Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Jan 27, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.
BAR HARBOR—On Thursday, January 22, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Officer Lukas Keene received a request to assist the Bar Harbor Highway Division with getting some vehicles that were on the public roadways moved for snow removal operations.
According to Officer Kevin Edgecomb, while contacting vehicle owners, Keene was told that at least one of those vehicles could not be moved because it was broken-down. Other vehicles’ owners couldn’t be reached.
Officer Keene contacted DC Towing to tow vehicles that could not be moved or whose owners could not be contacted. Those vehicles were towed.
When the tow truck driver arrived back at the tow lot in Town Hill, he discovered a dog in one of the vehicles and contacted the police department at approximately 3:30 a.m.
Officer Keene retrieved the dog from the vehicle at the tow lot and returned it to its owner.
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, January 20, 2026
A member of the Mount Desert Highway Department called the police department and said that someone had left a car at the highway garage and they would have it towed if it was still there the following morning. The car was removed overnight.
Officer Caleb Mora performed a vehicle identification number verification in Bar Harbor.
Officer Virginia Helton responded to a traffic hazard complaint, a low hanging wire, in Mount Desert and contacted Versant about the issue.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Officer Mora received a loose dog complaint on Sand Point Road in Bar Harbor.
At the request of another agency, Officer Mora attempted to locate an injured deer in Bar Harbor but could not find it.
Following a traffic stop in Bar Harbor, Officer Mora arrested Jennifer Sanders, 40, of Bar Harbor, for operating under the influence and operating without a license.
Sgt. Soren Sundberg fingerprinted someone in Bar Harbor.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a report of salespeople going door to door but no other complaints or issues were reported.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who wanted to speak about an incident that occurred in another jurisdiction and Sgt. Hardy connected the person with the appropriate agency.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Officer Kaleb Payson handled a parking issue in Mount Desert.
Officer Troy Stanwood is investigating a report of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Bar Harbor.
Assistant Bar Harbor Harbor Master Chris Johansen retrieved a skiff that was adrift in Bar Harbor and returned it to the town pier.
Officer Payson handled a reported traffic hazard in Bar Harbor.
A Bar Harbor homeowner reported suspicious construction workers on their property. Officer Liam Harrington discovered that they were employees of a blasting company setting up sensors.
Officer Harrington assisted a resident of Bar Harbor who was returning home from the hospital. Officer Harrington spread salt on the resident’s walkway prior to their return.
Officer Payson conducted a special detail in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens and Officer Zack Kline attempted to locate a vehicle that was reportedly being operated in an erratic manner on the Eagle Lake Road in Bar Harbor but could not locate the vehicle.
Friday, January 23, 2026
A suspicious vehicle that was located in Bar Harbor was investigated by Officer Justin Burnett and found to be fine.
Officer Payson searched for a vehicle that was the subject of a motor vehicle complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate the vehicle.
Officer Mora delivered sand to a Bar Harbor resident.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Officer Nathan Formby gave a Bar Harbor resident a ride home from the hospital.
Officer Payson assisted a motorist with a dead battery in Bar Harbor.
As a result of an investigation into a theft complaint at a Bar Harbor grocery store, Officer Payson summoned Daniel Stockbridge, 41, of Bar Harbor, for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.
Officer Payson conducted a special detail in Bar Harbor.
Officer Mora attempted to locate a vehicle in Bar Harbor with a reportedly intoxicated driver. He could not locate the vehicle and the complaint was relayed to other law enforcement agencies.
Sgt. Dickens transported someone in Mount Desert to the hospital at the person’s request.
Sgt. Dickens responded to a report of suspicious behavior in the area of Michigan Avenue in Bar Harbor but could not locate anything concerning.
Officer Troy Stanwood investigated a report of lights coming from Dorr Mountain at approximately 6:30 p.m. but found nothing upon arrival.
Officer Formby issued cease harassment and no trespass warnings to someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer Formby assisted a motorist with a dead battery in Bar Harbor.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Officer Mora gave a woman a ride to “another facility” in Bar Harbor.
Someone in Mount Desert received assistance from Officer Keene.
Officer Helton gave someone in Bar Harbor a ride.
Monday, January 26, 2026
Officer Payson responded to a complaint of suspicious activity in Mount Desert but failed to find anything suspicious at the location given.
Officer Harrington provided resources to a Bar Harbor resident in need of assistance.
After receiving a 911 call, Sgt. Doug Brundrett responded to a report of a sinking boat in Bar Harbor’s harbor. Sgt. Brundrett determined that the boat was not taking on water nor sinking but called the boat’s owner to make them aware of the call.
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, January 19, 2026
Officer Kristen Roulet responded with the ambulance service to a medical alarm in Tremont and discovered that the person had accidentally hit the button.
Officer Bradley Russell fingerprinted someone at the Southwest Harbor Police Department.
Officer Russell responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell responded to a business alarm at a Southwest Harbor business and found the building secure. Officer Russell then contacted the owner.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Officer Rick Graham delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer James Kamorski assisted the ambulance service with helping a Tremont resident get into their house after returning from the hospital.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Officer Roulet delivered a bucket of sand to a Tremont resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Roulet received a bad check complaint from a Southwest Harbor business and after speaking with both the issuer and receiver of the check, advised them both that it was a civil issue.
Officer Roulet delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Roulet delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Graham spoke at an MDI Lions Club meeting in Trenton.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Officer Kamorski responded to a report of a vehicle off the road in Tremont but was not able to locate any vehicles off the road when he arrived.
Officer Kamorski performed a requested security check at a Southwest Harbor residence and found the residence to be secure.
Officer Kamorski delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Kamorski delivered a bucket of sand to a Tremont resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Kamorski delivered a bucket of sand to a Tremont resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Kamorski received a motor vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor, located the vehicle, and was not able to observe and infractions or violations.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Officer Kamorski assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Russell delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Russell performed a requested well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor and met with a family member who said that the person to be checked on was okay.
Officer Russell attempted to locate someone with an active arrest warrant in Southwest Harbor but found them not to be at the residence.
Officer Russell delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Russell delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Russell received a call regarding a person who had never arrived at their destination but the reporting person later called back and said that their friend had arrived safely.
Officer Russell handled a juvenile complaint in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell responded to a security alarm at a Southwest Harbor business and found nothing out of the ordinary.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Officer Graham was sent to a burglar alarm call in Tremont, but the alarm was canceled before he could leave the police station.
Officer Graham responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Graham delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program and sanded the walkway.
Officer Graham assisted the Maine State Police by locating a runaway juvenile in Southwest Harbor and returning the juvenile to a parent.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Officer Kamorski delivered a bucket of sand to a Southwest Harbor resident under the “Sand for Seniors” program.
Officer Kamorski performed a requested well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor and found them to be okay.
Officer Kamorski attempted to locate someone in Tremont for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department but was unable to locate the person.
Officer Kamorski assisted a motorist whose vehicle was broken-down in a Southwest Harbor parking lot by calling DC Towing for the car’s owner.
Officer Kamorski assisted the ambulance service in Tremont.
Monday, January 26, 2026
Officer Russell assisted with having vehicles moved that were hindering snow plowing on the public roadway in Southwest Harbor.
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 — None reported.
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 Investigating Baby Death in Orrington
ORRINGTON—On the morning of Friday, January 16, 2026, the Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a 911 call reporting that a 12-week-old infant had become unresponsive. Members of the Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to provide aid to the infant. The infant, identified as Lyla Samuels was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Due to the facts and circumstances of the case the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North was called in to investigate.
As a result of the investigation Major Crimes Unit-North detectives arrested the infant’s father 24-year-old Shawn Samuels, of Orrington, for domestic violence elevated aggravated assault (class A) and two counts of violation of bail (class E) on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Detectives learned that the 12-week-old infant had died. An autopsy was performed at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta the following day. The cause of death is tentative pending final testing. The manner of death was ruled homicide.
After the autopsy, Major Crimes Unit-North Detectives arrested Samuels for murder at the Penobscot County Jail, where he remains in custody.
This is an isolated incident with no ongoing public safety concerns. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Anyone with relevant information related to this case should please call 207-973-3700 EXT. 9 and ask to speak with Det. Dana Austin.
Information related to this case may also be submitted to the Major Crimes Unit – North via an on-line tip portal. https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/report-crime/major-crimes-unit-north
If you or someone you know is a victim of a crime related to domestic abuse in the State of Maine, please call the Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-HELP.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire at Home in Harpswell
HARPSWELL—On Friday, January 23, 2026, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the Cumberland Regional Communication Center received reports of a structure fire at a home located at 7 Hugh Avenue in Harpswell. Occupants from the residence at 7 Hugh Avenue alerted their neighbors at 5 Hugh Avenue of the fire. Residents of 5 Hugh Avenue were safely evacuated by the Harpswell, Brunswick, Orr’s Island, and Bailey Island Fire Departments.
The occupants were not injured. That residence sustained minor heat-related damage. One adult male occupant of 7 Hugh Avenue sustained a burn injury to his wrist and was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland. The three other occupants of 7 Hugh Avenue were not injured. That home is considered a total loss.
Investigators believe a generator and use of a heater may have contributed to the fire. The incident remains under investigation by the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office.
Arrest Made Following Domestic Disturbance in Cross Lake Township
CROSS LAKE TOWNSHIP—On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at approximately 7:46 a.m., Maine State Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in Cross Lake Township. A woman reported that her boyfriend was making threats and damaging property at their residence. The woman left the residence prior to troopers arriving.
Upon arrival, troopers determined the man involved, 37-year-old Nicolas Dionne, of Cross Lake Township, remained inside the home and was refusing to come out. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated and responded to the scene.
After several hours of communication, Dionne exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident at approximately 8:00 p.m. Dionne was arrested and charged with domestic violence criminal threatening, domestic violence terrorizing, and creating a police standoff. He was transported to the Aroostook County Jail.
No injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing. The Maine State Police were assisted at the scene by North Lakes Fire Department and ASI Ambulance Service.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fatal Fire in Dexter
DEXTER—On Friday, January 23, 2026, at approximately 5:29 p.m., the Dexter Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 62 Grove Street in Dexter. Upon arrival, firefighters found a two-story single-family residence heavily involved in fire. Fire crews were advised that one occupant had escaped the fire, but that a second person was still inside the home and unaccounted for.
Firefighters located a deceased male victim on the second floor of the home while suppressing the fire. Because of the fatality the Dexter Fire Department requested assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. A team of Fire Marshal Investigators responded to the scene and conducted an origin and cause investigation of the fire.
Fire investigators have made a preliminary determination that the fire originated in the kitchen and appears to be cooking-related. The investigation remains ongoing as fire investigators continue to examine the scene and interview witnesses in the coming days. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where formal identification will be made.
The Dexter Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Dover-Foxcroft, Corinna, Newport, Sangerville, and Garland Fire Departments.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fire at Second Vacant Structure in Ellsworth
ELLSWORTH—On Sunday, January 25, 2026, at approximately 5:51 a.m., the Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested by the Ellsworth Fire Department to investigate a structure fire at a vacant residence located at 25 Spruce Street in Ellsworth. This incident marks the second fire involving a vacant residence in the City of Ellsworth within the past 11 days.
The first fire occurred on January 14, 2026, at a vacant residence on Water Street. That fire has been ruled incendiary in nature and remains under active investigation.
The January 25 fire remains under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, with assistance from the Ellsworth Fire Department and the Ellsworth Police Department.
*Anyone with information related to either incident is encouraged to contact the Ellsworth Police Department at 207-667-2168 or the Bangor Regional Communications Center at 207-973-3700. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 1-888-870-6162.
The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Maine State Police Investigating Death in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD—On Saturday, January 24, 2026, at approximately 8:57 a.m., the Fairfield Police Department received a 911 call about a male found on the side of the road and not breathing on the Martin Stream Road in Fairfield. Police responded and contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central when it was determined that the male was deceased.
State Police Detectives and Evidence Technicians responded and worked throughout the day conducting interviews and gathering evidence. The deceased male was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be conducted in the coming days.
Detectives have identified the deceased as 46-year-old Jason Grant, of Oakland. Anyone in the area of the Martin Stream Road in Fairfield and/or Norridgewock Friday night or early Saturday morning and may have information that could assist investigators is requested to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.
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.
HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY
When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.
We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.
If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.
It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.
Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.
Thank you so much for being here.
Founding member information can be found here.
Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.
Disclosure: Shaun Farrar used to be a police sgt in Bar Harbor.
You can help us keep bringing your community super local news every day for free by humans.
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.