Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Feb 03, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission.
BAR HARBOR—On January 28, Bar Harbor’s Assistant Harbormaster Chris Johansen received a report of a commercial fishing vessel that had possibly sunk at its mooring. The reporting person said that they had been watching the vessel on a webcam and was surprised that they could no longer see it when they went back on the camera site.
The vessel, Battle Axe, had indeed sunk.
Johansen said that upon reviewing video, the Battle Axe appeared to be upright and then quickly capsized and sank.
The Battle Axe is a 44’ Novi with a fiberglass-over-wood hull that is used for mussel dragging, according to Johansen. The boat’s owner normally fishes out of Winter Harbor and had taken the mooring for a few days as a layover.
On January 31, the boat owner and a couple of fishing vessels attempted to raise the Battle Axe without success.
Today, February 3, the Battle Axe was raised by the work barge Charles Bradley out of Southwest Harbor with the assistance of Bar Harbor diver Ed Monat, his crew, and vessel, the Old Sow.
After the failed attempt on January 31 to bring up the vessel, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection stepped in and is paying for today’s efforts to get the vessel and any possible contaminants out of the water.
Once it was raised as much as possible the Battle Axe was dragged to Bar Harbor’s public beach at Ells Pier where it could be floated again in the shallow water.
Johansen said that the plan was for it to be towed back to Winter Harbor and beached there so that the gear could be taken off the hull and then repair work to the vessel could commence.
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 27, 2026
Sgt. Doug Brundrett had some vehicles moved from the side of Cooksey Drive in Mount Desert that were impeding with snow removal.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who has chronic mental health concerns.
Someone turned some unwanted ammunition in to the Bar Harbor Police Department for destruction.
Officer Kaleb Payson attempted to serve paperwork to someone in Bar Harbor for another agency but determined that the person does not live in Bar Harbor.
After receiving a complaint, Officer Payson warned some Bar Harbor residents for throwing snow into the roadway.
Officer Liam Harrington investigated a report of a vehicle off the road in Bar Harbor and found that there was no damage to the vehicle and the owner was having it towed back onto the roadway.
Officer Harrington took someone in Bar Harbor into protective custody for a mental health evaluation.
Someone contacted the Bar Harbor Police Department to report someone that they found suspicious while they were staying in Bar Harbor during the summer of 2025.
Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department to pass on some information.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy assisted someone in Bar Harbor who had locked themselves out of their apartment.
Officer Payson assisted with traffic control while the Bar Harbor Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a business in Bar Harbor.
Officer Lukas Keene assisted the Bar Harbor Highway Department during snow removal.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Officer Keene gave someone in Bar Harbor a ride home from the hospital.
Officer Caleb Mora performed a vehicle identification number verification for someone in Bar Harbor.
MHL Gleason assisted a senior citizen in Bar Harbor with basic needs.
Officer Mora summoned a 15-year-old from Southwest Harbor and a 17-year-old from Tremont for theft in Mount Desert and released them to their parents.
Sgt. Chris Dickens spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about a possible protection order violation but determined that no violation had occurred.
Officer Virginia Helton assisted the Bar Harbor Highway Department with having vehicles moved from the roadway during snow removal in downtown Bar Harbor.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Officer Mora responded to a parking complaint in Bar Harbor, but the vehicle was gone when he arrived.
Officer Troy Stanwood responded to a report of someone having a mental health crisis in Bar Harbor. The person was taken into protective custody and transported to MDI Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Officer Amie Torrey assisted another agency in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens collected a quantity of drugs from a Bar Harbor residence and took them to the police department for disposal.
Friday, January 30, 2026
After receiving a report of someone trying to flag down vehicles on Route 3 in Bar Harbor, Officer Harrington was unable to locate the person.
Someone reported a piece of construction equipment on their property in Bar Harbor and Officer Payson determined that it belonged to a construction company who was doing water main work for the town. The construction company was contacted to move the equipment.
A resident of Mount Desert reported credit card fraud that occurred out of state. Officer Harrington collected the information and relayed it to the appropriate agency where the crime occurred.
Officer Payson assisted MDI Hospital with getting involuntary committal paperwork signed.
Officer Harrington responded to a person-in-crisis complaint in Mount Desert. The person was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Someone requested some security checks of their residence in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson spoke with someone having mental health issues in Bar Harbor.
Officer Harrington assisted MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor by transporting an uncooperative patient to a medical facility for further treatment.
Officer Nathan Formby fingerprinted someone for non-criminal purposes at the Bar Harbor police station.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Officer Formby responded with the ambulance to a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson checked on a reported stranded motorist in Mount Desert and learned that they had run out of gas but had someone getting gas for them.
Officer Ted Cake assisted another agency in Tremont.
Officer Harrington is investigating a reported theft in Bar Harbor.
After receiving information regarding some concerning driving in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby submitted an adverse driver report to the State of Maine.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Officer Formby responded to a report of a family fight in Mount Desert and warned two men for disorderly conduct.
The Bar Harbor Police Department received a 911 call that was reporting an emergency in Bar Harbor and then determined to be fake. The caller was warned by Officer Formby for their actions.
Officer T. Cake assisted a motorist that had gone off the road in Bar Harbor due to a heavy snow drift. The road was plowed and a tow truck got the vehicle back on the road.
After receiving a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer Payson was unable to locate the offending vehicle.
Officer Payson responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer Payson received a lost cat report in Bar Harbor but the cat returned home shortly after the complaint was made.
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 26, 2026
Officer Bradley Russell performed a requested well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor and found them to be all set.
Officer Russell delivered a bucket of sand to a Tremont resident as part of the Sand for Seniors Program.
Someone reported that their vehicle was missing from the spot where they had parked it in Southwest Harbor. Officer Russell was able to determine that the person’s vehicle had been towed because it was impeding snow plowing during a storm.
After receiving a 911 call from someone in Southwest Harbor stating that they were having water issues at their residence, Officer Russell, the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, and the Southwest Harbor Water Department all responded and addressed the issue.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The Southwest Harbor Police Department received a message regarding concerning activity involving juveniles in Southwest Harbor. Officer Kristen Roulet has made several attempts to contact the person who sent the message but has been unsuccessful thus far.
Officer Roulet responded to a complaint of someone running over some work tools in Southwest Harbor and documented the event.
Officer Roulet contacted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to relay some information regarding a case that the police department is working on in Southwest Harbor.
After conducting a warrant check at a Southwest Harbor residence, Officer Roulet determined that the person being looked for does not live at the given address.
Officer Rick Graham served paperwork to someone in Southwest Harbor for the Ellsworth District Court.
Officer Roulet attended the middle school basketball game at Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Graham stood by with his vehicle’s emergency lights on until a broken-down vehicle could be removed from Manset Corner.
While on patrol, Officer Graham found a vehicle that was parked at a local hiking trail in Southwest Harbor with its driver’s door open. While he was there, the vehicle owner came off the trail and checked their vehicle, finding nothing missing and stated that they must have left the door open by accident.
Officer Graham responded with the fire department to a fire alarm at a Southwest Harbor business and provided traffic control.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
After receiving a call about suspicious salesmen in Southwest Harbor, Officer Roulet checked the area of the complaint and could not locate anyone matching the provided description.
Officer Roulet investigated a reported assault in Southwest Harbor.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Officer James Kamorksi received and handled a complaint regarding a juvenile issue in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Roulet assisted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services with a home visit in Southwest Harbor, but the resident was not home.
An officer is investigating a complaint of possible fraud in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Kamorski received and responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Tremont, but could not locate the suspect vehicle.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Officer Russell performed a warrant check in Tremont but could not locate the person with a warrant.
Officer Russell performed a second warrant check in Tremont but could not locate the person with a warrant.
Officer Russell conducted winter security checks on seasonal homes in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell responded to a complaint of disorderly conduct in Southwest Harbor and spoke with the complainant.
Officer Russell responded to a complaint of disorderly conduct in Tremont and arrested Sophia Thurston, 20, of Tremont, for an active arrest warrant charging failure to appear in court. Thurston was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Officer Russell spoke with someone on the phone who had some law enforcement related questions and answered the person’s questions.
Officer Graham performed a warrant check in Tremont but could not locate the person with a warrant.
Officer Graham performed a well-being check on someone in Tremont and found them to be fine.
Following a complaint in Tremont, Officer Graham arrested Gregory J. Harper, 42, of Tremont, for violation of conditions of release and criminal mischief.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Officer Kamorski responded to a motor vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor but was unable to locate the vehicle.
Someone brought a loose dog into the Southwest Harbor Police Department. The owner was located and reunited with their dog.
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.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Structure Fire in Norway
NORWAY—On Tuesday, January 27, 2025, at approximately 3:49 p.m., the Norway Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Everett Drive in Norway. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions. The Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to assist with the investigation. Fire Marshal Investigators determined that frozen pipes in the home were being thawed using a combination of heaters and electrical heat tape, which inadvertently caused the fire.
The investigation concluded that the fire originated from the pipe-thawing process and has been ruled accidental. The homeowners were just returning home when the fire happened. No injuries were reported.
Several mutual aid fire departments assisted the Norway Fire Department at the scene.
*The Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that thawing frozen pipes can present a serious fire hazard if not done properly. Never use open flames, such as torches or heat guns, to thaw pipes. Portable heaters should be kept at least three feet away from combustible materials and should never be left unattended. Only use electrical heat tape according to the manufacturer’s instructions and inspect it regularly for damage. If you are unsure how to safely thaw frozen pipes, contact a licensed plumber.
Major Crimes Unit Investigation Leads to Arrest of Howland Man on Violation of Sex Offender Registration Charges
HOWLAND—After a six-month long investigation, Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- North Detectives facilitated an arrest warrant to be issued for 62-year-old James Cameron, of Howland, for four counts of violation of sex offender registration (class D) and two counts of prohibited contact with a minor (class E).
On January 28, 2026, Cameron was arrested in Howland by members of the Maine State Police Northern Field Troop and booked at the Penobscot County Jail. Cameron had an initial appearance on January 30, 2026, at the Bangor Penobscot County Judicial Center. Cameron pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.
Cameron is scheduled back in court on March 3, 2026, at the Lincoln District Court. Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North was also assisted by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Maine Sex Offender Registry (SOR) which is maintained by the Maine State Police, State Bureau of Identification (SBI).
Anyone with relevant information related to this case should please call 207-973-3700 EXT. 9 and ask to speak with Detective Jennifer Fiske.
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
Maine State Police Investigating Death in Augusta
AUGUSTA—On Monday, February 2, 2026, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the Augusta Police Department responded to an incident on Flagg Street in Augusta. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased adult male. The circumstances surrounding the death are currently under investigation.
The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central responded to assist with the investigation. The deceased has been transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.
At this time, there is no known threat to the public. Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so.
Maine State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Vassalboro
VASSALBORO—On Monday, February 2, 2026, at approximately 3:40 p.m., members of the Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to a head-on collision on Route 3 in Vassalboro near Ritch Road. The crash involved a Chevy Silverado pickup truck operated by 48-year-old Ryan Page, of China, and a Ford F-650 commercial motor vehicle operated by 64-year-old Douglas Boivin, of Jay.
The initial investigation indicates the operator of the pickup truck crossed the center line. The commercial motor vehicle operator steered to the right in an attempt to avoid the pickup truck but was unable to completely avoid it. Ryan Page succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Douglas Boivin was not injured.
A secondary crash occurred when a third vehicle swerved to avoid the pickup truck, which had come to rest in the roadway, and struck a guardrail. The driver reported minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted by MSP’s Traffic Safety Unit, MSP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Unit, Vassalboro Fire and Rescue, Augusta Fire and Rescue, and Delta Ambulance.
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.
All photos, unless otherwise noted: Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story
Follow us on Facebook or BlueSky or Instagram. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
Bar Harbor Story is a mostly reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks for being here with us and being part of our community too!
Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story! This post is public so feel free to share it.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
You can help us keep on keeping on. No pressure though!
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.