Maine State Police

On Friday, June 7, 2024, the Maine State Police responded to the report of a possible domestic violence event occurring at a home in Hiram. Trooper Zachary Fancy responded to the scene. Upon his arrival, Trooper Fancy entered the residence where he was confronted by a man who pointed a firearm at him. Trooper Fancy fired his weapon and struck the individual. The man was identified as 39-year-old Steven Nelson of Hiram. The Office of the Attorney General will investigate the law enforcement use of force and the Maine State Police Major Crimes South will complete a criminal investigation. Trooper Fancy is being placed on administrative leave which is standard practice in any officer involved shooting in Maine.

On June 1, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, Limerick Fire/EMS responded to a residence on North Shore Drive in Limerick for an injured child. EMS transported the child and later notified the Maine State Police Southern Field Troop.

Investigators learned that 6-year-old Lucy Morgan received an unintentional injury from her 10-year-old brother while they were playing outside. Investigators learned that the aluminum shaft of a badminton racquet had become dislodged from the wooden handle, causing the shaft to strike the girl in the head, piercing through her skull. She was transported to SMHC in Sanford and then via Life flight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. On June 5, 2024, Lucy died from her injuries.

The children and their parents are from Stockholm, New Jersey, and were vacationing in Maine at the time of the incident.

The Maine State Police would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Morgan family.

During the late hours of June 5, 2024, Troopers from Troop I received a call from an elderly female driver who reported that she had lost her purse while traveling southbound on I-95 between Pittsfield and Augusta. The driver had to pull over due to a medical emergency, and in the process, her purse was lost on the side of the interstate. Trooper Logan Roberts, with the assistance of his patrol K-9 Geno, determined the area the female had been and initiated an article search. Demonstrating their teamwork and dedication, Trooper Roberts and Geno were able to locate the purse, which was found untouched on the side of the interstate in Pittsfield. The recovered purse was promptly returned to its grateful owner. This incident showcases just one of the many effective utilizations of K-9 teams.

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, at approximately 12:00 PM, Maine State Police responded to a report of a tractor trailer unit roll over on Rt. 11 in T8 R5. The caller reported that the driver of the tractor trailer was trapped in the cab and was injured. Troopers responded to the scene along with emergency crews from Island Falls, Masardis, and Ashland Fire Departments. The Maine Warden Service also responded to assist. The initial investigation determined that the truck drifted off the roadway rolling onto the driver’s side. The driver, 74-year-old Timothy Folsom of Ludlow was extricated from the truck and transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing. Rt. 11 was shut down for approximately one hour.

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, at approximately 1:07 PM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a car vs. motorcycle crash that occurred on West Ridge Road in Mars Hill. The initial investigation indicates that the operator of a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling southbound, and the driver of a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling northbound when the two vehicles met at a curve in the road and collided. The operator of the motorcycle, 50-year-old Lance Kierstead of Easton was seriously injured. He was transported to North Lights AR Hospital where he later died from his injuries. The driver of the sedan was 42-year-old Jamie Avery of Easton.  She was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.  

On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at approximately 11:27 AM, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office requested the Maine State Police Bomb Squad’s assistance as they were responding to potential unexploded ordinance at a private residence on High Street in West Paris. Sgt. Pescitelli along with Apprentice Technician Dan Murray arrived on scene and secured the item which was identified as a MK2 “pineapple” grenade. Utilizing x-ray imaging they observed characteristics consistent with a grenade still containing energetic material. The item was secured in the Bomb Squad’s possession for disposal at a later time. Oxford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chasse talked to the caller who stated the item most likely came from a family member who served during WWII or the Korean War.

On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at approximately at approximately 11:00 PM, Cpl. Garret Booth was traveling northbound on I-95 in Sidney when a 2019 Kia Optima operated by 34-year-old Keishaunna Tavares of San Diego, California, fell asleep, causing her foot to press on the accelerator and her vehicle to speed up uncontrollably rear-ending Cpl. Booth’s cruiser at a high rate of speed. Cpl. Booth sustained an arm injury and was taken to Maine General Medical Center in Augusta for evaluation. He has been released. Tavares was issued a citation for failing to maintain control of her motor vehicle. She was not injured.

The impact of the collision caused damage to both vehicles, both of which were towed from the scene.

Central Field Troop and Troop I were assisted on scene by: MDOT, Delta Ambulance, Sidney Fire/Rescue, and Ready Road Towing.

This crash remains under investigation.

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit obtained an arrest warrant for 23-year-old Aziayh Scott of Owls Head charging him with Manslaughter in connection to the death of the 22-month-old Quayshawn Wilson that occurred on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Thomaston. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta conducted an autopsy on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and ruled the cause of death was blunt force trauma and manner of death was homicide. Scott, who is originally from Louisianna, had recently moved to Maine and was living with his girlfriend and the child in Owls Head.  Detectives learned after going to the residence in Owls Head on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the couple had returned to Louisianna. After learning this information, Maine State Police Detectives coordinated with Louisianna State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service Maine Violent Offender Task Force and Scott was arrested this morning, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in the city of New Orleans. Scott was taken to Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans and the process to extradite Scott back to Maine for the charge of Manslaughter will now begin. 

On June 1, 2024, at 03:10 AM, Chhoeunly Phoeung, 36 years old of Massachusetts, was driving a Mazda CV5 southbound on the Maine Turnpike when he left the roadway, striking several objects at the entrance to the State Police weigh station in Kittery. After crashing his vehicle, Phoeung walked into traffic on the Turnpike and was struck by a tractor-trailer unit. Phoeung was transported by ambulance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. State Police continue to investigate. 

On Monday, October 13, 2025, at approximately 6:12 AM, Troopers responded to the area of 389 Kelly Road in Stacyville for an ATV crash on a public way. The sole occupant of the ATV was 70-year-old Joyce Cummings of Stacyville. 

The preliminary investigation shows the ATV was traveling on the road when items began to fall off the back of the ATV. The ATV appeared to turn and crash. Cummings was thrown from the ATV. She was not wearing a helmet. She sustained severe injuries and was transported by LifeFlight to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation.