Interstate 95

A tractor trailer truck travelling south on Interstate 95 lost control and slammed into a bridge support, cutting the trailer in half.

On Jan. 4, 2020, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Houlton Regional Communications Center received a call advising them that there was a tractor trailer leaning against a guard rail in the area of mile marker 276 South bound (Island Falls). Trooper Cotton arrived on scene and observed a white Tractor Trailer Unit wrapped around the Rt. 159 concrete bridge support. Trooper Cotton determined that the tractor trailer had lost control due to the poor weather and road conditions, slid into and broke approximately 100 yards of guard rail, before sliding into the median and into the bridge support. The impact from the bridge support broke the trailer in half. The driver suffered minor injuries.

A DOT bridge inspector was called to the scene. Westerdahls towing will be removing the truck when the weather improves.

State Police say Interstate 95 in Augusta was shut down on the northbound side as police dealt with a man sitting alone inside a car with a gun. The incident was on the off ramp at exit 113 in Augusta, and State and Augusta Police are on scene.    Northbound Interstate traffic was diverted at exit 112 ( Civic Center Dr. )  and motorists traveling north had to use secondary roads to get back on the Interstate at Sidney.  Southbound Interstate traffic was not effected.  The situation resolved around 8:30 a.m. No further details are being released at this time.

On 12/26/19 at 22:25 hrs. Tr. Harakles responded to a report of a vehicle pulled over in a dangerous spot. Tr. Harakles located the vehicle in the construction zone mile 9 South. Tr. Harakles spoke with the driver and immediately suspected impairment. At the conclusion of SFT’s 31-year-old Yusef Nouri of Beverly Mass was arrested for OUI. A subsequent breath test showed Nouri was over twice the legal limit.

Tpr. Physic received a complaint of suspicious activity regarding a vehicle that kept going through New Gloucester tolls. Tpr. Physic spotted the vehicle going through the tolls and initiated a traffic stop.  Tpr. Physic arrested the driver, Charles Richardson, for Failing to Appear and summonsed him for Operating w/o License.  Cpl. Cote and Tpr. Davis assisted.

12-23- Tpr. Darcy charged Monika Scheindel (21) of Cape Elizabeth with Operating after Suspension and Operating with a Suspended Registration as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Biddeford. The registration was suspended for tolls.

12-23- Tpr. Darcy charged Kenneth Hughes (41) of Monmouth with Operating after Suspension as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in York. Tpr. Wilkinson & K9 Pinny were called to the scene. K9 Pinny alerted to the odors of narcotics on the vehicle. A search was conducted, crack cocaine and cocaine paraphernalia were located.  

12-26-19 Tpr. Darcy charged Jamaal Williams (37) of Biddeford with Operating after Suspension as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in York.

Tr. Keim stopped GEORGE MOUSTAKIS (33) of Danvers Mass., for traveling 107mph in a posted 70mph speed zone.  In the vehicle with MOUSTAKIS was his 3 children.  Two were 5 years old, the other 11 years old and his wife whom was 4 months pregnant. MOUSTAKIS was charged with criminal speed and endangering the welfare of a child.

On 12-29-19, Tr. Stubbs saw a black VW Passat going the wrong way at the NB Kittery Rest Area. The vehicle’s North Carolina registration was revoked, and the operator was suspended in Massachusetts. The operator, Andrew Marshalka (56) of Mass, stated he was headed to visit his girlfriend in Cumberland. He estimated the cash he had on him at $3700 and stated that he rents the vehicle for $650 a month. York PD’s K-9 responded and indicated on the vehicle, a thorough search of the vehicle was negative. National Wrecker towed the vehicle and Tr. Stubbs summons Marshalka for OWL and Operating a vehicle with Revoked Registration.  Tr. MacKinnon and Sgt. Porter assisted.

A driver was cited after a chunk of ice flew off their vehicle and through the windshield of a car that was attempting to pass it on Interstate 95.

On Nov. 16, 2019, Kristin Harmon was driving south on Interstate 95, Houlton.  She moved into the left lane to pass a slower moving vehicle driven by Rose Rodriguez.  As Kristin was passing, a large chunk of ice came off the top of Rose’s vehicle and went through Kristin’s windshield.  Kristin was able to flag down Rose and both pulled to the right side of the Interstate.

Rose was issued a traffic summons for unsecure load on her vehicle.  Kristin’s vehicle was towed from the Interstate by York’s of Houlton Towing.  No one was injured during this incident.

The State Police would like to remind all motorists to clear all snow/ice from their vehicles before driving on the public way.
 

For the second time in two days, State Police have arrested a group of New Yorkers on the Maine Turnpike on drug selling charges. The arrests took place last night  and are in connection with an investigation of drugs sales out of a home at 33 Main St. in West Paris. 

Wednesday evening, troopers stopped a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica van on the turnpike in York.  At the same time, a team of Troopers, Deputies from Oxford Sheriff’s Department and officers from Norway and Rumford police, searched the West Paris home.  Seized in the van were 382 grams of cocaine and crack.  Items seized from the house were other items related to drug selling.  The four arrested on the turnpike were taken to the York County Jail and all are charged with aggravated drug trafficking.  Investigators say the group has been active importing and selling drugs from Oxford Hills to the Rumford area and also in southern Franklin County in recent months. 

Arrested are - Yashim “Scotty” Gomez, 35, Raymond “T” Vasquez, 26, Geraldine “GiGi” Rodriguez, 31, and Princes Munoz-Cordero 19, all from Bronx New York.  Bail was set at $20,000 for Gomez and $10,000 for the other three.  On Tuesday troopers arrested two NY men and a Bangor woman after their vehicle was stopped on the turnpike in Kennebunk.  Seized were cocaine and heroin, headed for Bangor.

KENNEBUNK, Maine- Police arrest three people for aggravated drug trafficking after traffic stop. On Oct. 29, 2019, Maine State Police Troopers from Troop G stopped a vehicle on I-95 northbound for a traffic infraction. As a result of the investigation, police located 114 grams of cocaine base and 10 grams of a suspected heroin/fentanyl mixture concealed in the vehicle.

All three occupants were arrested for aggravated trafficking. They are as follows: Antron Owens AKA "NUNU", 25, of New York; Terrell Owens AKA "RELL", 27, of New York; and Danielle Eames-Powe, 35, of Bangor, Maine.

A special thanks to the South Portland Police and their K9 Unit in assisting with this stop.

Tpr. Darcy charged Lateef Simmons (38) of Brooklyn, NY with Operating without a License as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in York.  The vehicle’s registration was also suspended for title issues.  The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Tpr. Darcy charged Ruth Moats (43) of Scarborough with Operating after Suspension as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells.

Tpr. Darcy arrested Bryce Lebel (21) and Kareem Smith (34), both of Lewiston, for Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs as the result of a stop northbound on the turnpike in York.  Criminal indicators were observed and Tpr. Duda and K9 Mack were called to the scene to conduct a sniff.  K9 Mack alerted, and a search was conducted.  As a result, 127 grams of cocaine was located.  Both subjects were taken to YCJ and bail was set at $3,000 for Lebel and $10,000 for Smith.  Troopers Williams and Wilkinson assisted.  

Tpr. Darcy arrested Nicholas Wood (33) of Steep Falls for Violation of Conditions of Release as the result of a traffic stop southbound on the turnpike in Portland.  Nicholas was with the protected party on his bail conditions.  The vehicle’s registration was suspended.  The registered owner left the vehicle parked in a parking lot and dealt with that issue. 

Tpr. Physic arrested Sam Richardson (26) for OUI on the turnpike in Kennebunk.  Tpr. Welch assisted.

On 10-16-19 Tpr. Hager investigated an evasion of fare (tolls) complaint at Exit 32 in Biddeford.  Tpr. Hager stopped Donald Leeman (29) at mile 33 northbound in Saco and subsequently determined that Leeman’s registration was under suspension for tolls.  Tpr. Hager also determined that Leeman’s license status was under suspension for Failure to File Insurance.  Leeman was issued criminal summonses for Evasion of Fare (tolls), Operating with Suspended Registration (tolls) and Operating After Suspension.  

On 10-14-19 Tpr. Loder stopped a silver BMW for speeding northbound in Biddeford.  The operator, Mickiel Charles James (31) was suspended and out on bail for drug trafficking with search conditions.  Upon completion of a vehicle search, James was charged with OAS & VCR, and issued a citation for speeding.  Troopers Duda & Williams assisted.

On 10-20-19 Tpr. Williams arrested Alanna MacDonald (55) of Goffstown, NH for OUI.  Several traffic complaints came in northbound on the vehicle and Troopers Duda and Loder set up for the vehicle.  At one point, unbeknownst to Troopers, MacDonald took a crossover and drove back southbound.  As calls began to come in southbound, a motorist attempted to block MacDonald’s lane of travel through the York toll.  MacDonald attempted to drive around the motorist but crashed into a tractor trailer after driving over a lane divider at the York toll.  MacDonald refused a test of her breath and was charged with OUI – Refusal.  Troopers Duda and Loder handled the crash scene and investigation at the toll plaza. 

On 10-16-19 Cpl. Coted stopped Christopher Iooss for OAS on I-95 at mile 41 South.

On 10-19-19 Tpr. Duda conducted a traffic stop northbound near mile marker 16.  The operator, Jessica Pearl (35) of Burlington CT, was arrested on an active warrant for theft of out of Penobscot County. 

On 10-20-19 Tpr. Keim followed a vehicle that was floating from the median fog line to the dividing line several times and not moving into the middle lane after being passed by 2 vehicles on the right.  Tpr. Keim then moved alongside the vehicle and watched as the driver kept looking down toward their lap.  Tpr. Keim stopped the vehicle driven by an Ashley Bouffard (31) of Old Orchard Beach.  Tpr. Keim noticed that there was a cell phone in Bouffard’s lap.  She was asked why she was looking at her phone and Bouffard said she always keeps it there.  Bouffard could not produce any documents that were requested.  Tpr. Keim ran a license check on Bouffard and obtained information that she had 3 outstanding operating after suspensions on her license.   Bouffard was charged with failing to keep right expect to pass and operating after suspension.

On 10-19-19 Tpr. Keim received a call from Sgt. Porter that a Deondre Johnson (26) of Lewiston, was on a Greyhound bus and was trying to leave the state.  Sgt. Porter had information that Johnson had outstanding warrants for DV Assault and Probation violations.  Lt. Baker and Tpr. Keim located the bus in the Wells Transportation Center and Johnson was taken into custody without incident.

On 10-19-19 at SP Gray advised that there was a crash at Exit 36 northbound entering ramp in Saco.  The complainant reported that the vehicle exited at Exit 45 in South Portland.  After responding to the scene and observing the remnants of a crashed vehicle, Cpl. Cloutier took photographs of the scene and then responded to the methadone clinic in South Portland where Cpl. Cloutier suspected the vehicle was located.  At the methadone clinic, the heavily damaged vehicle was located.  Thomas Verow, the registered owner, exited the clinic and admitted to being involved in the crash.  Verow was arrested for Leaving the Scene of a Property Damaged Crash, Driving to Endanger and Violation of Conditional Release.  Verow was transported to the York County Jail.
Tpr. Welch arrested Taylor J. Hartley (23) of Westbrook for Operating with Suspended Registration (Toll Evasion) at mile 34 northbound in Saco.

Tpr. Welch arrested Ashani Theo Smith (27) of York for Leaving the Scene of an Attended Vehicle Crash at mile 45 southbound in Portland.
 

On 10-09-19 Tpr. Kelley stopped Haider Mahmood (25) of Farmingdale for speeding in Sabattus.  He was summonsed for speed and OAS.    

On 10-10-19 Tpr. Kelley summonsed Steve Kaze (20) of Portland for speeding after stopping him in Sabattus for going 101mph in the 70mph zone.    

On 10-10-19 Tpr. Kelley summonsed Phuong Do (49) for OUI as the result of a traffic complaint and motor vehicle crash in Gray.   

On 10-13-19 Tpr. Physic pulled a vehicle over for erratic operation at the Irving gas station in Scarborough by the Turnpike.  During the traffic stop the male ran away from the traffic stop.  Sgt. Pappas, Sgt. Doughty, Tpr. Harakles, Tpr. Davis, Tpr. Physic, and Scarborough Police Department were able to take away all avenue escapes for the male and later placed him under arrest within the hour.  The male was given an intoxilyzer test with a result over the legal limit.  The male had given law enforcement a false name.  Tpr. Physic was able to learn his real name was Nathan Saad (19).  Saad was on probation for theft, had conditions not to consume alcohol, a suspended driver license status (already has 3 pending suspensions), and had bail conditions.  Saad was charged with Failure to Give Correct Name, OAS, Violation Condition of Release, Failure to Stop for Police Officer, and Administrative OUI.

On 10-10-19 Tpr. Duda was traveling west on Route 126 in Sabattus when he clocked a pickup truck traveling east at 91mph in a posted 55mph speed zone.  After stopping the vehicle Tpr. Duda noticed that the vehicle, a Ford F-350 was over height and had several other inspection violations.  The operator, Randolph Gayton (34) of Litchfield, stated that he was coming from the shop where he was denied an inspection sticker.  Gayton was summonsed for exceeding the speed limit by 30mph or more as well as operating a defective motor vehicle.  The truck was towed from the stop. 

Tpr. Duda and K9 Mack conducted four K9 sniffs for Troop G Troopers.  No arrests. 

On 10-08-19 Cpl. Cloutier received two independent complaints of a Toyota driving erratically northbound from mile 36 in Saco.  As Cpl. Cloutier went north from mile 42, Det. Heimbach had the vehicle stopped at Exit 44 in Scarborough.  Det. Heimbach witnessed the erratic operation and stopped the vehicle.  Matthew Losee of Wells was not impaired.  Losee was summonsed for Driving to Endanger, the vehicle was towed and Losee was dropped off in South Portland.

On 10-13-19 Tpr. MacKinnon stopped a vehicle southbound at mile 16 for operating 96mph in a 70mph zone.  The driver, Brendan Kolterjahn of Massachusetts, was summonsed for speed and for not having his two children (both under age of 3) secured in a car seat.

On 10-11-19 Sgt. Porter stopped Mehul Patel (44) of PA, northbound at mile 17.5 in Wells for speeding and failure to maintain lane control.  He admitted to being distracted looking at the onboard GPS in the vehicle.  He was issued a VSAC for Failure to Maintain Control of a MV (Distracted Driving). 

On 10-08-19 Tpr. Darcy arrested Aaron Gervais of Alfred on an active warrant for unpaid fines as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the Turnpike in York.

On 10-11-19 Tpr. LiBritz checked on a broken-down vehicle in the area of mile 40 southbound. Upon further investigation it was determined the driver, Shania White (22) of Biddeford, got a flat tire on her way home from work. White’s driver’s license had active suspensions for failure to pay fines and costs and she was on two sets of conditions of release.  Part of her conditions were not to operate a motor vehicle unless lawfully licensed.  White was summonsed for operating after suspension-infraction and violation of conditions of release. 

On 10-12-19 Tpr. LiBritz received a report of a pedestrian walking northbound in the area of mile 32.  Tpr. LiBritz contacted the female trespassing on the Turnpike.  The female was uncooperative.  She was reluctant to provide her name and she kept providing false information as to who she was.  Based on the totality of circumstances and multiple attempts to identify the female she was arrested for criminal trespass and transported to the York County Jail.  The female eventually stated her name was Melevanie Lange (41) of Portland but she remained uncooperative and would not provide any information to support or verify that was her real identity.  Lange is currently at the York County Jail waiting to be positively identified through her fingerprints.
 

On 09-30-19 Tpr. Keller stopped Austin Graffam (21) for loud exhaust, headlight, speed and tailgating near mile 83 northbound.  His license was suspended.  He was charged, and vehicle was towed. 

On 10-02-19 Tpr. Keller received a complaint of a verbal argument between in male and female in a vehicle in the area of the Gray Maine Turnpike Maintenance yard.  The vehicle continued southbound and Tpr. Keller stopped it at mile 57.  The female, Alecia Tadlock (23) was arrested for domestic violence assault on her boyfriend.  She admitted to an assault.  Their 6-month-old baby was in the vehicle with them at the time.  Tadlock was taken to the CCJ.  Sgt. Porter assisted.

On 10-01-19 Tpr. Darcy charged Jaime Pillcorema (43) of Bronx, NY with Operating without a License as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Wells.

On 10-04-19 Tpr. Darcy charged AJ Wills (38) of Knox with Operating after Suspension as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in York.

On 10-04-19- Tpr. Darcy charged Jose Ortiz (39) of Lowell, MA with Operating without a License as the result of a traffic stop northbound on the turnpike in Ogunquit.

On 10-04-19 Tpr. Libritz stopped a vehicle in the area of mile 66 northbound for a plate light out. The driver, Jenna Wai Leighton (35), had a valid license but the registration was suspended for toll evasion.  Leighton was issued a summons for operating with a suspended registration. 

On 10-04-19 Tpr. Duda was traveling to the EVOC range.  Tpr. Duda was northbound on Route 8 in Smithfield when he observed a school bus traveling southbound on Route 8 at a high rate of speed, the bus was clocked at 72mph in a 50mph speed zone.  Tpr. Duda conducted a traffic stop and found the bus did not contain any students.  The operator, Elizabeth Lane (56) was issued a summons for speed. 

On 10-02-19 Tpr. Baker stopped Brian Heinman (32) of Augusta at mile 109 and charged him with OAS.

On 10-02-19 Tpr. Baker arrested Samantha Leonard (62) of Gray for domestic violence assault and violation of bail conditions at the West Gardiner Toll plaza.  Leonard assaulted her domestic partner while driving home to Gary from Applebee’s in Augusta.

On 10-05-19 Tpr. Hager investigated a late report suspicious incident at the Kennebunk Service Plaza southbound in Kennebunk.  A third-party complainant reported an elderly male was seen filming a female teenager in line at the Starbuck’s store.  The third-party complainant provided the registration to the suspect’s vehicle and Tpr. Hager located James Hoyle (57) at his residence in Wells.  Hoyle was issued a no trespass notice to both the Northbound and Southbound Service Plazas in Kennebunk, and the trespass notice was logged into Spillman.