Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening, Domestic Violence Terrorizing, Violating Conditions of Release, and Creating a Police Standoff. Grant was transported to the Waldo County Jail where he will be held without bail. The Maine State Police was assisted by the Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire and Rescue and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.  

The deceased male located on December 3, 2024, near the Schmid Land Preserve on Old County Road in Edgecomb has been identified as 34-year-old William Nathaniel Robinson of Austinville, Virginia. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta has determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Robinson had been recently staying at a home in Edgecomb. There is no known danger to the public at this time. The investigation continues and additional information will be released with it becomes available.

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at approximately 11:03 AM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence at 15 Point Road in Belgrade. Troopers responded along with Belgrade Rescue and Delta Ambulance. 58-year-old Christina Bell who lives at the residence was transported via LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland with serious injuries. She was later transported to a Boston hospital. She is expected to survive. An adult male identified as her son, 26-year-old Samuel Bell left the residence in his vehicle and was taken into custody by Troopers without incident a short distance away on Guptill Road. He did not live at the residence with his parents. Samuel Bell was arrested and transported to the Kennebeck County Correctional Facility where he has been charged with Attempted Murder and Elevated Aggravated Assault.

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at approximately 11:03 AM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Point Road in Belgrade. Troopers responded along with Belgrade Rescue and Delta Ambulance. An adult female was transported via LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland with serious injuries. An adult male was taken into custody. He is cooperating with the investigation. This was an isolated incident. There is no danger to the public. This is the only information being released at this time. Additional information will be provided as the investigation progresses.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received multiple calls reporting a wrong way driver traveling south on the northbound side of I-95, specifically in the area of mile marker 205. Sergeant Christopher Hashey took up a position at mile marker 197. The vehicle evaded Sergeant Hashey and continued south. Sergeant Hashey then continued south in an attempt to stop the vehicle again. Sergeant Hashey observed the vehicle taking the 197 on ramp the wrong way. Sergeant Hashey was able to meet the vehicle and utilized his vehicle to immobilize the wrong way driver. The driver of the vehicle, 60-year-old Eric Nicolar of Indian Island was arrested and taken into custody. He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail and charged with Operating Under the Influence, Driving to Endanger and Failure to Stop. Both vehicles were towed from the scene due to damage. No one was injured. The investigation is ongoing.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, at approximately 12:30 AM, Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash at mile marker 75 northbound on the Maine Turnpike in Auburn. The initial investigation indicates that a passenger vehicle traveling northbound lost control and spun out before coming to rest in the roadway. Subsequently that vehicle was struck by a box truck and the box truck then struck a tractor trailer unit. After striking the tractor trailer unit the box truck rolled over the guard rail coming to rest partially down an embankment. The only person injured was the driver of the box truck and he was transported to Central Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Traffic was reduced to one lane for 2 ½ hours for the removal of the box truck and tractor trailer unit. The State Police were assisted by the Maine Turnpike Authority, State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and The Auburn Fire Department. Copp Motors removed both the box truck and tractor trailer unit. The crash remains under investigation however speed combined with wet roads are contributing factors.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, at approximately 7:40 AM, the Maine State Police Northern Field Troop with the assistance of the Maine State Police Tactical Team arrested 45-year-old Joshua White of Swans Island in Southwest Harbor. The arrest was the result of an investigation into White who is a felon and was unlawfully possessing firearms. A firearm was located in White’s vehicle at the time of his arrest. A search warrant of White’s residence on Swans Island also yielded additional firearms. White was arrested without incident and transported to the Hancock County Jail where he was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Maine Marine Patrol Assisted. The investigation is ongoing.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at approximately 9:25 AM, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a 911 call from a residence located at 614 Mohawk Road, Lincoln.  The caller reported a shooting had occurred at the residence. Responding law enforcement officers discovered a deceased male at the scene. Members of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North responded and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. On Thursday, November 21, 2024, an autopsy was performed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where the cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The investigation has led investigators to believe that the decedent is 51-year-old Jason Nadeau of Lincoln. Members of the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team have processed the scene. The MSP has identified all involved parties, and no arrests have been made at this time. However, MSP believes this is an isolated incident with no ongoing public safety concerns. More information will be released as it becomes available.  

The Maine State Police in cooperation with Homeland Security Investigations, Sanford Police Department, Eliot Police Department, Kittery Police Department, Biddeford Police Department, Fryeburg Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office conducted a focused child exploitation enforcement operation in western and southern Maine over the course of four days this week. In all 16 search warrants were executed confirming the possession, dissemination and production of child sexual abuse material as well as disseminating sexually explicit material to minors and on-line coercion of children to produce sexual abuse material. Warrants and other related investigations were executed in Lyman, Limington, Hollis, Biddeford, Kittery, Eliot, Arundel, Steep Falls, North Waterboro, Sanford, Fryeburg, Bryant Pond, Hiram, West Paris, Hartford, Norway, and Madison.  Once completed, the investigations will be turned into the area district attorney offices or the US Attorney for review and grand jury presentation. Two people were arrested on related charges during the operation. 48-year-old Shawn Ramsay of Arundel was arrested for possession of firearms in violation of a protection from abuse order. 37-year-old Benjamin Fecteau of Eliot was arrested on two outstanding arrest warrants for failing to appear on charges of Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registry, Violation of Conditions of Release, Theft and Refusing to Submit to Arrest. The investigation is ongoing.     

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at approximately 9:25 AM, Lincoln Police responded to a 911 call from a residence located at 614 Mohawk Road, Lincoln. The caller reported a shooting had occurred at the residence. Responding law enforcement officers discovered a deceased person at the scene. Members of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North responded and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death. Members of the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team were dispatched to the scene and will work to process available evidence throughout the night. The MSP believes this is an isolated incident with no ongoing public safety concerns. More information will be released as it becomes available.