The Maine Edge Criminal Mischief

Stop, car, stop! The light is red!

OLD TOWN – Blowing through a red light is never a good idea, especially when the cop going the other direction has the green.
Officer Josh Loring of the Old Town Police Department was stopped at a traffic light on Stillwater Ave. where it intersects with College Ave. when his light turned green and another car turned in front of him through the red light.
Loring pursued it and stopped the car as it turned into a car wash. He spoke with the driver, later identified as Charles Lecavalier, 21, of Old Town, and explained why he had stopped him. A records check revealed that Lecavalier’s license was suspended for failure to submit to a chemical test for an OUI charge, and he was on bail. He was arrested for violating his conditions of release and charged with operating with a suspended license and transported to Penobscot County Jail.

You never know who’s in the car behind you

BANGOR/BREWER – An off-duty state trooper called his on-duty compatriots to help him stop a Trenton man who was reportedly experiencing some road rage.
On June 28, off-duty Tpr. Bryan Creamer pulled out in front of another driver and that driver, later identified as Ricky Skillings, 56, of Trenton, responded by aggressively passing the off-duty trooper and then hitting his brakes, in what the trooper believed to be an attempt to have the trooper rear-end Skillings’ vehicle. According to Creamer, Skillings hit his brakes abruptly again on the on-ramp for I-395.
Creamer called in the incident and Penobscot County deputies stopped the vehicle. Skillings was summoned for driving to endanger.

DIY discount backfires

ORONO – A Veazie woman went to jail for allegedly trying to create her own discounts on booze she wasn’t supposed to be buying in the first place.
On June 27, around 8:27 p.m., Officer Peter Wentworh and Sgt. David Silk of the Orono Police Department were called to the Thriftway for a theft complaint. Store employees told officers that Danielle Celino, 25, of Veazie had reportedly swapped the price tags on liquor she was trying to buy.
A records check revealed that Celino was out on bail with conditions not to possess or consume alcohol and she also had an active warrant for failure to appear in court. She was arrested on the warrant and taken to jail, where she was charged with violation of conditions of release and theft by deception.

Expired registration leads to arrest

AMHERST – Not stopping for police rarely leads to improving the outcome of the situation.
On June 28, Sergeant Tim Varney arrested John Thompson, 33, of Amherst, on several charges. Varney had initially attempted to stop Thompson for an expired registration. Instead of stopping, he reportedly drove to his residence on Durham Lane. Once there, he was uncooperative and was taken into custody after a brief struggle, according to police.
Thompson was charged with refusing to submit to arrest, failure to stop and operating after suspension.

Have pot? Slow down

ORONO – A speeder ended up facing charges for possession of marijuana.
On June 27, around 8:05 p.m., Officer Cameron Barrio of the Orono Police Department stopped a vehicle on Park Street for speeding. He spoke with the driver, Anna Seavey, 22, and detected the odor of marijuana. The officer also noted that her inspection and registration had expired. She handed over a small baggie with marijuana.
She was summoned for possession of a useable amount of marijuana and warned for the other traffic offenses.

July 4 traffic enforcement

MAINE – Maine State Police say they plan several traffic enforcement efforts that will continue through the July 4th holiday weekend.
The chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams, said troopers will be looking for aggressive, drunk and distracted drivers, speeders, those texting and those not wearing their seat belts.
“The July 4th holiday week is one of the busiest weeks on Maine roads, and the State Police goal is to make it a safe one. Troopers will be using the State Police plane, unmarked vehicles, additional troopers and several special enforcement efforts to keep the roads safe,” said Williams.
The colonel reminded Maine drivers that the July 4th week also is the start of the summer tourist season and that many vacationers may not be familiar with Maine roads and the routes to their destinations.  Troopers will do their best to assist those motorists, and the chief urged patience on the part of Maine drivers.
Williams said the additional enforcement efforts will continue through the summer as July and August are Maine’s deadliest months for traffic crashes.
Maine’s July 4th enforcement actions also coincide with increased traffic enforcement by New Hampshire and Massachusetts State Police.