Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Jan 06, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank.
MOUNT DESERT—According to the weekly Bar Harbor Mount Desert Police Department press release, on January 2, 2026, Brenna Vansteenbergen, 26, of Bar Harbor, was driving a 2002 Honda Civic east on Beech Hill Cross Road in Mount Desert and failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with Main Street.
Vansteenbergen’s vehicle travelled across the southbound lane of Main Street into the northbound lane and struck a 2019 Subaru Outback that was being driven northbound by Matthew McKernan, 45, of Mount Desert.
Both vehicles slid off the east side of Main Street and came to rest off the roadway.
Vansteenbergen was issued a traffic citation for failing to stop at a stop sign and McKernan was transported to MDI Hospital for minor injuries.
Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage and were towed from the scene by DC Towing.
On January 3, 2026, Kelly Watson, 43, of Manchester, Maine, was driving a 2011 Toyota RAV4 south on Route 3 in Bar Harbor when the vehicle hit a patch of ice and Watson lost control of it.
The vehicle slid sideways into a guardrail, breaking through the guardrail and leaving the road. The vehicle rolled over and broke a telephone pole guy wire before coming to rest back on its tires.
Watson was transported to MDI Hospital for minor injuries and the vehicle was towed from the scene due to disabling damage by DC Towing.
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.
Monday, December 29, 2025
Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to a vehicle off the road on Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor. There were no reported injuries and the vehicle did not appear to have damage. The vehicle was towed back onto the roadway by Acadia Towing.
Bar Harbor Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason spoke with a Bar Harbor resident about in-home supportive services.
Officers responded to a downtown Bar Harbor residence for a noise complaint that was determined to be unfounded.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy spoke with a Bar Harbor resident about a civil property issue and gave the resident suggestions and resource information.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Officer Lukas Keene performed a security check on a Bar Harbor business, secured a door, and notified the business owner of the unsecured door.
Officer Kaleb Payson assisted another agency with completing a crash reconstruction.
The Bar Harbor Police and Fire Departments responded to a welfare check of a Bar Harbor man who was transported to MDI Hospital for an evaluation.
A motor vehicle complaint was made in the Town of Mount Desert but no officers were in a position to locate the vehicle.
Officer Payson provided a Bar Harbor resident with a ride home.
At the request of a Bar Harbor resident, a man was issued a no trespass warning for a property in Bar Harbor by Officer Zack Kline.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
A 911 caller reported a noise complaint in Bar Harbor from two days prior. There was no currently ongoing issue so no action was taken.
Officer Caleb Mora responded to a road rage incident in Bar Harbor that had begun in another jurisdiction and warned the subject of the complaint for their aggressive driving behavior.
Sgt. Hardy arrested Brian McNeil, 53, of Eddington, in Bar Harbor for violation of conditions of release and unlawful possession of a scheduled W drug, class C. McNeil was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Office Amie Torrey responded to a residential alarm in Mount Desert.
The police department received a report of a barking dog in the area of the Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor.
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Officer Mora gave a woman a ride home in Bar Harbor at the request of another agency.
Officer Torrey responded to a Mount Desert residence to “speak with people about issue there.”
Sgt. Chris Dickens assisted the Bar Harbor ambulance with a medical call.
Friday, January 2, 2026
Officer Virginia Helton responded to an alarm in Mount Desert and found no issues.
Officer Judson Cake spoke with someone about a harassment issue in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a parking complaint in Bar Harbor but no action was taken after he spoke with the complainant.
Officer Torrey is investigating a Department of Health and Human Services referral in Mount Desert.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of a wandering dog in the area of Park Street in Bar Harbor but could not locate the dog.
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Officer Payson spoke to someone in Bar Harbor about being on private property.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Officer Ted Cake spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about a fraud issue and advised the complainant to report the issue to the agency where the incident occurred.
A Bar Harbor resident completed his three-month mandatory verification as a lifetime sex offender registrant.
Officer Kline performed a well-being check in Bar Harbor and found the person to be fine.
Monday, January 5, 2026
Sgt. Brundrett responded to Ells Pier in Bar Harbor for a report of a suspicious vehicle and found that the driver of the vehicle was just taking a rest.
Officer Torrey assisted another agency with trying to locate a man in Mount Desert and after checking local police records, determined that the man no longer lives in the area.
Officer Torrey investigated a reported verbal altercation in Northeast Harbor and determined that no charges would be filed.
Officer J. Cake assisted with having a broken-down vehicle towed in Mount Desert.
Tuesday, January 6. 2026
Officer J. Cake issued a ticket to a vehicle in Northeast Harbor that was blocking snow removal after not being able to contact the vehicle’s owner.
Officer Nathan Formby assisted the Bar Harbor Highway Department with getting a vehicle moved in Bar Harbor.
Officer Formby responded to a noise complaint in Bar Harbor. No enforcement action was taken and the complainant was referred to the housing authority.
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, December 29, 2025
Officer Bradley Russell responded to a dog bite complaint in Tremont along with the animal control officer of Tremont. The ACO conducted the investigation.
Officer Kristen Roulet received a possible verbal altercation complaint at the Coast Guard housing in Southwest Harbor. Upon her response, Officer Roulet found that there was no altercation taking place.
After receiving a 911 call regarding a verbal disturbance in Tremont, Officer Roulet responded and found that the people involved had calmed down and everyone was able to come to a resolution.
Officer Roulet responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Storage Unlimited in Southwest Harbor and found that it was someone who was waiting for an exact address from their friend.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a FedEx package that appeared to be for the police department. After closer inspection, the police department determined that the package was not for them and notified the proper recipient who picked the package up.
Officer Rick Graham delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident as part of the Sand for Seniors program.
Officer Graham performed a well-being check on a Tremont resident and found them to be okay.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Officer Roulet delivered a bucket of sand to a Tremont resident as part of the Sand for Seniors program.
After receiving a request to check on the well-being of a juvenile girl and an adult male in Southwest Harbor, Officer Roulet was able to determine that both of the people to be checked on were fine.
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Officer Russell responded to a report of a vehicle blocking a Southwest Harbor roadway and found a tractor trailer that could not make it up a hill due to slippery road conditions. The Southwest Harbor Public Works Department and local plow drivers were working to put down sand and the truck was able to get out of the roadway while Officer Russell provided traffic control.
Officer Russell responded to a vehicle that had gone off the road in Southwest Harbor and located a vehicle that had slid into a ditch due to slippery road conditions. Bystanders and Officer Russell were able to push the vehicle free from the ditch.
Friday, January 2, 2026
Officer James Kamorski delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident as part of the Sand for Seniors program.
Officer Kamorski conducted a well-being check on a Southwest Harbor resident and found them to be okay.
Officer Kamorski assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with getting back into their apartment after they had locked themselves out.
Officer Kamorski responded to an alarm at a Southwest Harbor business, was able to determine that it was a false alarm and secured the building.
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Officer Graham assisted the ambulance service with a lift assist in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Graham responded to a report of a strange vehicle in the driveway of a Tremont resident which they could see via a camera. The vehicle was gone when Officer Graham arrived.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
After being dispatched to a residential alarm in Southwest Harbor, Officer Graham found the residence to be secure.
Officer Kamorski assisted a Southwest Harbor resident with getting back into their apartment after they had locked themselves out.
Officer Kamorski handled a report of harassment by someone in Southwest Harbor and after talking to all of the people involved, advised them to block one another.
Officer Kamorski took a report of a suspicious vehicle in Southwest Harbor and after responding was able to resolve the situation.
Following a traffic stop in Southwest Harbor, Officer Kamorski charged the driver of the vehicle with operating after suspension.
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 — (4) Main street / Eden Street / Route 3 / Lookout Point Road
MOUNT DESERT — None reported.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR — None reported.
TREMONT — (1) Road name not given
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.
No press releases this week.
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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