All local and not-quite-so-local law enforcement press releases
Sep 02, 2025
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate.
BAR HARBOR and SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Geese were featured in two Mount Desert Island police department reports this past week.
Both the Bar Harbor Police Department’s and the Southwest Harbor Police Department’s press releases for this past week had incidents that referred to the eradication and the mitigation of geese.
Officer Kevin Edgecomb said the Saturday, August 30 incident report, which noted that Bar Harbor police were contacted by an outside group about mitigating wildlife issues with geese, referred to MDI High School.
According to School Superintendent Mike Zboray in response to an email inquiry, the high school has tried multiple ways to scare off the geese without using any sort of lethal means.
As part of the application process for a depredation permit for geese, an entity must prove that it has tried and exhausted many non lethal methods of making the geese leave the area and not return.
Zboray said that the high school has tried the following,
- “Fake Coyotes;
- “Laser lights;
- “Sound deterrents;
- “Large Wind socks—like you see at businesses;
- “Blank gun shots—from the track and field starting pistol—(after communication with local police);
- “Showing up early when they feed and chasing them on the school’s golf cart.”
On August 30, representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife showed up at the high school and were prepared to eradicate geese, but there were none on the school grounds, according to Zboray.
Zboray also said, “We recently learned of a new method using remote-controlled cars, and we will try that before contacting the Fish and Wildlife Department. Lethal methods are a last resort, and we continually try multiple methods.”
The soccer and football fields and around the ponds on school grounds are the areas of concern for fecal matter.
“There are multiple health issues with large amounts of fecal matter on the playing field. This is a significant issue for students playing soccer and football as they come into contact with the ground and a ball that may have fecal matter on it,” Zboray said.
When asked if the high school has performed Canada goose eradication in the past, Zboray wrote in an email, “Yes, this has been done in the past, after following all Fish and Wildlife protocols as mentioned above. At those time(s) it was successful for that season. We will continue to try all other options before resorting to lethal means. However, the safety of students is the utmost concern.”
Three days prior, on Wednesday, August 27, the Southwest Harbor Police Department received a complaint regarding gunshots at the Causeway Club Golf Course.
According to a press release from the department, when Officer Rick Graham responded, he learned that “the gunshots were the result of a federally permitted goose eradication operation.”
An email inquiry that was sent to the general manager of the Causeway Club about the fate of those geese garnered no response by press time.
BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT POLICE LOGS
The following incidents occurred in Bar Harbor and Mount Desert last week according to the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department police logs, which is publicly released information.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
After receiving a report of two possibly abandoned vehicles on School Street in Bar Harbor, Officer Liam Harrington placed 72-hour ordinance violation warnings on both vehicles. One vehicle was moved prior to the expiration of the warnings and the second vehicle was towed by Acadia Towing after the notice expired and the vehicle had not been moved.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Officer Troy Stanwood performed a vehicle identification number verification in Bar Harbor for a tow company.
Someone made a late report of an erratic driver in Bar Harbor but was not able to give enough information for Officer Stanwood to follow up on the complaint.
Officer Stanwood is investigating a reported theft of an eBike in Bar Harbor.
After investigating a reported possible bail violation in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood could not find any evidence that a violation had occurred.
Officer Stanwood took some information for documentation purposes in Bar Harbor.
Officer Elias Burne responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate the offending vehicle.
After taking a complaint regarding an intoxicated person in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood responded. The person was transported to MDI Hospital for an evaluation.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The Bar Harbor Police Department received multiple 911 calls from a Bar Harbor hotel and Officer Lukas Keene determined that it was an issue with a landline.
Someone rode along with Officer Stanwood in Bar Harbor during his shift.
Officer Stanwood performed a directed patrol at the Connors Emerson crosswalk in Bar Harbor during the morning time when students are heading to school.
After taking a complaint regarding an intoxicated person in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood responded. The person was transported to MDI Hospital for an evaluation. It is unclear if this involved the same person as the similar incident on the previous day.
Officer Amie Torrey responded to a complaint of bicyclists on Sargeant Drive in Mount Desert and found them to be following the law.
Someone reported being assaulted during a road rage incident in Bar Harbor. Officer Stanwood responded to find the suspect had fled the scene prior to his arrival. The suspect was not located.
A man relinquished a firearm to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Kirk Lurvey, 53, of Bar Harbor, was operating a John Deere tractor on Kitteridge Brook Road in Bar Harbor and going in reverse while grading the road. Robyn Ihmedan, 43, of Mount Desert, was driving a 2018 Nissan on Kitteridge Brook Road, crested a hill, and was unable to avoid running into the tractor. At least one of the vehicle operators (unspecified) complained of pain. The tractor had no damage and the Nissan suffered front-end damage.
Officer Stanwood arrested Sarah Standridge, 29, of Georgia, for drinking in public in Bar Harbor after she had been warned for it previously. Standridge was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Nathan Formby is investigating a report of damage to a vehicle at a Bar Harbor hotel.
After receiving a complaint regarding a possibly impaired driver in Bar Harbor, Sgt. Jerrod Hardy located the vehicle and found the driver to not be impaired.
Friday, August 29, 2025
Officer Formby gave an intoxicated person in Bar Harbor a ride home.
Officer Harrington investigated a report of a suspicious device at a Mount Desert rental property and determined that the device was not suspicious.
After receiving a complaint about loud music coming from a Bar Harbor residence, Officer Caleb Mora located an unoccupied vehicle and shut off the music.
Officer Mora is investigating a report of a vehicle driving off the road near the ball fields in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Hardy responded to an erratic operation complaint on Route 3 in Bar Harbor but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
After receiving a noise complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby was able to get the person making noise to stop making noise for the night.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Officer Zack Kline performed a well-being check on a possibly suicidal person in Bar Harbor. Officer Kline found the person to not be suicidal, but the person did wish to speak with the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department’s mental health liaison.
Officer Kline performed a well-being check on a woman laying on a bench in the Village Green in Bar Harbor. The woman was fine and just intoxicated. Officer Kline gave the woman and her friend a ride to their hotel.
Officer Justin Burnett responded to a report of a possibly intoxicated driver on West Street in Bar Harbor and was able to determine that the driver was not intoxicated.
After receiving a report of an unsecured door at a Bar Harbor business, Officer Harrington located an employee at the business and made them aware of the unsecured door.
While patrolling the town, Officer Stanwood noticed a road rage incident occurring in front of the Bar Harbor Police Department. One woman was warned for disorderly conduct.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to a complaint of a truck parked illegally at the intersection of Mount Desert Street and Roberts Avenue in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Brundrett contacted the owner who moved the truck and issued the driver a parking ticket for parking in a prohibited area.
Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to a complaint of a parking problem at the intersection of Cottage Street and Federal Street in Bar Harbor. Sgt. Brundrett issued the offending vehicle a parking ticket for parking in a prohibited area.
Officer Stanwood spoke with a Mount Desert resident about a neighbor dispute.
Officer Burnett conducted traffic control for a private event in Northeast Harbor.
Officer Mora conducted traffic control for a private event in Bar Harbor.
Officer Harrington documented an animal problem in Mount Desert at the complainant’s request.
Officer Mora responded to and assisted at a medical call in Bar Harbor until the ambulance could arrive.
After responding to a report of a man in Bar Harbor having a mental health crisis, the man was located by officers and taken into protective custody for an evaluation.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Officer Kaleb Payson assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a second medical call in Bar Harbor.
After receiving a noise complaint at a Bar Harbor hotel, Officer Payson issued the involved people disorderly conduct warnings.
After receiving a late report of a woman at an Otter Creek residence screaming , Officer Kline responded but was not able to locate anyone at the home. A follow-up investigation revealed that a verbal domestic had occurred at the residence when the original complaint was made and no crime had been committed.
Officer Stanwood warned someone in Bar Harbor for having a dog off leash.
After investigating a noise complaint at a Bar Harbor residence, Officer Harrington found the complaint to be unsubstantiated.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Stanwood summoned Steven Biron, 49, of Trenton, for attaching false plates.
Someone in Bar Harbor requested that a dog be scanned for ownership information.
While on patrol, Officer Stanwood came across a vehicle that was impeding traffic in Bar Harbor and had the owner move the vehicle.
Someone made a traffic complaint to the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Officer Payson responded to a report of an injured deer in Mount Desert but could not locate any injured deer.
Someone made a noise complaint in Mount Desert but the noise stopped shortly after the complaint was made.
Sgt. Chris Dickens and Officer Payson responded to a report of suspicious activity in Somesville but were unable to find anything concerning.
Officer Burnett warned two women for disorderly conduct in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens spoke with someone regarding the earlier complaint of suspicious activity in Somesville.
Officer Payson “addressed a municipal violation in Bar Harbor.”
Monday, September 1, 2025
Officer Kline moved along two vehicles from Hadley Point Landing in Bar Harbor after finding people sleeping in both of them.
Officer Amie Torrey investigated a report of trash cans having been tipped over in Mount Desert and came to the conclusion that the vandalism was most likely committed by animals.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Nathan Quiroz, 42, of Orland, was summoned by Officer Stanwood for operating after suspension.
Sgt. Dickens gave someone a ride to their campground in Bar Harbor.
Officer Judson Cake responded to a report of a downed tree blocking the road in Mount Desert, but the tree had been removed prior to his arrival.
Officer Keene assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department with a medical emergency in Bar Harbor.
Katrina Rank, 48, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2019 Buick Regal north on Main Street in Bar Harbor and approaching the intersection of Derby Lane, when River Morris Rossignol, 24, of Waterville, allegedly entered the travel lane and was not in a crosswalk. Rank was unable to take evasive action and Rossignol “collided with” Rank’s passenger-side sideview mirror. Rossignol reported minor scrapes to his lower right leg due to colliding with a dolly that he was pushing at the time of the crash. Rossignol refused to be seen by medical personnel or to be transported to the hospital. Rank and the vehicle were uninjured.
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.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Officer Bradley Russell spoke with a Southwest Harbor resident and documented some information that the resident gave to Officer Russell regarding their property.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Officer Rick Graham responded to a report of a person possibly having issues with their personal mobility device in Southwest Harbor. Officer Graham found the person to be “happily motoring down the sidewalk with no issues.”
Chief John Hall spoke with a Southwest Harbor resident about an ongoing civil issue.
David W. Klausky, no age given, of Southwest Harbor was driving a 1985 Chevy pickup on the Seawall Road in Southwest Harbor and was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Main street and did not see a 2025 Mazda CX90 that was being driven by Sun Jinsheng, no age given, of Wayne, New Jersey, who was attempting to turn left onto Seawall Road. Klausky’s truck allegedly struck Jinsheng’s Mazda. There were no reported injuries. Both vehicle’s suffered reportable damage but were still drivable.
Officer Graham responded with the Southwest Harbor Fire Department to a report of smoke in Southwest Harbor. The smoke was determined to be coming from a metal fire pit.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Officer Kristen Roulet received a request to check on someone walking on the Seal Cove Road and found that the person was all set and was just taking “a break from their annoying brother.”
Officer Roulet is investigating a complaint about an unruly neighbor in Southwest Harbor.
A Southwest Harbor resident reported a power pole being down in the woods off Long Pond Road. The complaint was forwarded to the power pole’s owner.
Officer Roulet responded to Tremont to look for two reportedly loose dogs, both of whom had cones around their necks. Officer Roulet was unable to locate the dogs.
After receiving a business alarm in Southwest Harbor, Officer Roulet responded and “stealthily” cleared the building, finding no intruders.
Officer Russell responded to a business alarm in Southwest Harbor and after making sure the building was secure, the key holder went inside and reported it to be a false alarm.
After receiving a request from another agency to try and locate a vehicle, Officer Russell attempted to, but could not locate it.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
After receiving a complaint of trespassing in Southwest Harbor, Officer Russell spoke with the person alleged to have been trespassing and issued them a warning for trespassing.
Officer Russell responded to a report of a vehicle broken down in the roadway in Southwest Harbor and by the time he arrived, the vehicle had been moved off to the shoulder of the road.
Officer Roulet provided mentoring and a courtesy ride to a Southwest Harbor juvenile and will be doing so on a weekly basis.
Officer Russell is investigating a harassment complaint made by a Tremont resident.
Officer Russell spoke with a couple of family members in Southwest Harbor and advised them that their issue is civil but did warn one of the people for harassment.
Friday, August 29, 2025
Officer James Kamorski responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Roulet responded to Tremont for a traffic complaint but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Officer Kamorksi responded to a report of drug paraphernalia on Clark Point Road in Southwest Harbor and properly disposed of the paraphernalia.
After receiving a complaint regarding a parking problem in Tremont, Officer Kamorski responded and resolved the issue.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
After receiving an abandoned 911 call from Tremont, Officer Graham checked the area and could not find anything out of the ordinary.
Officer Graham searched for a dog at large in Southwest Harbor but could not locate the dog.
After receiving an erratic vehicle operation complaint in Southwest Harbor, Officer Graham searched for the suspect vehicle but could not locate it.
While on patrol in Tremont, Officer Graham located an unattended and un-permitted burn pile. The burn pile was down to coals but still smoldering and the Tremont Volunteer Fire Department responded to remedy the situation.
Someone reported an older dog walking into traffic on the Bass Harbor Road in Southwest Harbor. Officer Graham located the dog at its home and spoke with the owner about the dangers of the dog’s actions.
Officer Graham investigated a Southwest Harbor resident who was found deceased in his home. Officer Graham determined that the man appears to have died from natural causes.
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.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire in Oxford
OXFORD—The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that was reported at approximately 12:29 p.m., on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at a remote property on Outback Jack Drive in Oxford. Neighbors reported seeing smoke and flames and promptly called 911. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office, along with rangers from the Maine Forest Service, responded to the scene.
The fire is believed to have originated in the area of a camper trailer. While investigators cannot rule out a generator as a possible cause, the extent of the damage has made it impossible to determine an exact cause at this time.
No individuals were injured in the fire. The camper was unoccupied at the time, and it had no electrical service. The investigation is ongoing.
Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Van Buren
VAN BUREN—On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at approximately 4:01 p.m., the Maine State Police responded to a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on Main Street in Van Buren. An ambulance owned by the Van Buren Ambulance Service was traveling north on Main Street when an 8-year-old girl attempted to cross the roadway. The child was struck by the ambulance and sustained life-threatening injuries.
Ambulance personnel rendered aid at the scene, however, the child, who lived nearby, succumbed to her injuries. The ambulance was not responding to an emergency call at the time of the crash, and speed is not believed to be a factor. The crash occurred in the area of Kennedy Terrace on Main Street.
Maine State Police were assisted on scene by the Presque Isle Police Department, Van Buren Fire Department, and Soderberg Construction. The crash remains under investigation.
The driver involved in the fatal pedestrian crash in Van Buren has been identified as 46-year-old Amanda Skidgel of Van Buren. The victim is an eight-year-old girl, Emma Cormier, also from Van Buren.
Maine State Police Investigate Crash on I-95 in Sidney
SIDNEY—On Thursday, August 28, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m., troopers responded to multiple complaints of a white van traveling southbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed and driving erratically. Shortly after, the van crashed into the guardrail and rolled over at mile marker 118 southbound in Sidney. All three occupants of the vehicle were transported for medical evaluation.
The driver and a juvenile passenger were taken to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for treatment of minor injuries and were later released. A third occupant sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The driver, 28-year-old Shawn Stone, of Presque Isle, was summonsed for operating under the influence, endangering the welfare of a child, reckless conduct, and aggravated driving to endanger. The crash remains under investigation.
Maine State Police Investigates Plane Crash on Flagstaff Lake
DEAD RIVER TOWNSHIP—On Monday, September 1, 2025, at approximately 1:31 p.m., the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a report of a plane crash on Flagstaff Lake in Dead River Township. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 1956 Cessna 170B float plane was attempting to take off from the lake when it crashed.
On board were the pilot, 62-year-old Stephen Vorpagel, of Readfield, and one passenger. Both individuals were rescued, brought to shore, and suffered minor injuries/abrasions in the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Agencies assisting in the response and investigation include the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, local EMS, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration. No additional details are available at this time.
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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