Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
Apr 28, 2026
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BAR HARBOR—On April 26, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Officer Nathan Formby, the Bar Harbor officer whose vehicle was struck last week by a fleeing suspect, attempted to stop a vehicle on Main Street in Bar Harbor for numerous traffic violations. The driver of the Ford Mustang failed to stop and “a short pursuit pursued.”
The operator of the vehicle, Josiahi Matos, 30, of Massachusetts, turned onto Mount Desert Street and crashed into the rock perimeter wall of “The Village Burying Ground,” the cemetery that sits between St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church and the Bar Harbor Congregational Church.
The crash disabled Matos’ vehicle and Matos bailed out and fled on foot. Following a short foot pursuit through the cemetery, Officer Formby caught up with Matos and took him into custody.
Matos was assessed by ambulance personnel and due to injuries sustained in the crash, like last week’s suspect, he was transported to MDI Hospital. Following his release from the hospital, Matos was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Matos has been charged with the following crimes.
- Eluding an officer, class C.
- Operating under the influence of alcohol (refusal to test), class D.
- Driving to endanger, class E.
- Refusing to submit to arrest or detention, class E.
- Leaving the scene of a property damage crash, class E.
According to Sgt. Doug Brundrett, the cemetery wall suffered no visible damage.
Officer Formby had been the officer whose cruiser was struck head-on during another pursuit on Route 3, Saturday, April 18. Officer Formby had been responding to a call where another officer was trying to pull over a speeding driver in a black Subaru Impreza. Officer Formby’s cruiser had been stopped when Riley McClure, 22, of Raymond hit his vehicle, according to the state police report. McClure was charged with multiple crimes, including attempted murder.
That collision happened at approximately 9:20 p.m. just by the Chart Room restaurant in Hulls Cove, a village 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.
Monday, April 20, 2026
Officer Kaleb Payson attempted to assist an outside agency by locating a vehicle in Bar Harbor, but he could not find the vehicle.
Following a tenant complaint, a woman was warned for disorderly conduct by Officer Liam Harrington at an apartment complex in Mount Desert.
Officer Ted Cake gave someone a warning for trespassing at a property in Mount Desert.
Officer Payson documented a reported animal bite in Bar Harbor.
While on patrol, Officer T. Cake removed some litter from town property in Mount Desert.
Following a report of a dispute between people in Bar Harbor, Officer Payson responded and separated the people involved.
Officer Payson spoke with a Mount Desert resident about a civil issue.
Sgt. Jerrod Hardy assisted someone in Bar Harbor with a civil matter.
Following a traffic stop in Mount Desert, Officer Lukas Keene charged Hanna Wells, 40, of Tremont, with operating after suspension.
After receiving a report of someone playing “ding dong ditch” in Salsbury Cove, Officer Keene located a juvenile that was involved and warned them for their conduct.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Officer T. Cake received a report of a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner on Route 102 in Bar Harbor, heading south. There were no police units in a position, so the Southwest Harbor Police Department was notified of the complaint.
Someone reported debris on Eden Street in Bar Harbor and while Officer T. Cake was on his way, another officer removed the debris. The Bar Harbor Highway Department was notified to pick up the debris.
Someone requested a well-being check on a Bar Harbor resident. Officer T. Cake attempted to perform the check, but the person was not home. The requesting person called a short time later and said that they had made contact with the person to be checked on and they were all set.
Someone brought some medications to the Bar Harbor Police Department for disposal.
Following a parking complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer T. Cake located the vehicle’s owner and they moved their vehicle from the no parking zone that they had parked in.
Officer Payson received a parking complaint in Mount Desert but could not locate or contact the vehicle’s owner.
Officer Payson received a motor vehicle complaint regarding a vehicle that was not using the merging lane properly in Bar Harbor.
Officer Liam Harrington assisted someone in Bar Harbor with obtaining documents for a housing application.
Officer Liam Harrington assisted the Bar Harbor Fire Department who were dealing with a grass fire in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Hardy assisted a detective from another law enforcement agency by contacting someone in Bar Harbor and giving them the detective’s contact information.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Officer Troy Stanwood warned a company for taking water from Upper Hadlock Pond in Mount Desert.
Someone made a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, but all of the officers were tied up on other calls.
A Bar Harbor property owner reported to Officer Caleb Mora that an ex-tenant may try to return to the property.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason provided community outreach support at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor.
Following a report of a man walking in the area of several residences in Bar Harbor and acting suspiciously, Sgt. Soren Sundberg checked the are
Sgt. Sundberg performed a taxi inspection in Bar Harbor.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason provided community outreach support at the library in Northeast Harbor.
Officer Stanwood was unable to locate a truck that had been reported as operating erratically in Mount Desert.
Officer Judson Cake investigated a vandalism complaint in Mount Desert and as a result of the investigation, two juveniles admitted to causing the damage and their parents agreed to pay for the damage.
Officer Nathan Formby responded to a Bar Harbor hotel for the report of an intoxicated person and gave the person a ride to the correct hotel.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Officer Formby attempted to deliver a message to someone in Bar Harbor on behalf of an outside agency but was unable to contact the person at the address provided.
Following a report of a disorderly situation in Bar Harbor, Officer Formby responded and gave two men harassment warnings.
Friday, April 24, 2026
Sgt. Sundberg performed a taxi inspection in Bar Harbor.
A Mount Desert house of worship reported someone who had been acting strangely when they visited the establishment. Officer Harrington gave the reporting person potential courses of action should the behavior continue.
Following a report of a person with a suspended driver’s license possibly driving in Bar Harbor, Officer Harrington found the described vehicle to be unoccupied.
Officer Payson spoke with someone in Bar Harbor about a harassment issue and documented the information.
A resident of Bar Harbor told Sgt. Brundrett that they were disturbed by some lights that had been left on overnight at a nearby business.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Officer Harrington gave a Bar Harbor resident a ride home from MDI Hospital.
Officer T. Cake is investigating a report of suspicious activity in Bar Harbor.
Officers conducted a special detail for the Sea of Blue walk and run in Northeast Harbor.
Officer T. Cake responded to a report of a dog in a parked vehicle in Bar Harbor and found that the dog was not in distress. The owner of the dog and vehicle returned a short time later and Officer T. Cake made them aware of the complaint.
Sgt. Brundrett handled a neighbor dispute in Northeast Harbor. Both people involved were spoken to and the incident was documented.
Officr Lukas Keene is investigating a harassment complaint that was made in Bar Harbor.
Officer Justin Burnett responded to a 911 call in Bar Harbor and found that it was a medical call. The ambulance was called to respond and took the person to the hospital.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Officer Burnett responded to a verbal argument in Bar Harbor. The people involved were separated for the night.
Officer Payson is investigating a reported theft from a Bar Harbor hotel.
Following a complaint of someone acting oddly in the area of Route 198 and Upper Hadlock Pond in Mount Desert, Sgt. Brundrett responded but failed to locate the person described.
Officer T. Cake looked for a vehicle that was reported to be heading onto the island and being driven erratically but could not locate the vehicle.
After receiving a barking dog complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer Harrington made the dog’s owner aware of the complaint.
Officer T. Cake checked a building in Mount Desert after receiving a report of the building having an open door. There was nobody inside of the building.
Officer Harrington spoke with someone in Bar Harbor who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Sgt. Brundrett assisted the Mount Desert Fire Department at the scene of a car fire on Beech Hill Road in Mount Desert.
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, April 20, 2026
Sgt. Rick Graham responded to a suspicious incident with a solicitor complaint in Tremont, but the solicitor had left the area before he arrived and an inadequate description had been given of the solicitor to locate them.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Following a motor vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor, Officer Bradley Russell responded, located the suspect vehicle, but did not observe any driving violations.
Chief John Hall provided a ride to someone in Southwest Harbor as part of the Good Morning Program.
Someone reported a man that walked up their driveway and knocked on the front door of their residence in Southwest Harbor. The complainant did not answer the door, thinking that it was a solicitor, and the man could not be located when Chief Hall responded to the area.
A residential alarm at a Southwest Harbor residence was received by the police department but cancelled by the homeowner before Chief Hall could respond.
Officer Russell took a civil complaint of nonpayment for services from someone in Tremont.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A Southwest Harbor resident reported that she was having issues with her neighbor but the two people had worked things out by the time Sgt. Graham arrived.
A Southwest Harbor resident turned in some old ammunition for disposal at the police station.
Sgt. Graham spoke with a Southwest Harbor resident regarding an issue with their neighbor.
Sgt. Graham responded with the ambulance service to a medical call in Tremont to help carry the patient down a long, muddy, dirt road.
A Tremont resident reported that two men had walked down her private driveway to try and sign her up for a solar power promotion. Sgt. Graham documented the report.
An elderly Southwest Harbor man walked into the Southwest Harbor Police Department experiencing memory issues. His family was contacted and he was returned home safely.
A Tremont resident reported that a particular stop sign is routinely being run. Sgt. Graham told the resident that the issue would be addressed.
A Tremont resident reported a suspicious person knocking on her door and Sgt. Graham determined that it was a solar power company representative.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
After a Southwest Harbor business reported a vehicle that had been left in their private lot, Officer Russell responded and spoke with the manager about their options.
Sgt. Graham documented a report by a Southwest Harbor resident that her phone number had been used for a “spoof” call.
Following a complaint by the Southwest Harbor water company that a vehicle was parked partially in front of a fire hydrant, Sgt. Graham notified the vehicle’s owner who moved the vehicle.
Sgt. Graham performed a requested well-being check on someone in Southwest Harbor, but the person was not home.
Friday, April 24, 2026
Officer Russell performed a requested well-being check on a Tremont resident and found them to be all set.
Officer Russell assisted someone in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell conducted a traffic detail in Tremont.
Someone in Southwest Harbor reported some suspicious behavior and Officer Russell documented it.
Following a motor vehicle complaint in Southwest Harbor, Officer Russell responded but failed to locate the vehicle.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Someone reported a motor vehicle being operated in an erratic manner in Somesville, heading toward Southwest Harbor. Sgt. Graham located the vehicle and found the driver to be fine.
Sgt. Graham assisted an elderly Southwest Harbor resident who was confused.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Officer Kristen Roulet assisted the Tremont Fire Department after smoke was seen in a Tremont Consolidated School classroom. The source of the smoke was identified and the situation handled accordingly.
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.
MDEA Arrests Man in Bath for Aggravated Drug Trafficking
BATH—For the past several months, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Mid-Coast District Task Force and the Bath Police Department have been receiving information about drug trafficking from 12 Cottage Street in Bath, the residence of 37-year-old George Markos.
Agents were familiar with Markos due to the fact he was currently on bail for aggravated trafficking schedule W drugs from prior drug sales in 2025 to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Armed with this information agents and the Bath Police Department met with Markos at his residence on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and conducted a search as conditions of his release.
As a result of the search, agents seized $1391 in suspected drug proceeds and 84 grams of Fentanyl, 7 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of methamphetamine, and 1 firearm.
The estimated street value of the Drugs is approximately $11,000.
Markos was transported to the Twin Bridges Jail awaiting his initial appearance in court.
MDEA Arrests Man in Pittsfield for Aggravated Drug Trafficking and Woman For Warrants
PITTSFIELD—For the past several months MDEA agents from the South-Central Task Force have been investigating drug trafficking in the Pittsfield, Canaan area.
On April 22, 2026, agents obtained an arrest warrant for Joshua Johnson, 44, of 128 Canaan Road, Pittsfield, charging 3 counts of aggravated trafficking schedule W drugs (fentanyl). This was the result of several undercover purchases of fentanyl from Johnson. Agents also obtained a search warrant for 128 Canaan Road.
The State Police Tactical Team served the warrants at about 8:30 p.m., on April 22, 2026. Johnson and Samantha Quimby, 28, of Pittsfield, were taken into custody without incident.
Quimby had outstanding arrest warrants for theft, OAS, and violation of bail. Quimby’s bail was set at $1500.
In addition to Johnson’s 3 charges of aggravated trafficking schedule W drugs, Johnson also had arrest warrants for criminal trespass and violation of bail.
Bail on the aggravated trafficking was set at $5000 cash. Bail of the criminal trespass and violation of bail was set at $200 cash.
Both Johnson and Quimby were transported to the Somerset County Jail awaiting an initial appearance in court.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.
If you or someone you know suffers from substance, use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.
If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Fatal Fire in Hiram
HIRAM—On Friday, April 24, 2026, at approximately 11:38 p.m., the Hiram Fire Department received a report of a structure fire at 8 Bobbin Mill Road, in Hiram. Upon arrival, fire personnel encountered a 2½-story residential structure with active fire conditions in both the basement and second floor. While conducting operations at the rear of the building, responders located an adult male suffering from serious burn injuries. He was transported via Life Flight to Maine Medical Center in Portland.
During fire suppression efforts, crews were advised of a possible second occupant inside the residence. Firefighters subsequently located an adult female victim on the upper floor of the home. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. A team of State Fire Marshal investigators responded and recovered the deceased female. Positive identification will be completed by the Office of State Medical Examiner in Augusta.
Fire Marshal Investigators are continuing to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. Preliminary findings point to the fire originating in the basement area and is likely accidental from an electrical malfunction. A final cause will be released when the investigation is completed.
Maine State Police Investigates Hit and Run Crash in Bangor
BANGOR—On Saturday, April 25, 2026, at approximately 11:49 a.m., troopers responded to I-395 westbound in the area of the Main Street overpass in Bangor for a report of a two-vehicle crash. Witnesses reported a black Ford Mustang struck a Volkswagen coupe, causing the coupe to spin out, go off the roadway into the grass, cross the entering ramp from Main Street, roll over the guardrail and down the embankment into the woods.
The driver of the coupe, a 20-year-old female from Chester, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Mustang spun out into the concrete jersey barrier in the median and the operator was witnessed walking away from the scene on foot.
Troopers and local agencies assisted with canvassing the area looking for the male operator, but he was not found. A photo submitted to the Maine State Police 411-Tip Line shows the male operator fleeing the scene. The individual in the photo matched the description of the Mustang’s registered owner, 48-year-old David Harris of Brewer.
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, at approximately 7:40 a.m., troopers located and arrested Harris at his apartment in Brewer. Harris was transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash with injury, class C, aggravated driving to endanger, class C, failure to make oral accident report, class E, and operating without a license, class E.
The State Police would like to thank the Bangor Police Department, Bangor Fire Department, Brewer Police Department, Brewer Fire Department, Maine Department of Transportation, Union Street Towing, Bouchard’s Towing, and the public who all assisted with this investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Maine State Police tip line is available to submit information at https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/report-crime.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Norway Apartment Building Fire
NORWAY—On Saturday, April 25, 2026, at approximately 9:00 p.m., the Norway Fire Department responded to a reported working structure fire at 26 Cottage Street in Norway. Upon arrival, fire personnel encountered heavy fire conditions on the front porch extending into two first-floor apartment units of an approximately 15-unit residential building.
Fire crews, assisted by mutual aid departments from surrounding communities, initiated an aggressive fire suppression effort. The fire was brought under control in a timely manner, limiting further damage to the structure. All tenants were displaced for the evening. It is anticipated that some residents will be able to return to their apartments in the coming days.
Smoke alarms were activated and functioned as intended, providing early warning to occupants. Two tenants were transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the incident. Both individuals have since been treated and released.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to assist with the investigation. Based on scene examination and witness interviews, the fire is believed to have originated on the front porch area. Investigators determined that combustible materials, including hay and straw stored beneath the porch, were ignited by improperly discarded smoking materials. The cause of the fire has been classified as accidental, resulting from the improper disposal of smoking materials.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating House and Barn Fire in Augusta
AUGUSTA—On Monday, April 27, 2026, at approximately 9:18 a.m., the Augusta Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Church Hill Road in Augusta. The initial investigation indicates the fire began while an individual was working on a generator next to the residence. While attempting to start the generator, a spark ignited the fuel, and the fire spread to the nearby home and barn. The fire has been determined to be accidental.
Two firefighters were injured during the incident. One Augusta firefighter was transported to a local hospital for a medical event and remains under evaluation. A Sidney firefighter sustained a minor injury, was treated at the hospital, and has since been released. The homeowner was not injured.
Assisting at the scene were departments from Togus, Manchester, Belgrade, Sidney, Winslow, Hallowell, Winthrop, and Gardiner, along with the Augusta Police Department, Augusta Public Works, and the Maine Forest Service.
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 cited, all photos courtesy of the Maine Department of Public Safety.
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