All local (except Bar Harbor and Mount Desert) and not-quite-so-local law enforcement press releases

All local (except Bar Harbor and Mount Desert) and not-quite-so-local law enforcement press releases

Shaun Farrar

Aug 05, 2025

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Music Festival.

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SOUTHWEST HARBOR—According to the Southwest Harbor Police Department’s weekly press release, on August 2, 2025, the police department received a report of a person who was washing laundry in Long Pond by the pump house.

Officer Rick Graham responded and after locating the suspected clothes washer discovered they were just drying towels that had gotten wet in the rain the day prior.

Long Pond is the public drinking water source for the Town of Southwest Harbor and therefore has certain activity restrictions including no swimming, no gas engines, and no clothes washing.

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BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT POLICE REPORTS DELAYED

Due to technical issues, most likely related to the Town of Bar Harbor’s ongoing recovery from a data breach, the press releases for the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department will most likely be delayed until tomorrow.

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SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT

The following incidents occurred in Southwest Harbor or Tremont last week according to the Southwest Harbor Police Department police log, which is publicly released information.

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Monday, July 28, 2025

Officer Bradley Russell responded to a parking complaint in Tremont.

Officer Russell is investigating a reported theft from a Southwest Harbor residence.

Officer Russell responded to a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor and resolved the issue.

Officer Russell performed a well-being check on two people at a Southwest Harbor business and found them to be all set.

Officer Kristen Roulet responded to a request in Southwest Harbor to speak with a juvenile.

Officer Russell spoke with a Tremont resident about some issues that they were having.

Officer Russell responded to a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the offending vehicle.

Officer Russell performed a requested well-being check in Tremont and found the person to be okay.

Officer Russell was advised of a deer that had been struck in the middle of a Southwest Harbor roadway. When he arrived, he found that the deer had moved out of the road and contacted the “proper agency” to remove the deer.

Officer Russell performed a requested well-being check in Southwest Harbor and found the person to be okay.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

After receiving a report of suspicious activity in the parking lot of a Southwest Harbor business, Officer Russell responded and spoke with the people involved.

After the Southwest Harbor Police Department received multiple 911 hang-up calls from a Tremont residence, Officer Roulet responded and found a woman who was in emotional distress. The woman was given a ride to the hospital by a family member.

Officer Graham is investigating reported vandalism at a Southwest Harbor business.

A Southwest Harbor summer resident found a stray dog in Southwest Harbor and took it to the police station where it was promptly reunited with its owner.

Officer Roulet handled a call in Southwest Harbor regarding two stolen bikes, one of which had been recovered but was damaged.

Jeffery Thomas, 67, of Southwest Harbor was driving a 2018 Ford Transit van and was stopped in traffic on Main Street in Southwest Harbor. Adria Horton, 22, of Mount Desert, was driving a 2016 Ford Focus and was stopped behind Thomas. Timothy Lewis, 63, of Southwest Harbor was driving a 2012 Toyota Tundra and did not see the stopped traffic in time and allegedly struck Horton’s vehicle, pushing it into Thomas’s vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The Focus suffered damage to the rear bumper, trunk, and fenders. The Transit van suffered a scuff to the rear bumper, and the Toyota suffered a scraped front bumper.

Officer Graham documented a report from a person visiting Southwest Harbor from Portland. The man said that he had received a threatening social media post from another state.

After a shaken up local resident walked into the Southwest Harbor Police Department to report a truck that was driving recklessly and had almost caused an accident, Officer Roulet attempted to locate the truck but could not.

After receiving a report of a burglar alarm at a Southwest Harbor business, Officer Graham checked the business and found it to be secure. A representative of the business was notified of the event.

Someone reported a suspicious backpack near a bank in Southwest Harbor. Officer Roulet responded and found the owner of the backpack to be very close to the backpack charging his phone.

Officer Graham issued Liza Kling, 46, of Orrington, for alleged violation of conditions of release after she was allegedly found to be violating her curfew in Southwest Harbor.

Officer Graham took a report of possible telephone harassment in Southwest Harbor and after investigation, found it to be the result of an accidental dial.

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Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Officer Graham responded with the Tremont Volunteer Fire Department to an alarm in Tremont, but his assistance was not needed.

Officer Graham moved a deceased deer out of the roadway on Seal Cove Road in Southwest Harbor for the highway department to remove later.

Sgt. Ryan Blakeney documented multiple reports of vandalism to Southwest Harbor businesses.

Sgt. Blakney documented a report regarding property for a Southwest Harbor resident.

Officer Roulet responded to a driving complaint in Southwest Harbor, located the vehicle, and determined that the driver was all set.

After Officer Roulet received a report of a missing juvenile in Southwest Harbor, the juvenile was found and returned to their parent.

Sgt. Blakeney investigated a crash at a Tremont business and determined that the damage was from an older crash that occurred at a different location.

After Officer Roulet received a report of a missing juvenile in Southwest Harbor, the juvenile was found and returned to their parent.

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Thursday, July 31, 2025

Sgt. Blakeney responded to a report of a motor vehicle left running in a Southwest Harbor parking lot. He was able to resolve the situation.

Officer James Kamorski responded to a report of an unlicensed juvenile that was driving a motor vehicle in Southwest Harbor. Officer Kamorski located the vehicle and stopped it. The juvenile driver was issued a summons for alleged operating without a license. Joseph Coles, no age or hometown given, was issued a summons for alleged permitting unlawful use.

Officer Kamorski took a report of a civil issue from a Southwest Harbor resident who wanted the incident documented.

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Friday, August 1, 2025

Officer Russell retrieved a stray dog at a Southwest Harbor residence, took the dog to the police station, and it was returned to its owner.

Officer Russell performed a well-being check on someone in Tremont but could not locate the person at the residence description given nor could he locate the person anywhere.

Officer Russell responded to Tremont for a report of gunshots but failed to locate any gunshots.

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Saturday, August 2, 2025

Officer Russell responded to a report of a deer that had been struck by a car and was in the middle of the roadway in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the deer.

Officer Graham responded with the ambulance service in Southwest Harbor to provide a lift assist.

The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a call from someone who seemed to possibly be having mental health issues and appeared to be in the Bangor area. The Bangor Police Department was notified and they were familiar with the caller.

Officer Graham responded to Tremont for a report of black truck speeding back and forth on Tremont Road in Seal Cove but could not locate the vehicle.

A Tremont resident reported that their dog had run away. No further information or disposition was given.

Officer Graham responded to a medical call with the ambulance service in Southwest Harbor, but they did not require any assistance.

Officer Graham assisted Acadia National Park rangers with an underage drinking incident at the Seawall picnic area.

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Sunday, August 3, 2025

Officer Kamorski responded to a parking issue in Southwest Harbor, but the issue had been resolved prior to his arrival.

Officer Kamorski received a barking dog complaint in Tremont and the Tremont animal control officer was dispatched to handle the call.

Officer Kamorski is investigating a motor vehicle complaint in Tremont.

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STATE POLICE PRESS RELEASES

These are the Maine State Police press releases from the last few days. The Bar Harbor Story will include these each week though most (and sometimes all) do not occur on Mount Desert Island.

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Maine State Police Investigating Crash on I-95 in Veazie

VEAZIE—On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a 2004 Chevrolet pickup was being driven southbound in the passing lane of Interstate 95 in Veazie by 21-year-old Colby Tear, of Greenbush. The initial investigation indicates the hood unlatched and flew up, which blocked Tear’s view of the highway. Tear braked hard and attempted to pull over to the median.

The driver of a 2019 Toyota Rav4 approached from behind and was not able to stop and collided with the rear of Tear’s truck. The driver of the Rav4 was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with non-life-threatening injuries.

A third vehicle, a 2011 Subaru Forester approached from behind and steered to the right to avoid the initial collision. That driver left the roadway and entered the woods. He was transported with minor injuries and was treated and released.

Tear did not report any injuries. The interstate was shut down for several hours and southbound traffic was diverted while Maine State Police reconstructed the scene.

Assistance was provided at the scene by Maine Warden Service, Orono PD, Maine Department of Transportation, Veazie Fire Department, Orono Fire Department, and Old Town Fire Department.

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Police Continue to Investigate Scarborough Incident Involving Critically Injured Portland Man

SCARBOROUGH—The Scarborough Police Department and the Maine State Police are continuing an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a Portland man who was found unresponsive on Ginn Road in Scarborough.

On the evening of Saturday, July 26, 2025, at approximately 11:21 p.m., the Scarborough Police Department responded to 8 Ginn Road and found 25-year-old Darlon Aguilar, of Portland, lying unresponsive in the roadway. Aguilar remains in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Anyone who had contact with Aguilar on Saturday, July 26, 2025, is asked to call the Scarborough Police Department at (207) 883-6361 or the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit at (207) 624-7076

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Maine State Police Investigating Fatality in Oxford County

ROXBURY—On Saturday, July 26, 2025, at approximately 9:24 p.m., the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, MedCare Ambulance Service, and Roxbury Fire Department responded to a residence in the town of Roxbury for the report of an individual that had collapsed at a gathering during a private fireworks display.

The victim, 41-year-old Joseph Hennessey, of South Paris, was pronounced deceased after being transported from the scene by responding medical personnel.

The Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit subsequently responded to assist with the investigation. An autopsy of the victim was conducted at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. Initial findings in the investigation indicate that Mr. Hennessey was struck and killed by a projectile discharged by a mini cannon at the time of the fireworks display.

This incident remains under active investigation by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit.

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Multi-Agency Fire Investigation Leads to Indictments in Poland and Yarmouth Arson Cases

POLAND and YARMOUTH—Between November 2024 and March 2025, the Office of State Fire Marshal and the Yarmouth Police Department, with assistance from the Maine Forest Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), conducted a joint investigation into a series of suspicious fires in the towns of Poland and Yarmouth.

As a result of this multi-agency investigation, both the Cumberland County and Androscoggin County Grand Juries have returned indictments against James Akers, 18, of Portland, and Jacob Kaiser, 18, of Biddeford, along with two juveniles. The charges stem from incidents of arson, burglary, and theft at multiple locations, including the former Elan School property in Poland and two residences in Yarmouth.

The Androscoggin Grand Jury returned indictments on July 8, 2025, and the Cumberland County Grand Jury returned indictments on July 10, 2025.

Incident Locations

The charges are related to the following fire and property damage incidents:

• Former Elan School property in Poland: November 17, 2024; March 1 and March 7, 2025
• 508 West Main Street, Yarmouth: November 17, 2024; January 2, 2025
• 14 Madeleine Point Road, Yarmouth: March 1, 2025

Case Status

Both Akers and Kaiser have been arrested and released on bail pending court appearances later this year.

Two juveniles have also been charged in connection with this case. Due to their age, identities are not being released. The juvenile charges include multiple counts of arson, burglary, and theft.

Other Agencies that Assisted

• Yarmouth Fire Department
• Cumberland Police Department
• Portland Police Department
• Poland Fire Department
• Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office

Indictments that occurred earlier this month.

James Akers (18), Portland

Cumberland County:

• Arson (two counts) – class A
• Aggravated criminal mischief (two counts) – class C
• Burglary (three counts) – class C
• Theft by unauthorized taking (three counts) – class E
• Criminal mischief (two counts) – class D

Androscoggin County:

• Arson (three counts) – class A
• Aggravated criminal trespass (three counts) – class C

Jacob Kaiser (18), Biddeford

Cumberland County:

• Arson (two counts) – class A
• Aggravated criminal mischief – class C
• Burglary (four counts) – class C
• Theft by unauthorized taking (three counts) – class E
• Criminal mischief (two counts) – class D

Androscoggin County:

• Arson (three counts) – class A
• Aggravated criminal trespass (three counts) – class C

Statement from the Fire Marshal

Arson is not just property damage; it’s a dangerous and deliberate act that puts lives at risk. It threatens first responders, endangers neighbors, and causes lasting harm to families, businesses, and communities. These are not victimless crimes. Arson drains emergency resources, creates fear, and leaves deep emotional and financial scars. Holding offenders accountable is essential to protecting public safety and restoring community trust.

I deeply appreciate the exceptional work of our fire investigators and law enforcement partners. Their commitment, attention to detail, and persistence throughout this complex investigation were critical in bringing these cases forward.

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Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire in Portland

PORTLAND—On Friday morning, August 1, 2025, the Office of State Fire Marshal, at the request of the Portland Fire Department, responded to 27 Broadway in Portland to assist with the investigation of a two alarm residential structure fire at a single family home.

First arriving fire personnel were met with heavy smoke and fire conditions while rendering care to those who had been inside when they arrived. Two adults were transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland where their condition is unknown at this time.

Investigators from the FMO and PFD determined the cause of the fire was accidental as a result of an electrical malfunction. No additional information is available at this time.

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HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

The following are the public releases from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Each image can be clicked on and expanded.

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