The Maine Edge Criminal Mischief

(From left: Nathan Laita, Joshua Herbest, and Jessica Laverty)



(From left: Dennis Burns and Andy Mason)




Fight Night at night club

(Photos courtesy of the Bangor Police Department)

BANGOR – On May 16 at about 1 a.m., several groups of unruly patrons were involved in a spate of separate fights that seemed to happen all at once as a local nightclub was closing.
The following people were arrested:
Nathen Laita, 30, of Bangor for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to arrest; Andy Mason, 22, of Bangor for disorderly conduct; Dennis Burns, 22, of Carmel for assault; Joshua Herbest, 26, of Brewer for unlawful possession of schedule drugs, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, refusing to submit to arrest, obstructing government administration and possession of a suspended license; and Jessica Laverty, 26, of Medford for obstructing government administration.
All were taken to Penobscot County Jail.

Fatal crash in Trenton

TRENTON – A two-car collision left one passenger dead and another critically injured in Trenton.
On May 15 around 1:20 a.m., Tpr. Greg Mitchell investigated a two vehicle crash that occurred on Rt-3 in Trenton. The crash resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman from Los Angeles, California. The woman who died at the scene was a passenger in a 2002 Toyota Corolla that was being operated by a 28-year-old Providence, Rhode Island woman. A 27-year-old woman from Garden Grove, California, was critically injured in the crash and airlifted from the scene to Eastern Maine Medical Center.
The victim’s vehicle was struck head-on by a 2000 Ford pickup truck that was being operated by a 23-old Hampden man.
Both drivers received minor injuries and were treated and released from Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. The crash occurred when the Hampden man’s vehicle, which was heading north, crossed the centerline into the path of the victim’s vehicle.
Police said that speed appears to have been a factor and the crash remains under investigation. Tr. Mitchell was assisted by Sgt. Tim Varney, Tpr. Barry Curtis and Tpr. Chris Smith. Hancock County Deputy Jeff McFarland is reconstructing the crash and Lt. Patrick Kane is doing the mapping.

Deja-vu all over again

ORONO – Police were busy at a residence in Orono for a couple of days for different reasons, including (but not limited to) five pot plants, a party, and 14 individuals charged with various offenses.
It all started when officers arrived at the residence on Stillwater Avenue to check on Nicholas Standley, [AGE], of Orono, who was wanted on an active warrant on May 14, around 12:30 p.m. On the deck getting some sun, were five marijuana plants. Police knocked on the door and a 17-year-old female from Orono answered and denied that Standley was at the residence at the time. The police pointed out the pot plants, but didn’t question her due to her age. The officers entered the residence to secure evidence against being destroyed and located Standley inside.
He was arrested and as a result of the investigation police located a small amount of marijuana inside the residence, a bong and several pipes. Police learned that three of the plants could be attributed to Standley and the other two belonged to the juvenile. Both were charged with cultivating marijuana and Standley received additional charges of possession of a useable amount of marijuana and sale and use of drug paraphernalia.
On May 15, police received information that there was an underage party at the same address. Officers arrived around 11:30 p.m., and as they were walking up the driveway they passed a car that was emitting a strong odor of marijuana. Police spoke with Collin Popper, 18, of Bangor, and located a usable amount of marijuana, a bottle of rum and brass knuckles in the vehicle. He was charged with possession of a usable amount of marijuana, display or carrying of a concealed weapon, and illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.
As other officers knocked on the door, Sara Thomas, 19, of Orono, reportedly jumped out of the window. She was summoned for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor by consumption. The father of the 17-year-old female from earlier in this saga gave police permission to search the residence. Police seized alcohol, marijuana pipes and rolling papers. Many of the people were hiding in closets, and one man was reportedly concealing himself under a mattress.
Here is a reckoning of the charges that stemmed from this party:
A 17-year-old female, of Orono, furnishing a place for minors to consume and illegal possession of alcohol by a minor, sale and use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a usable amount of marijuana;
Benjamin Dugas, 20, of Orrington, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
a 17-year-old juvenile female from Brewer, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Ryan Albert, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Justin Corey, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Michael Clume, 20, Newburgh, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Ashely Merrill, 20, of Ellsworth, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Matthew Buplisea, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Joshua Kelley, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
Shea Patterson, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor;
and Anthony Emerson, 19, of Bangor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.


Coffee brandy + bail conditions = jail

OLD TOWN – Loud tires and coffee brandy landed an Old Town man in jail last Friday.
On May 14, around 5:49 a.m., police received a call from a resident complaining about someone squealing tires outside of her home around 2:30 that morning. The caller informed police that she thought it was Derrick Beal, 26, of Old Town. Officers arrived and noted tire marks in the area, but Beal was not on scene. Officer Michael Holmes stayed with the caller while Officer Jim Fearon located Beal.
The officer found Beal at Harris Grocery and asked about the incident. Beal initially denied being in the area, but eventually told police that he had been near the house. Fearon could detect the odor of alcohol on Beal. Police learned that Beal had bail conditions not to possess or consume alcohol. Beal reportedly told the officers that he had consumed a beer, but there shouldn’t be any alcohol in the vehicle.
Fearon could see an open gallon container of milk in the vehicle. Since Beal’s bail conditions stipulated he had to submit to random search, Fearon searched the vehicle and located a half-gallon of coffee brandy and a liter of Triple Sec.
The passenger in the car reportedly told officers that Beal had been drinking and squealed his tires near the woman’s home.
Beal was arrested for violation of conditions of release.

Bangor PD Bike Auction

Courtesy of Sgt. Paul Edwards of the Bangor Police Department


BANGOR - The Bangor Police Department will be holding its annual bicycle auction on Saturday, May 22 at the Parks and Recreation building, 647 Main Street in Bangor. These bicycles are used and have been collected by the Police Department as abandoned property. Viewing of all the bicycle starts at 8 a.m. and the auction will commence at 9AM. All proceeds will benefit the Bangor Police Athletic League.

Area Wanted 05.12.2010

The following people have active warrants with the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office as of May 10, 2010. Please contact your local law enforcement agency if you have information about the current whereabouts of these individuals.

Rex A. Call
Age: 24
Charge: Failure to appear 2 warrants
Last known address: Palmyra

Joseph C. Golden
Age: 39
Charge: Failure to appear 2 warrants
Last known address: Detroit

See an error? Please direct your questions to 947-4585.

The Maine Edge Criminal Mischief

Tremont vandalism

TREMONT – Police are investigating graffiti in the town office at Tremont.
Tpr. Daniel Ryan handled a criminal mischief complaint in Tremont where graffiti was found on the town office. It appears that the graffiti was directed toward the selectmen. The incident was reported at 6:29 a.m. on Saturday. Tpr. Tom Pickering, the Troop J investigator, has been assigned to assist in the investigation as there are several leads.
Anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the area or wants to provide other information is asked to call the Maine State Police at 1-800-432-7381.

They can’t pull you over if you’re already stopped

BREWER – A man reportedly didn’t realize he’d been in an accident last Saturday.
On May 8 around 2 a.m., Officer Rodney Gerald responded to the report of an accident on South Main Street. He learned that a driver had reportedly rear-ended another driver and may have been intoxicated. The woman whose car had been struck told police that she had been stopped and saw him approach in her mirror and then felt him strike her car. She said that there wasn’t much damage but when she went to speak with the man, he didn’t acknowledge her and wouldn’t roll down his window or look at her.
A driver who had been traveling behind the car in question told the officer that he had witnessed the other car driving erratically, nearly striking a jersey barrier on the bridge and crossing the center line just prior to the accident.
Gerald spoke to the driver, later identified as Jonathan Hunt, 60, of Bangor, who was in his car reportedly eating a sandwich and didn’t immediately respond to the officer. Hunt then asked Gerald why he had stopped him. The officer explained that he hadn’t pulled him over, but that he’d been in an accident. Gerald noted that Hunt appeared intoxicated, noting slurred speech and difficulty locating his license.
When Gerald had Hunt step out of the car, Hunt nearly fell into the officer. Gerald administered field sobriety tests, but Hunt did not pass to the officer’s satisfaction and was placed under arrest. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail and an Intoxilyzer test showed him to be over the legal limit. He was charged with operating under the influence.

Is that a beer in your pants? Classy.

ORONO – A Clinton man is facing charges after he secreted a beer out of a bar via his pants.
On May 7 around 1:25 a.m., Officer Jason Zalva was monitoring the crowd leaving the Bear Brew when he saw a man drinking a beer from a bottle. He spoke with Shane Foley, 23, of Clinton, and learned that he had hidden the bottle in his pants so he could continue to drink it outside, according to police.
He was summoned for transportation of liquor off a licensed premise. The Bear Brew establishment received a warning.

Field sobriety test: you’re doing it wrong

OLD TOWN – A woman from Indian Island reportedly had some issues during a field sobriety test and was subsequently arrested for operating under the influence.
On May 8 around 10:08 p.m., Officer Josh Loring saw a car travelling around 21 miles per hour. He followed it and observed it driving erratically, crossing over the center line. When it made a wide turn to go onto Indian Island, the vehicle nearly hit the guard rail, according to police. Loring radioed the Penobscot Nation and stopped the vehicle.
He spoke with the driver, later identified as Tracy Neptune, 28, of Indian Island, and noted signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and the odor of alcohol. She reportedly told the officer she had consumed several twisted teas.
Loring had Neptune step out of the car for field sobriety tests. He explained to her the one leg stand test, where the person is to hold one foot in the air and count. Instead, Neptune reportedly walked forward and counted her steps. Loring again explained the one leg stand test, but Neptune reportedly walked about 11 steps, before looking at the officer and asking how many she was supposed to take.
He placed her under arrest for operating under the influence. He told her that they would go back to the station for another test, at which point she allegedly told him that they didn’t need to go to the station because she already knew she was drunk. After the Intoxilyzer test, Neptune’s breath alcohol level was found to be 0.16 percent, more than twice the legal limit.
She was taken to Penobscot County Jail and charged with operating under the influence.

Something stinks

BREWER – An Orrington man is facing drug charges after an off-duty Brewer officer noted a suspicious odor on the man when he stopped at a business after his shift.
Cpl. Paul Gauvin stopped at a business after his shift at 2:16 a.m. on May 10. He saw the clerk of the store exit his car and smelled the odor of marijuana on him when he entered the store. Gauvin called Officer Dan Costain, who spoke to the man, later identified as John Baumgardner, 31, of Orrington. As a result of the investigation, police located marijuana, a marijuana pipe and scheduled drugs.
He was charged with possession of a usable amount of marijuana, possession of schedule W and Y drugs, and sale and use of drug paraphernalia.

He’s rollin’

BANGOR – An area man reportedly didn’t use his emergency brake when initially stopped by police on Friday.
Officer Daniel Sanborn was on patrol when he saw a truck fail to stop at a stop sign. He followed it, observed the vehicle driving erratically and stopped the truck. After the truck had come to a stop, it began rolling backwards towards the cruiser. Sanborn yelled to the driver to stop the vehicle.
Sanborn spoke to the driver, who was later identified as Darin Robinson, age and hometown unavailable. The officer noted that he appeared intoxicated and administered field sobriety tests. Robinson did not pass to the officer’s satisfaction and was placed under arrest. He was taken to the Bangor Police Department for an Intoxilyzer test and was found to be over the legal limit and taken to Penobscot County Jail. He was charged with operating under the influence.

Stabbing incident at Husson University

Horst Wolk, photo courtesy of Bangor Police Department

BANGOR - A woman was hospitalized and a Bangor man is facing felony charges after a reported stabbing incident.

On May 5, 2010 at about 7:40 a.m., Bangor Police officers responded to Husson University to the report of a domestic fight between a man and woman. It was reported that several people were subduing a man on the ground.

Police arrested Horst Wolk, 45, of Bangor, transported to the Penobscot County Jail and charged with attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault, both class A felonies; aggravated assault a class B felony; and violation of a protection order, a class C felony.

The victim was given a ride to a local emergency room and is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries.