Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Dec 02, 2025
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—A local nine-year-old went to the hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a truck on Main Street in Southwest Harbor, Monday afternoon.
Officer Bradley Russell wrote in his report, “A male juvenile darted into traffic in an attempt to cross the road not near a crosswalk and was immediately struck.”
There will be no charges against the driver of the 2019 Ford F350, Mike Mansolilli, 40. The police report states the driver also lives in Southwest Harbor. The accident occurred near 240 Main Street close to 3:14 p.m. The Ford was not damaged.
The boy was transported from the scene to Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor.
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, November 25, 2025
Sgt. Doug Brundrett took a report of nonexempt vehicles driving on Sargeant Drive in Mount Desert in violation of the posted road notice.
An officer responded to a line down complaint in Bar Harbor, discovered that it was a telephone line, and notified the appropriate company.
Someone dropped off some ammunition at the Bar Harbor Police Department for destruction.
Officer Troy Stanwood is investigating a potential protection order violation in Bar Harbor.
After receiving a report of a vehicle driving in Bar Harbor without any headlights on, Officer Stanwood was unable to locate the vehicle.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
While conducting a security check at MDI High School in Bar Harbor, Officer Nathan Formby moved two people along and off the property.
After responding to a report of a driver slumped over the steering wheel of their vehicle in Mount Desert, Officer Liam Harrington determined that the driver had fallen asleep.
A resident of Bar Harbor spoke with Sgt. Brundrett about their options for having a vehicle removed from their property that had apparently been abandoned there.
Officer Harrington conducted a requested well-being check in Bar Harbor and while he did not find the person to be checked on, he did discover that they were fine and just out of town.
Officer Harrington attempted to locate a reported tailgating vehicle in Bar Harbor but was unsuccessful.
Thursday, November 27, 2025
Officer Justin Burnett is investigating a man who is reportedly using drugs on the property of the MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor.
Officer Harrington performed a requested well-being check on a Bar Harbor resident and found them to be fine.
There was a vehicle in Bar Harbor that was reportedly being operated without taillights but all officers were out of position to try and locate it.
Friday, November 28, 2025
Officer Caleb Mora served a court order to someone in Bar Harbor following a traffic stop.
Officer Virginia Helton and Officer Stanwood responded to Southwest Harbor to assist the Southwest Harbor officer with an aggressive person.
Officer Lukas Keene made a woman in Bar Harbor aware that she had an outstanding arrest warrant and told her to have it taken care of by noon the following day.
Officer Formby received a report of a speeding vehicle on Beech Hill Road in Mount Desert, but all officers were out of position to try and locate the vehicle.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby arrested Eugenio Bertin, 50, of Gouldsboro, for operating under the influence. Bertin was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Officer Helton responded to a report of a vehicle going the wrong way on the Park Loop Road but could not locate the vehicle.
Officer Amie Torrey assisted a Northeast Harbor resident with getting back into her apartment.
Officer Formby arrested Angel Cutts, 53, of Bar Harbor, in Bar Harbor, for an outstanding arrest warrant. Cutts was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Officer Formby documented some information at the request of a Bar Harbor resident who is struggling with mental health issues.
Following a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Mora summoned James Klausky, 36, of Ellsworth, for operating without a license and operating after suspension. Officer Mora also summoned the vehicle’s owner, Stephanie Phippen, 31, of Ellsworth, for permitting unlawful use.
Officer Judson Cake assisted with moving a tree out of the road in Bar Harbor.
Monday, December 1, 2025
Sgt. Brundrett is investigating a potential violation of a protection order that was reported by a person in Bar Harbor.
A Bar Harbor woman turned ammunition and a bottle of lighter fluid in to the Bar Harbor Police Department for destruction.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Harrington summoned Aiden S. Coombs, 22, of Mount Desert, for operating after suspension.
Officer Ted Cake performed a vehicle identification number verification for someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake is investigating possible fraud that was reported in Bar Harbor.
Officer Harrington took a report of fraud that was utilizing a local charitable organization’s mailing list in Mount Desert.
A man turned ammunition in to the Bar Harbor Police Department to be destroyed.
The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department is investigating a missing person.
Officer Zack Kline responded to a reported burglary in progress in Mount Desert. When he arrived, he detained one man. After investigation it was determined that the man was allowed to be on the property but not so late at night. The man was released and advised to leave the property, which he did.
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, November 24, 2025
Officer Bradley Russell received a report of trespassing in Southwest Harbor and responded to the residence and spoke with the property’s caretaker.
Officer Russell responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
After receiving information from someone in Tremont, Officer Russell spoke with the complainant about their issue and “compiled a report.”
Officer Russell assisted someone in Southwest Harbor with getting back into their apartment after they had locked themselves out.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Officer Russell responded to a report of a coyote that had been struck by a car in the roadway in Southwest Harbor. Officer Russell contacted DOT to remove the coyote.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
After receiving a trespassing complaint at a Southwest Harbor address and responding, Sgt. Ryan Blakeney arrested Gregory Harper, 41, no hometown listed, for criminal trespass.
Sgt. Blakeney handled a report of a piece of property that had been left on the side of the road in Southwest Harbor.
Thursday, November 27, 2025
Officer James Kamorski received a complaint regarding an all-terrain vehicle in Tremont, responded, and resolved the issue.
Officer Kamorski took a loose dog complaint in Southwest Harbor but the dog’s owner called and stated that they had retrieved the dog before Officer Kamorski could respond.
Friday, November 28, 2025
After receiving a report of a man having a mental health issue in a vehicle at the Southwest Harbor Grocery Store, Officer Kristen Roulet responded and the man was transported by law enforcement to the MDI Hospital.
Officer Roulet responded to a report of gunshot near the Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor but upon arrival, could not hear any gunshots.
Saturday, November 29, 2025
Officer Roulet received a complaint regarding people being on someone’s property in Tremont but could not locate anyone when she arrived.
Officer Rick Graham in investigating a report of vandalism at a Southwest Harbor business.
Officer Graham is investigating the reported theft of lawn ornaments from a Tremont residence.
Officer Graham provided traffic control while the Southwest Harbor Fire Department extinguished a chimney fire in Southwest Harbor.
Sunday, November 30, 2025
While conducting security checks in Southwest Harbor, Officer Graham located an unsecured business and called the owner to make them aware.
Officer Kamorski assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
CAR/DEER CRASHES
Due to time constraints, we do not write about car/deer crashes or minor vehicle crashes such as parking lot or parked vehicle/moving vehicle collisions. We do realize that many readers are interested in car/deer collisions, so we will be listing them by town and roadway here.
BAR HARBOR — (1) Route 3
MOUNT DESERT — None reported.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR — None reported.
TREMONT — None reported.
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.
Maine State Police Investigate Fatal Crash in Clinton
CLINTON—On November 25, at 7 a.m., the Maine State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 95, near mile marker 138. While originally thought to have occurred in the southbound lane, investigators determined a 2025 GMC Savana rental van left the northbound lane, entered the ditch area, before going airborne over the median crossover and striking a tree.
Troopers located a critically injured passenger and began life-saving measures. The passenger was transported to a local hospital but died from injuries sustained in the crash.
State Police were told by witnesses that a male driver, described as wearing dark clothes and carrying a dark backpack ran from the van and into the woods before troopers arrived on scene. Troopers searched most of the day with support from the State Police K-9 unit and the State Police Airwing but were unable to locate the driver.
On November 27, the Maine State Police arrested Tyler Hewitt, 31, of Presque Isle, after Clinton Police received a call of a suspicious person walking on Hill Road. After canvassing the area, Clinton officers located Hewitt after he emerged from the woods near Interstate 95. Troopers confirmed Hewitt was driving on a suspended license when he was involved in the fatal crash on the morning of November 25, 2025, on Interstate 95 in Clinton, that claimed the life of John Perkins, 38, of Hampden.
Hewitt fled the scene of the crash before troopers arrived. Police located a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine in a backpack Hewitt was carrying. Hewitt was charged with aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, and operating after suspension.
State Police would like to thank the Clinton Police Department for the continued support in the investigation, as well as the Clinton Fire Department, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and Capital Police for their assistance. State Police is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or has information regarding the driver, to contact State Police Bangor at 207-973-3700.
Meddybemps Fatal Fire Victim Identified, Cause of Fire Unknown
MEDDYBEMPS—On November 16, 2025, at approximately 5:58 p.m., the State Fire Marshal’s Office received a request for assistance with a possible fatal fire in Meddybemps, at 624 Main Street. The local fire chief stated there was a good possibility the homeowner was still inside. When firefighters arrived, they found a home fully involved in fire that had also spread to a vehicle in the driveway.
More than a half a dozen area fire departments responded to fight the fire in heavy snow conditions. A team of four State Fire Marshal Investigators arrived at the scene and located the remains of a male inside the home at approximately 9:15 p.m. The victim was removed and transported to a local funeral home where a representative of the State Medical Examiner’s Office will try to determine a cause of death and identify the victim.
The medical examiner positively identified the victim as the homeowner, Vincent Dineen, 86. The cause of the fire is undetermined due to the extent of damage caused in the blaze.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Structure Fire at 33 Pike Street in Augusta
AUGUSTA—At approximately 3:23 p.m., on November 22, multiple 911 calls were made reporting a structure fire at 33 Pike Street. One caller reported seeing three males running from the property and provided updated locations to dispatchers, allowing Augusta police officers to quickly make contact with them.
Augusta Fire Department crews arrived to find heavy fire inside the single-family home. Firefighters were able to suppress the blaze with assistance from the Litchfield, Vassalboro, and Winthrop Fire Departments. No injuries were reported during fire operations.
The home, which has been vacant for some time, sustained significant fire damage. Working with Augusta police, investigators identified two individuals who had been squatting inside the residence. The fire was determined to have originated from a 20-pound propane tank attached to a portable “buddy heater.” A rubber supply hose came into contact with a lit candle, igniting the fire.
All individuals present at the time of the fire have been identified and interviewed. No charges have been filed at this stage.
Fire Marshal Investigators will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and will consult with the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office in a review to determine possible criminal charges.
State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Roxbury Structure Fire
ROXBURY—Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are examining the cause of a structure fire that occurred on the afternoon of November 24 at a single-family residence on Horseshoe Valley Road in Roxbury.
The fire was reported shortly after 2:00 p.m. Responding fire crews found the home fully involved. Investigators have determined that the fire originated in the immediate vicinity of the home’s woodstove and chimney system, most likely as the result of a chimney-related issue.
The residence is considered a total loss. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no pets were harmed during the incident.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds homeowners to regularly inspect and maintain woodstoves and chimneys to reduce the risk of chimney fires, especially during the heating season.
Andover Woman, Victim of Flash Fire, Flown to Portland hospital
ANDOVER—Investigators with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a burn injury that occurred at a single-family residence located on the Horseshoe Pond Road in Andover. The call came in just before 10 p.m., on November 24, 2025.
An elderly woman was using a heat-based hair-removal device while receiving supplemental oxygen when the oxygen tubing ignited, causing burns to her face and head.
The victim was initially transported to Rumford Hospital for treatment. LifeFlight later transferred her to Maine Medical Center for higher-level care. She is currently being treated for her injuries.
Military Ordinance Device Safely Removed by State Police Bomb Squad
HARPSWELL—At 1:45 p.m., on November 25, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Harpswell for a report of an unexploded military ordinance. Deputies immediately secured the area and contacted the Maine State Police Bomb Squad and the Harpswell Fire Department for assistance.
Members of the Bomb Squad, with assistance from the Maine Air National Guard’s 101st explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team, identified the ordinance as a British artillery round from the World War II era. The round was moved to a safe area, and after a controlled counter charge, it was revealed that there were no explosive materials in the shell.
The Maine State Police reminds anyone who may come across any suspicious ordinance, such as old shells, that it’s essential to prioritize safety. Do not touch, move, or attempt to examine the item. Instead, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency.
Three-Vehicle Crash in Falmouth Snarls Traffic Along I-295
FALMOUTH—At approximately 4:30 p.m., a three-vehicle crash occurred on I-295 near Exit 10 in Falmouth. A Subaru sedan, operated by Emily Paskewicz, of Southport, did not see the heavy traffic stopped ahead and struck an Audi sedan, operated by Daniel Antolovich, of Storrs, Connecticut. The initial impact pushed the Audi into a pickup truck, driven by Chad Greelee of Richmond.
After the impact, Ms. Paskewicz’s car became disabled in the middle of the passing lane, and the Subaru caught fire. All occupants were able to exit the Subaru with no reported injuries.
Falmouth Fire Department responded and was able to extinguish the fire quickly. Troopers, along with fire and tow recovery crews, worked quickly to clear the roadway, but due to heavy traffic, I-295 was slowed to a crawl for over an hour before being restored. No injuries were reported in the crash.
Suspect Fleeing Police Struck While Attempting to Cross the Maine Turnpike
BIDDEFORD—On September 28, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Maine State Police received a call from the Portland Police Department regarding a complaint they had received from a truck driver, who believed he may have struck a pedestrian on the Maine Turnpike.
Michael Kilmer, 68, of West Virginia, initially thought he had hit a deer northbound near mile 32 in Biddeford. After reviewing his in-truck camera, Kilmer contacted local police to report that he had struck a pedestrian who was running across the turnpike.
Troopers narrowed down the exact location where the male was struck and directed rescue to the area.
Troopers located the male, identified as Jared Felling, 39, of Ellsworth, seriously injured, in the tall marshy area just before the exit. Felling suffered serious injuries to his legs and head and was in the early stages of hypothermia. Troopers provided aid until Kennebunk Fire Rescue arrived, and transported Felling to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where his injuries, though serious, were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigating troopers uncovered that Felling had a history of criminal activities, having recently been caught stealing from vehicles off the Biddeford exit. He was actively fleeing Biddeford Police when he decided to cross the turnpike to evade them.
Additionally, investigators determined that Felling removed his court-ordered ankle monitor earlier in the day in Ellsworth, and the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office had issued a temporary arrest warrant for Felling for Violation of Conditional Release.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Thanksgiving Day Explosion at Oakland Home
OAKLAND—At approximately 3 p.m., on thanksgiving day, an explosion occurred at a residence on Lakeview Drive in Oakland. Investigators say a middle-aged man was transported to Thayer Hospital before he was flown via Life Flight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The two-story residence was destroyed in the blast.
Initial indications are that a propane gas leak found an ignition source, leading to the explosion. Investigators have ruled out the propane tanks themselves as the source of the leak and are now examining several propane appliances for the cause.
Cliff Hannon, 66, was inside the home at the time of the explosion and sustained serious injuries.
Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office continue working to determine the cause of the explosion working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Oakland Police and Fire Departments, Maine State Police, and Maine Propane and Fuel Inspectors.
Maine State Police investigate Overturned Tractor Trailer on I-295 Exit 24
FREEPORT—Maine State Police responded to an overturned tractor-trailer unit on I-295 in Freeport during the early morning hours last week. Troopers say the driver of a 2024 Mack truck, Nikola Loncar, 42, of Colorado, drifted off the right side of the roadway, striking an embankment, before overturning off the roadway. Loncar was wearing his seatbelt and had to be removed from the truck by Freeport Fire. He was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.
Maine State Police were assisted at the scene by the Maine DOT, as well as the Freeport Police and Fire Departments. The off-ramp at Exit 24 was shut down as recovery crews removed the truck and cleaned the scene.
State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Three Fires During Same Night in Norway and Paris
NORWAY and PARIS—The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating three separate fires that occurred during the overnight and early-morning hours last week in Norway.
The first fire was reported shortly before 2:00 a.m., at 69 Beal Street. A second fire was then reported at 2:47 a.m., at 32 Alpine Street.
While a Fire Marshal Investigator was responding to these incidents, the investigator discovered a third active fire at 27 Alpine Street. The investigator immediately alerted the occupants of two units—who were asleep at the time—and assisted in their rescue from the second floor using a ladder.
Multiple investigators were on scene at all three locations.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested Richard Hodge, 34, of Norway, in connection with one of the three fires currently under investigation in the town of Norway.
Hodge was also taken into custody on a probation-violation hold and transported to Oxford County, where bail is not permitted. He is being charged with arson and was scheduled to be arraigned on yesterday morning.
The arrest stems from a fire that occurred at 32 Alpine Street, a multi-unit apartment complex. The fire was located and extinguished inside one of the apartments. The investigation into the other fires continues to determine whether additional charges are warranted. Fire Marshal Investigators ask residents in the area to review home camera footage and report anything they see that may help in the investigation. Information can be relayed to the Fire Marshals by calling 207-624-7076.
The investigation was assisted by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department, Paris Police Department, Norway Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Troopers Pursue and Arrest Impaired Driver on Turnpike
KITTERY—On November 30, just after midnight, the Maine State Police received a call from the New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) requesting assistance in a high-speed pursuit. NHSP was trying to stop a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Matthew Olsen, 44, of Harrison, Maine, due to speeding and erratic driving.
Olsen had refused to stop for a local police department in New Hampshire, and during the chase, he rammed one of NHSP’s cruisers. When Olsen entered Maine on the Turnpike, Maine troopers took over the pursuit.
The chase continued northbound until Olsen drove over a curb at the Kennebunk Rest Area, damaging his tires before getting back onto I-95. Troopers successfully disabled Olsen’s truck using the Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT).
He was arrested and charged with operating under the influence, eluding an officer, reckless conduct, and criminal speed. As a precaution, he was taken to a local hospital before being transported to the York County Jail.
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.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of the Maine Department of Public Safety.
A NOTE FROM US
This is Carrie and Shaun, and as you’ve probably noticed, we’ve been working hard at the Bar Harbor Story, providing local news in a way that keeps you informed, but also embraces and promotes community and the good that is within it.
We take so much time—just the two of us, with a special needs kid that has to be homeschooled—to cover our island community’s (plus, Trenton) local news in a way that’s timely, daily, and remembers that underneath the news . . . there are people who are our neighbors.
We are working hard to get the news out there—for free—for everyone. But it’s taking its toll on our family financially and honestly, sometimes, emotionally, because frontline local news in a small community? It’s hard.
Most media isn’t local (even when it claims it is). Most media has paywalls and advertisers. We don’t. That’s not a smart financial decision for us. It’s a moral one. And we’re going to try to do it for as long as we can because we’re local, we’re passionate, and we’re all about getting the news to everyone—no paywalls.
Why?
Richard Stengel, writing in The Atlantic, said, “Paywalls create a two-tiered system: credible, fact-based information for people who are willing to pay for it, and murkier, less-reliable information for everyone else. Simply put, paywalls get in the way of informing the public, which is the mission of journalism.”
As a paper that is owned and staffed only by locals, we make every attempt to gather all of the facts for our readers, information that might not be part of the main story and/or information that may not be known even to our towns’ officials, but is still just as important, if not more important, to the story.
We currently have well over 5,000 subscribers, the vast majority of them free, with over 401,500 article reads every month. Every one of our stories is opened at least 3,500 times. Most are opened well over that amount.
To continue to provide you with fact-based, non-editorialized news, we really need your support! If you’d like to support us or subscribe? It would mean the world to us, and to the Bar Harbor Story!
There are a few ways to do that:
- You can send us a one-time support via this link here. It will say “Carrie Jones Books” because that’s what our PayPal account is through.
- You can become a paid subscriber at either site here (scroll to bottom) or here (scroll to bottom).
- Your business or nonprofit can sponsor the Bar Harbor Story with a banner ad. More information on that is here.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY
Please don’t feel pressured to help. We just want to keep getting you your local news for free. And it’s completely okay if you can’t financially contribute like you would for regular papers.
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyDiscover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.