Interstate 95

On 03/23/2020, Tr. Duda responded to a single vehicle crash near mile marker 36 sb. The vehicle, driven by Sonia Castro Echaiz (39) of Sanford was traveling southbound at high speed and in inclement weather when she lost control of her vehicle, and slammed into trees. She was taken to Maine Medical Center for injuries sustained from the crash. 

On 03/23/2020, Tr. Duda responded to a single vehicle slide off at mile 32 northbound. The vehicle slid off into the ditch near mile 32 north bound during inclement weather. The vehicle did not sustain any damage and was towed back onto the roadway. The operator, Paulo Gomes Pinto (54) of Framingham, Massachusetts failed to turn his lights back on, and then drive across three lanes of traffic and was hit broad side by a Hannaford tractor trailer. Pinto was transported to Southern Maine Healthcare with non-life threatening injuries. 

On 03/26/2020, Tr. Duda responded to a roll over crash on the exit 42 departure ramp. Trooper Duda arrived on scene and observed that an R.C. Moore tractor trailer failed to negotiate the curve and rolled over into the ditch. The cab of the truck was sliced through by the guard rail. The operator, Robert Skidgel (75) of Saco was able to walk away from the crash. The truck was hauling a load of French fries. Speed appears to have been a factor in the crash. Multiple units assisted at the scene. 

On 03/26/2020 Lt. Baker stopped Adam Dugal (38) of Bowdoin for traveling 102 MPH in a 65 MPH zone.  Lt. Baker was traveling south on I295 in Freeport at the time.  Dugal was summons accordingly.  
 

Tpr. Welch stopped Hannah Dascanio (20) of Portland for criminal speed, 115mph in a 70mph zone, on the turnpike in Scarborough at Mile 42 northbound.

Tpr. Libritz stopped Jason Goan (34) of Parsonsfield for a vehicle defect. Goan’s license status was suspended for OUI and an unpaid fine. Tpr. Libritz summonsed Goan for OAS and a licensed passenger drove from the scene. 

Tpr. Darcy stopped a vehicle northbound on the turnpike in York. The roadside investigation led to the discovery of 217 grams of crack cocaine. As a result, Tanjia Moore (25) of Brooklyn, NY and a juvenile from Bronx, NY were both charged with Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs. Sgt. Porter and Cpl. Schmidt (Troop A) assisted.
 

On 03/09/2020 Tr. Steven Stubbs arrested Abdirahman Dahir Hassan (34) from Massachusetts for OUI.  Multiple reports had come into the Augusta RCC of poor operation.  Tr. Stubbs was able to locate the vehicle.  Hassan blew above the legal limit.  
 

On 03/04/20 at approximately 2350 hours, Trooper LiBritz stopped a vehicle near mile 37 southbound for a plate light out. Upon further investigation it was determined the operator, EHREN DWORAK (49-Year-old male from Arundel), was on conditions of release and he had an active warrant for failure to appear. DWORAK was arrested on the warrant and transported to the York County Jail.

On 03-08-20, at approximately 0820 HRS, Tr. Hager stopped SEAN SPARFVEN, 38 years old of Providence, RI for speeding 87/70 mph zone in York.  Mr. Sparfven immediately admitted to never having a driver’s license.  Mr. Sparfven was issued a criminal summons for Operating without a License and a violation summons for speeding.  

3-4- Tpr. Darcy charged Jenna Kelly (33) of Biddeford with Operating after Suspension as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells.

3-5- Tpr. Darcy stopped a vehicle northbound on the turnpike in York. Criminal indicators were observed during the roadside investigation and Tpr. Wilkinson and K9 Pinny were called to the scene. K9 Pinny alerted to the odors of narcotics in the vehicle and a search was conducted. As a result, 101 grams of fentanyl was seized. Joseph Tardiff (26) of Blaine and Brian Keenan (41) of Caribou were both charged.

Tr. Physic summonsed Joseph Berard for Criminal Speed for traveling 84 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h construction zone. 

On March 8, 2020 Tr. Physic spotted a vehicle going northbound in the southbound lane near mm37.  Tr. Physic made several attempts along the way to intercept it.  Tr. Physic was finally able to get the driver’s attention enough where the vehicle stopped.  Tr. Physic arrested the driver, Joseph Neveux (23) for OUI.  Joseph took an intoxilyzer test at the Cumberland County Jail and blew over the legal limit. Cpl. Cote assisted.
 

02/25/20 at approximately 2032 hours Trooper Recruit Knight and Trooper LiBritz stopped a vehicle near mile 7 northbound in York for a headlight defect. Upon further investigation it was determined the driver, Adam Sheldon (45year old from OK), had an active extraditable warrant out of OK. Sheldon was arrested and when searched, Trooper Williams located drugs on his person. Sheldon was summonsed for unlawful possession of schedule W (cocaine) and unlawful possession of schedule W (suboxone). 

03/01/20, - Tr. Physic summonsed Phillip Dow for Criminal Speed, 87/55, on I-295.

03/01/20 – Tr. Davis arrested Kelly McAlinden (49) of Buxton on several warrants at Mile 109 in Augusta. McAlinden had a warrant for two felony counts of theft from Buxton PD, and a warrant for failing to appear in court for drinking in public.  

02/24/20 - Tr. Darcy charged Chelsea Coombs (23) of Oakland with Operating with a Suspended Registration as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells. The registration was suspended for tolls.

02/24/20 – Tr. Baker charged Jeffrey Johnson 6-16-67 with OUI as a result of a contact in Gray, on I-95.

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Emily Shaner (26) of Portland on the ME Turnpike southbound at mile 70 in New Gloucester.  She was summonsed for Failure to Register Vehicle Expired > 150 Days and her vehicle was towed. 

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Christina Michaud-Wilson (37) of Saco on the ME Turnpike southbound at mile 44 in Scarborough.  She was summonsed for Failure to Register Vehicle Expired > 150 Days.

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Kenneth Munsey (40) of Topsham on the ME Turnpike northbound at mile 34 in Saco.  His registration was found to be Suspended for Tolls.  The vehicle was towed, and he will be following up with MTA in reference to the unpaid tolls. 

Tr. Lee Vanadestine stopped James Neptune (26) of MA on the ME Turnpike at mile 102 in West Gardiner.  He was summonsed for Operating Under the Influence and Operating after Suspension.  His BrAC was over the legal limit.

Tr. Lee Vanadestine stopped Cody Duarte of Sabattus on the ME Turnpike at mile 84 in Lewiston for traveling 110 mph with 5 teenagers inside the vehicle.  He was summonsed for Criminal Speed.

Tr. Lee Vanadestine stopped Lisa Demmons of St. Pete, FL, on the ME Turnpike at mile 101 in Litchfield for traveling 101 mph.  She was issued multiple traffic tickets.

On 2/24/20 Trooper Williams arrested Stephen Cavanaugh (50) of Merrimack, NH for OUI following a traffic stop in Ogunquit.  Stephen produced a BAC over the legal limit and was charged accordingly. 

On 2/29/20 Tr. Williams arrested Shakye Gaskins (26) of Lawrence, MA for an arrest warrant out of Presque Isle.  The warrant was for Unpaid Fines. 

On 2/29/20 Tr. Williams summonsed Corianne Chambers (29) of Portland for Unlawful Possession of Sch W Drugs Class C (Crystal Meth) following a traffic stop in York.  The driver of Corianne’s vehicle, Michael Rice (41) of South Portland, was summonsed for OAS.  The vehicle was also towed due to a suspended registration.

Tr. George Loder located a reported drunk driver, Wayne Stedt (51) of Turner, on the ME Turnpike at mile 44 southbound in Scarborough that had crashed in Portland and then eluded Portland Police in a pursuit on I-295.  Stedt attempted to elude Tr. Loder and a pursuit ensued down the turnpike where he exited at 36 in Saco.  The pursuit was terminated in the Saco Industrial Park area after Tr. Loder successfully employed a PIT maneuver causing the vehicle to leave the roadway where it became stuck in a ditch.  Stedt was taken into custody.  It was later learned that Stedt had also engaged and eluded Windham Police earlier in the evening.  He was charged with multiple crimes including Operating Under the Influence, Eluding, and Criminal Speed.  Charges are forthcoming from both Portland and Windham Police.  Tr. Loder was assisted by Saco Police. 

Tr. George Loder stopped Felipe Barbosa-Silva (25) of Biddeford on the ME Turnpike a mile 32 northbound in Biddeford.  He was summonsed for Attaching False Plates and his vehicle was towed.

On 02/26/2020 Lt. Baker stopped Francis Doyle (70) of Freeport for 105 MPH in a 60 MPH zone.  He was summons accordingly.  

There has been a serious accident at Mile Marker 191 Southbound on Interstate I95 (Orono). The interstate in that direction has been shut down to allow for LifeFlight to land. Maine DOT has signs alerting drivers to divert at Exit 193. Please seek an alternate route and avoid the area. 

On 01-27-2020, Sgt. Porter assisted Troop A units on a traffic stop on Route 109 in Wells, just past the I-95 tolls. Cpl. Schmidt and Tr. Handzel had two subjects detained and were searching vehicle. Ultimately, both subjects were arrested for drug charges after narcotics were found. 

On February 02, 2020, Tpr. Physic arrested Matthew Stiteher for OUI.  Matthew took an intoxilyzer test and blew over the legal limit.

Tpr. Physic had concluded his DARE class at Leeds Central School with a celebration this past week.  The topics Tpr. Physic talked about this past winter was team building, bullying, tobacco, vaping and other various topics.  Tpr. Physic also awarded Rylee Stevens a citizenship award.  Tpr. Physic awarded Rylee with a commemorative license plate with an encouraging license plate.  Below are pictures of the celebration.

Tpr. LiBritz stopped a vehicle south of the York toll for a brake light out. The passenger immediately stated she wasn’t driving because she had the flu. Upon further investigation it was discovered the driver, Nelson Martinez (37), did not have a license and he was on probation. Martinez was arrested and summonsed for operating after habitual offender revocation and violation of conditional release. His probation officer put a hold on him as well. 

Sgt. Doughty stopped Abigail DeGregoris (28) of Kennebunk for criminal speed, 84 mph in the posted 50 mph construction zone, by Exit 45 in South Portland. 

Chris Cureton pleaded of Wales plead guilty to fentanyl trafficking and a probation violation stemming from a traffic stop Sgt. Pappas and Trooper Darcy conducted. He received a 30-month state sentence.
Arthur Miles changed his plea to guilty in Federal court for distribution of fentanyl stemming from a traffic stop Sgt. Pappas conducted in 2017.  He will be sentenced in late spring. 

Tpr. Darcy and Sgt. Porter assisted Cpl. Schmidt (Troop A) with a traffic stop where a large amount of fentanyl was seized. After the stop was clear, Tpr. Darcy responded to Troop A and assisted in interviews with the subjects involved as well as evidence processing.

Tpr. Darcy seized a small amount of crystal methamphetamine as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells. 

On 2-1-20 Tr. Kelley stopped and summonsed a 19-year-old female from Colorado who was driving 105 MPH in Litchfield.  
 
 

1-15- Tpr. Darcy stopped a vehicle northbound on the turnpike in York. The registration was suspended for tolls. The registered owner was able to call into the turnpike authority and sort out the issue regarding his overdue fines to the turnpike.

Sgt. Pappas summonsed a Livermore Falls resident for trafficking oxycodone after finding him in possession of 36 pills.

Sgt. Pappas summonsed two Bingham residents for trafficking cocaine after finding them in possession of 2 ounces of coke and 1 gram of fentanyl.  SW was conducted at their residence in Bingham.  Over ten guns were seized in addition to 10 grams of fentanyl.

Cpl. Ricci Cote, while working a minimum shift in Troop B, stopped Brandy Hilliard (41) of Turner, on N. River Road in Greene.  She was arrested and charged with OUI.  Her BrAC was over the legal limit.

Cpl. Ricci Cote summonsed Daniel Moulton (29) of Falmouth for Criminal Speed (102 mph in a posted 70 mph zone) on I-95 SB in Scarborough.

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Elizabeth Bell (29) of Biddeford on I-95 in Saco for having a Suspended Registration.  She was not charged, but her vehicle was towed.  She will be following up with the MTA.  

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Scott Briggs (34) of Windham on I-95 SB in Auburn.  He was summonsed for Operating W/ an Expired Driver’s License > 90 Days.

Cpl. Ricci Cote stopped Robert Gray (54) of Sanford on I-95 SB in Gray.  He was arrested for Operating after Habitual Offender Revocation.  He had an active warrant and was out on bail.  He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail. 

On 1/18/20 Trooper Williams arrested Brent Homer (42) of Dorchester, MA for Criminal Arrest Warrant; Failure to Appear following an erratic driving complaint in York.
 

Maine State Police are investigating a crash involving a tractor trailer hauling natural gas and a plow truck.

On Jan. 13, 2020, around 9:35 p.m., Thor Cote was driving north in a Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) plow truck, plowing in the left lane, on Interstate 95, Island Falls.  William Curvin was also driving north in a tractor trailer unit hauling compressed natural gas.  William thought the plow truck was in the middle of the roadway, went to pass on the left, and struck the wing of the plow truck.  William lost control of the tractor trailer and went off the left side of the roadway into the median.  The truck tipped onto its left side and came to rest against some rocks.  No one was injured in this crash.

The tractor trailer suffered major damage to the tractor.  No hazardous material was released during the crash.

The MDOT plow truck sustained heavy damage to the plow wing and its components.  Thor was able to drive it from the scene to a highway crossover.

Crews will work to remove the rig from the median during daylight hours.

The tractor trailer was scheduled to deliver the natural gas to a local startch factory.  The truck and trailer are owned by Keenan Advantage Group, Clearmont, Indiana.

The crash is still under investigation by Sergeant Jeffrey Clark.
 

State Police now say about 30 vehicles were involved in this morning’s chain reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Carmel.  The crash has closed the northbound lanes.  There have been some injuries, including one serious that the Lifeflight helicopter landed in the road, north of the crash site, to transport that person to a  Bangor hospital.

Several hundred motorists have been stranded behind the crash site and troopers  and the Maine Department of Transportation are making plans to utilize a crossover to get those vehicles turned around.

Initial reports say blinding sun may have caused the first crash about 7:45 AM, and then several other vehicles collided in a chain reaction.   A team of troopers and a fleet of wreckers are on scene to clear the road of the wrecked vehicles and the northbound side is expected to remain closed until – at least – noon.
 

On 01-05-2020, Troopers were asked to BOLO for a vehicle heading northbound on I-95 from the NH line. The request was from Biddeford PD who had just issued arrest warrants on a Caleb Pelkey (28) out of Portland for DV Terrorizing and DV Stalking on 01-03-2020. Biddeford PD stated that Pelkey was an Outlaw MC Gang member and had just been seen in a photo with a firearm. There was reason to believe that an occupant of the vehicle was Pelkey. Trooper MacKinnon spotted the vehicle NB and Trooper Paradis and Keim pulled behind him in order to do a felony stop. Three subjects total were in the vehicle, all three showed as active Outlaw MC Gang members in METRO. The vehicle was stopped just prior to the Kennebunk Service Plaza. Pelkey was driving the vehicle and was arrested on the warrants and transported to the York County Jail. The other two members in the vehicle were identified as Mark Morin (41) and Howard Kraft (61) both of Portland. 

12-31-19- Tpr. Darcy arrested William McCall (38) of Biddeford on an active failure to appear warrant as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells. William was also issued a summons for Operating after Suspension. The vehicle was towed from the scene as the registration was suspended for tolls.

1-2-20- Tpr. Darcy arrested Alex Lane (43) of Cornish on an active, unpaid fines warrant as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in York. 
On 1/5/2020      Tr. Wilkinson responded to a slide off in the area of mile marker 36 in Saco. Subsequently, the male operator was arrested for OUI and tested above the legal limit. Sgt. Pappas assisted. 

On 1/5/2020     Tr. Wilkinson and K9 Pinny were requested to assist Westbrook Police Department with a sniff of two subjects they had detained for suspicious activity. K9 Pinny indicated on the buttocks crack of the male subject and did not indicate on the female subject. The male refused to relinquish the narcotics on his own and Westbrook PD officers were not willing to put in the effort for a search warrant for an involuntary strip search. The female corroborated K9 Pinny’s indication and stated she was going to purchase crack cocaine from the male subject prior to police contact and that he had it in his genital area. 

On January 1, Tpr. Physic arrested Steven Walker for OUI who blew over the legal limit. Tpr. Libritz assisted. 

On January 4, Tpr. Physic arrested Hadin Ngouabi Okombi for OUI, who blew over the legal limit.

Tr. Vanadestine stopped Christopher Bean of Augusta for operating 102 MPH on the turnpike in Augusta. 

Tr. Vanadestine responded to a crash at mile 99 in the construction zone. A Rory Colby crashed his car into the jersey barriers.  He was arrested for OAS and OUI.  
Tr. Vanadestine responded to a crash with minor injuries.  A Timothy Card of Lisbon crashed his pickup truck in to the embankment, he was transported to the ER for injuries.  Card was refused to submit to chemical test.  CARD was arrested for OUI and his truck was totaled.

On 01-01-2020, Tr. Duda summonsed Anthony Beard, age 31, for operating with a suspended registration in York.

On 01-02-2020, Tr. Duda summonsed Clarence Stevens, age 56, for operating after revocation in York. 

On 01-04-2020, Tr. Duda arrested Gerard Lapierre, age 64, of Augusta for operating under the influence. Tr. Duda was working an OUI detail and observed Lapierre operating erratically on State Street in Augusta. Lapierre was subsequently arrested and brought to the Augusta Police Department for a breath test. Lapierre blew over the legal limit.

Tr. And K9 Mack conducted 4 exterior K9 sniff this week for Troop G troopers. No indications were present.