Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
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SOUTHWEST HARBOR—On September 30, 2026 at approximately 10:38 a.m., a Southwest Harbor business owner called the Southwest Harbor Police Department to say that they were concerned about an employee who was apparently now an ex-employee.
The person’s now former employer said that they had found the now former employee’s keys and a note that read, “I quit.”
The former employer said that they had been trying to reach the former employee and was concerned about them because they could not get ahold of them.
Officer Eli Brown was able to locate the author of the note and determine that he was okay. The man also said that he had indeed quit his job and that his ex-employer could not reach him because his phone was broken.
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, September 28, 2026
Christopher J. Wiebusch was driving the Town of Mount Desert’s 2022 Ford ambulance out of the garage bay at the Mount Desert Fire Station and did not realize that the driver’s side middle door was still open. The door struck the frame of the garage bay door, damaging the door and the garage bay frame. There were no injuries.
Officer Tim Frost conducted an escort for a Bar Harbor town employee.
Mental Health Liaison Melissa Gleason and Sgt. Doug Brundrett assisted someone in Bar Harbor who needed assistance.
After responding to and investigating a report of an intoxicated man at a Mount Desert business, Officer Frost arrested Martin Sharp, 62, of Mount Desert, for operating under the influence.
Officer Amie Cake received a report of an elderly woman in Mount Desert who was missing. The woman was located at her residence.
Officer Frost investigated a reported assault in Bar Harbor. No charges were issued.
Officer Justin Burnett removed a fallen tree from the roadway on Sargeant Drive in Mount Desert.
Someone reported a suspicious RFID (radio frequency identification) tracking tag on an out-of-state rental vehicle in Bar Harbor. Officer Zach Alexander removed the device and is investigating.
Officer Alexander checked on a motorist with a broken-down vehicle in Bar Harbor.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Officer Alexander checked a Bar Harbor business and found it to be fine.
After someone reported a traffic hazard in Bar Harbor, Office Alexander checked the area but could not locate any hazards.
Following a report of a parking issue on Forest Street in Bar Harbor, Officer Frost spoke with the vehicle owners and had them move the vehicles.
Officer A. Cake conducted an escort for a Bar Harbor town employee.
Assistant Harbormaster Chris Johansen received a report of a sailboat that was possibly adrift and unmanned near anchorage B in Bar Harbor. Johansen located the sailboat after the owner had already regained possession of it.
Officer Frost is investigating a report of suspicious activity at a Bar Harbor hotel.
A Mount Desert woman reported to Officer A. Cake that she had a delivery package stolen. The woman wanted Officer A. Cake to only document the report and not pursue it criminally.
Officer Alexander is investigating a report of theft in Bar Harbor.
Officer Burnett removed a dead deer from the side of the road in Mount Desert.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Officer Alexander assisted another agency with a reported disturbance in Mount Desert. As a result, two people were warned for disorderly conduct.
Someone in Bar Harbor called 911 to report a car alarm going off. Officer Alexander could not locate any vehicles with alarms sounding.
Officer Liam Harrington conducted an escort for a Bar Harbor town employee.
Following a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor, Officer Ted Cake looked for the offending vehicle but could not locate it.
Officer Harrington performed traffic control for the Bar Harbor Fire Department during a medical call in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake served court paperwork to someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake documented some information for someone in Bar Harbor.
After someone reported an off-road vehicle being operated on a Bar Harbor roadway, Officer Harrington attempted, but failed, to locate the vehicle.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Officer T. Cake served court paperwork to someone in Bar Harbor.
Officer T. Cake is investigating a reported theft in Bar Harbor.
Officer Troy Stanwood conducted an escort for a Bar Harbor town employee.
A neighboring agency passed along a motor vehicle complaint to Officer Stanwood in Mount Desert, but he was unable to locate the offending vehicle.
Officer Harrington responded to a report of an unresponsive man in Mount Desert and determined that the man was deceased of natural causes.
Officer T. Cake performed a requested well-being check in Mount Desert and found the person to be fine.
Officer T. Cake spoke with someone in Mount Desert about options for getting rid of a deceased wild animal that was on their property.
Officer Kaleb Payson provided someone in Bar Harbor a ride home.
Friday, October 2, 2026
Officer A. Cake is investigating a harassment complaint that was made by someone in Mount Desert.
Officer Frost handled a parking complaint on Ledgelawn Avenue in Bar Harbor.
Officer Frost handled a parking complaint on Greeley Avenue in Bar Harbor.
Officer Frost is investigating a theft complaint from a Cottage Street in Bar Harbor.
Someone made a complaint to Officer A. Cake regarding a vehicle hitting mailboxes on the Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor.
An officer performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found them to be fine.
Sgt. Chris Dickens fingerprinted someone at the person’s request in Bar Harbor.
Sgt. Dickens is investigating a late reported fraud from a Mount Desert business.
Sgt. Dickens performed traffic control while a tow truck removed a vehicle in Mount Desert.
Someone called the Bar Harbor Police Department asking for assistance. The person was in Acadia National Park so the call was referred to the park service.
Following a welfare check on someone in Bar Harbor, Officer Alexander gave them a ride to their residence.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Officer Alexander performed a well-being check on someone in Bar Harbor and found them to be in good health.
Following an investigation into a reported domestic assault in Bar Harbor, Officer Frost arrested Basil Small, 29, of Bar Harbor, for aggravated assault. Small was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Officer Burnett attempted to locate a vehicle that was the subject of a motor vehicle complaint in Bar Harbor but was unsuccessful.
A possible theft that occurred in Bar Harbor was reported to Officer Burnett but the reporting person only wanted the information documented at this time.
Officer Alexander attempted to perform a well-being check on someone in Mount Desert but could not locate the person to be checked on.
Officer Judson Cake investigated a noise complaint at a downtown Bar Harbor business and found it to be unsubstantiated.
Following a motor vehicle crash in Bar Harbor, Adam Raiche, 45, of Mount Desert, was arrested by Officer Alexander for operating under the influence. Raiche was transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Officer Nathan Formby responded to a noise complaint in Mount Desert, located the source of the noise, and determined that it was not at a concerning level.
Officer Formby warned some people for municipal ordinance violations in Bar Harbor.
Officer Alexander investigated a domestic disturbance in Bar Harbor and determined that it was only verbal in nature and separated the people involved.
Following a reported animal issue in Bar Harbor, officers located the animal’s owner and made “appropriate notifications.”
Officer A. Cake investigated a domestic disturbance in Mount Desert and determined that it was only verbal in nature and separated the people involved.
Sgt. Dickens received a report of motorists speeding in the Conners Emerson School crossing area in Bar Harbor during student movement times.
A registered sex offender notified the Bar Harbor Police Department that they were in town visiting.
Officer Zack Kline gave someone a ride from MDI Hospital to another location in Bar Harbor.
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, September 28, 2026
Sgt. Rick Graham handled a parking complaint in Southwest Harbor and had the vehicles moved.
Sgt. Graham assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Graham assisted someone at a Tremont residence.
While Sgt. Graham was at a Tremont residence gathering information regarding a missing Tremont resident, the person returned home.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
The Southwest Harbor dispatcher spoke with someone on the phone who was confused and has medical issues. After speaking with the person, the dispatcher determined that the person was fine and there were no further issues.
Following the receipt of an iPhone crash notification in Southwest Harbor, Officer Abigail Armistead determined that it was an accidental activation.
Officer Armistead is investigating a reported bad check case in Tremont.
Officer Armistead assisted a Southwest Harbor resident who had locked themselves out.
Officer Armistead received a report of possible criminal mischief in the area of Wood Street in Southwest Harbor.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
After someone reported a speeding motorcycle in Southwest Harbor, Officer Eli Brown responded but could not locate the motorcycle.
Officer Brown served some summonses to someone in Southwest Harbor on behalf of the Bar Harbor Police Department.
Chief John Hall received a report of a line having been pulled off a utility pole by a truck that was transporting a boat in Southwest Harbor and Chief Hall notified Fidium and Spectrum to alert them to the damage.
Officer Brown responded with the ambulance service to a medical emergency at the Tremont Consolidated School.
A man in Southwest Harbor reported that he had gotten into a verbal altercation with some people in a car on Main Street. The man said that he caught up with the car at a store and the car took off heading out of town. Officer Brown was unable to locate the blue Jetta.
Officer Brown checked a building in Tremont and found it to be secure.
Officer Brown checked a building in Tremont and found it unsecured. The management was notified.
The Bar Harbor Police Department passed on a report of a man on a dirt bike that had been causing problems at the high school, was heading toward Southwest Harbor, and had no lights on the dirt bike. Officer Brown did not locate the dirt bike.
While Officer Brown was heading to Tremont for a residential burglar alarm, the alarm was cancelled.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Officer Bradley Russell failed to locate a vehicle that was the subject of a motor vehicle complaint in Tremont.
Officer Russell performed a well-being check on someone in Tremont and found them to be all set.
Officer Russell responded to a parking complaint in Tremont and spoke to the owner of the offending vehicle.
After receiving a parking complaint on private property in Southwest Harbor, Officer Russell spoke with the property owner.
Officer Russell spoke with someone in Southwest Harbor about a customer that was harassing them and gave them some options to deal with the situation.
Following a report of someone walking alongside the roadway in Southwest Harbor and the caller being concerned, Officer Russell responded but could not locate anyone walking along the road.
Officer Russell documented some information received from someone in Southwest Harbor.
Officer Russell is investigating a theft reported in Southwest Harbor.
Someone reported an intoxicated person getting into a vehicle in Southwest Harbor and Officer Russell responded but failed to find the vehicle.
Officer Russell performed a requested well-being check in Southwest Harbor and found the person to be fine.
Sgt. Graham performed a bail conditions check on a Tremont resident.
Sgt. Graham performed a bail conditions check on a Tremont resident and found them to be not in compliance with their conditions. Sgt. Graham will be obtaining an arrest warrant for the person.
Following the report of someone screaming on the Clark Point Road in Southwest Harbor, Sgt. Graham responded but could not locate any issues.
Friday, October 2, 2026
Sgt. Graham conducted a security check at a Southwest Harbor business and found it to be secure.
Officer Armistead assisted the ambulance service with a medical call on the Seawall Road in Southwest Harbor.
Someone reported a car that had struck a curb on Main Street in Southwest Harbor, causing the passenger side tire to go flat. Officer Armistead located the driver of the vehicle, Debby Dubois, no age given, of St, Augustine, Florida, and issued her a summons for leaving the scene of a property damage accident and a citation for failure to provide evidence of insurance.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
No reportable incidents.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Sgt. Graham performed a well-being check on a member of the Good Morning Quietside program in Tremont and found them to be safe and healthy.
Sgt. Graham assisted the Southwest Harbor Fire Department at a fire call in Southwest Harbor.
Sgt. Graham assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Tremont.
After a juvenile was seen operating a mini-bike on Main Street in Southwest Harbor, Sgt. Graham confiscated the mini-bike until a parent retrieves it.
Sgt. Graham assisted the ambulance service with a medical call in Southwest Harbor.
Following a complaint of loud music from a Southwest Harbor residence, Sgt. Graham responded and got the person to turn the music down.
Sgt. Graham performed a bail conditions check on a Tremont resident, found them not to be in compliance, and will be charging them when they are located.
Following the report of a possible fight at an employee housing unit in Southwest Harbor, Sgt. Graham determined that there was no fight, but a loud party which settled down after the police showed up.
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) Oak Hill Road
MOUNT DESERT — None reported.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR — None reported.
TREMONT — (1) No location 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.
Early Morning Crash Causes Traffic Delays on Turnpike in Falmouth
FALMOUTH—On Thursday, October 1, 2026, at approximately 2:35 a.m., troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on the Maine Turnpike southbound near mile marker 56 in Falmouth. The initial investigation indicates a 2020 GMC SUV lost power and came to a stop in the travel lane. A 2019 Freightliner tractor-trailer tanker traveling southbound approached the stopped SUV and attempted to move into the right lane to avoid it. The tractor-trailer struck the rear passenger side of the SUV, pushing it toward the median. The tractor-trailer then tipped onto its right side.
The driver and the passenger in the SUV and the driver of the tractor-trailer were transported to Maine Medical Center for evaluation. No serious injuries were reported. A small amount of diesel fuel leaked from the tractor-trailer, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection responded to the scene. All southbound lanes in the area were closed following the crash, with traffic diverted at Exit 63. The crash remains under investigation.
MDEA Arrests Cornish Woman for Aggravated Drug Trafficking
CORNISH—For the past several months, agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency have been investigating a suspected drug trafficking organization operating in the town of Cornish. The investigation included controlled purchases of cocaine base (crack) from a residence at 335 Main Street in Cornish.
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, MDEA agents, with the assistance of the Maine State Police Tactical Team, Maine State Police, and USDEA executed a search warrant at 335 Main Street in Cornish. The search resulted in the seizure of 49.5ggw cocaine HCL, diverted hydrocodone pills, $1760 in suspected drug proceeds, and three firearms.
Adele Rogers, age 52, of Cornish, was taken into custody without incident at the residence and charged with four counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled “W” drugs.
The estimated street value the drugs seized is $5000.
Rogers is currently being held on $50,000 cash bail at York County Jail.
The investigation will continue and additional arrests are expected.
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 Investigates Dexter Fire
DEXTER—At approximately 2:37 p.m., on Saturday, October 3, the Dexter Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 249 Line Road in Dexter.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a fire in a second-floor bedroom. They suppressed the fire, which was primarily confined to the bedroom. The remainder of the residence sustained smoke damage.
The sole occupant of the home, a 40-year-old woman, escaped the residence. She sustained smoke inhalation and other unspecified injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. She was transported to Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield for treatment.
A dog perished in the fire.
The Corinna, Garland, Hartland, St. Albans, and Newport Fire Departments provided mutual aid to the Dexter Fire Department. No firefighter injuries were reported during suppression operations.
Investigators with the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal responded to the scene at the Dexter Fire Department’s request to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
After examining the scene, investigators determined that the fire originated in a second-floor bedroom. The cause was improper disposal of smoking materials, and the fire has been classified as accidental.
All public safety personnel cleared the scene by about 6:00 p.m.
Arrest Made in Fatal Hit-and-Run
WELLS—Daniel E. Paul, 56, of Atkinson, NH, was arrested this morning by Maine State Police and Wells police. Paul was charged with manslaughter, aggravated driving to endanger, and aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury or death following a motor vehicle incident on Route 1 in Wells on March 24, 2026. The victim, Gregory Nolan, 50, was a Wells resident.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved, including the Maine State Police, Wells (ME) Police, York (ME) Police, New Hampshire State Police, Atkinson (NH) Police, and the Wells Fire and Rescue.
Paul will be arraigned at the Biddeford Unified Court on January 13, 2027.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Explosion in Readfield
READFIELD—On September 27, 2026, the Readfield Fire Department responded to multiple reports of an explosion at 846 Main Street in Readfield. The department found that a vehicle had been blown up with Tannerite. State Fire Marshal Investigators responded and investigated the circumstances surrounding the event, which turned out to be a group of individuals shooting at the Tannerite that had been placed in the vehicle.
Fire Marshal Investigators are working with the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office on any possible charges arising from the incident. The State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds people that state law governing the use of Tannerite allows up to 5 pounds of mixed product to be used for sport/target shooting only. Tannerite cannot be used to explode any item other than the packaging it is mixed in.
The investigation is ongoing, and new information will be released as it becomes available.
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Fire at Brewery in Wilton
WILTON—On Monday afternoon October 5, 2026, the Wilton Fire Department responded to 285 Main Street for a reported structure fire at Ambition Brewing. Fire departments from several surrounding communities responded to provide mutual aid. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one of the two buildings occupied by the business. The second building sustained smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported.
The Wilton Fire Department requested assistance from the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal to determine the origin and cause of the fire. State Fire Marshal Investigators responded to the scene, conducted an examination, and determined the origin and cause of the fire. Investigators determined that the fire originated beneath the rear portion of the building at 285 Main Street, in an area where renovation work was underway.
The fire was discovered by the property owner after old flooring had been cut and was in the process of being removed. Investigators determined that combustible organic material that had accumulated beneath the building most likely ignited during the flooring work. The underside of the building is partially open to the elements, allowing leaves and other organic debris to accumulate beneath the structure over time.
Investigators determined that the accumulated material had become dry and readily combustible. State Fire Marshal investigators determined the fire was accidental and associated with the renovation work being conducted at the time of the fire.
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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