News Release

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at approximately 2:15 PM the Maine State Police responded to a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a pedestrian on I-95 southbound near mile marker 157 in Newport. The incident occurred as a worker from Northeast Paving was placing cones on the highway for an evening  paving project. A tractor-trailer, carrying recycled paper, struck the construction vehicle, causing the worker identified as 24-year-old Charles Miller of Enfield to be thrown from the truck. Miller sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment. The driver of the tractor-trailer, 38-year-old Boureima Dicko of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and employed by JT Freight Inc. of Des Plaines, Illinois, was not injured. Additionally, the driver of the construction vehicle was unharmed. One lane was closed while both trucks were towed from the scene and the crash was reconstructed. The Maine State Police is investigating the crash. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

On Tuesday morning November 5, 2024, various crisis lines in Maine received threats of armed individuals on multiple school campuses around the state. The Maine State Police are working with our various partners and can confirm these initial calls were swatting incidents intended to provoke an emergency response. There is presently no known threat to the students, staff or public at this time. The Department of Public Safety encourages law enforcement and school leadership to continue to use due diligence when reviewing any new potential threats.

On Monday, November 4, 2024, at approximately 11:50 AM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center started taking calls of a wrong-way driver going northbound in the southbound lanes of I-295 in the city of Portland between exits 7 and 8. Troopers from Troop I began responding to the area. Yarmouth Rescue was traveling northbound at the time and saw the 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser going the wrong way. The ambulance turned around to try to get the driver’s attention. The driver positioned the ambulance at an angle on I-295 to block the wrong-way vehicle. The driver of the wrong-way vehicle began backing up when she saw the ambulance had stopped up ahead of her. A Trooper pulled up to the wrong-way vehicle with its cruiser’s emergency lights on and the driver stopped. The Trooper was able to put the vehicle in park and get the keys. The driver was a 78-year-old female from Westbrook who appeared to be having a medical event. She was initially trying to get to Mercy Hospital, so Yarmouth Rescue, the ambulance that stopped to help transported her there. The vehicle was towed from the scene. MaineDOT assisted in a lane closure while the scene was being cleared up. The Portland Police Department also assisted on scene.

On Friday, October 25, 2024, at approximately 12:30 AM, Sgt. Dube of the Northern Field Troop conducted a traffic stop on I-95 in Bangor for a speed violation. The operator of the vehicle was identified as 40-year-old Cyrus Griffin of New Haven, Connecticut.  Griffin was found to be operating without a valid driver’s license. Griffin was also found to be on parole in the State of Connecticut for homicide. After learning of the parole status, Tr. Doyle responded to the scene to assist. As a condition of his parole, Griffin was not supposed to be outside the State of Connecticut. During the stop, probable cause was developed to search the vehicle. The search revealed a loaded pistol was located under the driver’s seat. Due to his prior conviction and subsequent parole, Griffin is prohibited from being in possession of firearms. During the search of Griffin’s person and vehicle, officers located 375 grams of cocaine, 69 grams of cocaine base, and 142 grams of fentanyl xylazine. Approximately $2,100 in suspected drug proceeds were also seized. Numerous items related to the manufacture and sale of the illicit drugs were also located in the vehicle. Griffin was taken into custody and transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he is being held on $150,000 bond. The Maine State Police was assisted by our partners at the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency after the seizure. 

On Monday, October 28, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South and the Biddeford Police Department arrested 45-year-old Garret Labonte of Biddeford and 57-year-old Linda Lambert of Biddeford on charges stemming from the murder of 46-year-old Gene Dares. Labonte and Lambert were arrested at 63 South Street in Biddeford without incident. The homicide occurred in the area of 135-137 Foss Street in the city of Biddeford on September 27, 2024. Labonte is charged with Murder, Felony murder, and Robbery. Lambert is charged with Felony murder and Robbery. Labonte and Lambert are currently at the York County Jail and are expected to make their first court appearance tomorrow morning.

The adult male who was critically injured in the October 11^th stabbing in Palmyra succumbed to his injuries at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor on Friday, October 18, 2024. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed. The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Todd Parsons of Palmyra. The cause and manner of death are not being released at this time. The investigation is active and ongoing. There continues to be no known threat to the public. Additional information will be released when it’s available and appropriate to do so.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 9:26 PM, the Bangor Regional Communication Center (BRCC) received an Automated Crash Notification near mile marker 155 northbound on I-95 in Palmyra. Shortly after, the BRCC received several calls from motorists advising that a portion of the guardrail was in the northbound travel lanes and that a vehicle appeared to be in the median. The initial investigation indicates that a white Toyota 4Runner had gone off the roadway to the left, struck the guardrail, rolled over several times, and came to rest in the median. The operator of the Toyota 4Runner, 21-year-old Isaac Lemieux of Lewiston, was pronounced deceased on scene. Lemieux was not wearing his seatbelt. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. Several other vehicles that were driving northbound struck the guardrail that was in the left passing lane causing further crashes. The occupants from those vehicles reported minor injuries or no injuries at all. The crash remains under investigation. The Maine State Police was assisted on scene by Newport Fire and Rescue, Maine DOT, and Blanchard’s Towing.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 6:11 PM, Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to 759 Main Street in Readfield for a report of a truck vs pedestrian crash. The Initial investigation indicates 76-year-old Andrews Tolman of Readfield was walking across Main Street after leaving the Readfield Historical society when he tripped and fell in the east bound lane. The driver of a 2021 Ram 5500 was travelling in the eastbound lane at the time and did not see Mr. Tolman lying in the road, resulting in Mr. Tolman being struck and killed. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation. MSP was assisted by the Readfield Fire Department and Winthrop EMS.

On Tuesday October 22, 2024, shortly after 7:00 AM, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed an arrest warrant and search warrant at 153 Rooks Road in Eddington. Taken into custody was 42-year-old Norman Dean Fannin on an extraditable arrest warrant out of Oregon for Class B felony sexual abuse – Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse. A search of Fannin’s residence was also conducted relating to an ongoing investigation by the Maine State Police for Disseminating Sexually Explicit Material.  He is being held at the Penobscot County Jail pending extradition proceedings.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, around noontime, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 1484 Rt. 1 in the town of Hancock in reference to an ongoing investigation into Possession of Sexually Explicit Material. 47-year-old Peter Dysart was home at the time of the warrant and has been cooperative with the investigation. Once the investigation has been completed it will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Maine State Police Troop F received the report of a missing juvenile, Stefanie Damron, who is now 14 years old. Stefanie was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden on September 23, 2024. Maine State Police Troop F and the Major Crimes Unit North began investigating the circumstance surrounding Stefanie’s disappearance. The Major Crimes Unit North also collaborated with the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (CARD) to ensure that all resources were utilized in finding Stefanie. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Stefanie remains missing. Investigators have conducted many interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally, and in Canada. The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit have searched large parcels of land near Stefanie’s last known location. The Major Crimes Unit will continue to investigate the case in partnership with the FBI’s CARD team. Stefanie is described as 5'0, 130 lbs., green eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair. Stefanie was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots. Anyone with any information about Stefanie’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1 (800) 924-2261 or (207) 532-5400.