Author: Seamus Othot

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and all but one Democrat in voting to pass yet another Ukraine aid package, despite her repeated complaints about Iran War spending. [RELATED: Bellows, Warren and Pingree Stand by Graham Platner as New York Times Report Raises Further Questions About His Treatment of Women…] “Given the incalculable stakes and immense cost—an estimated $1 billion a day—of such an endeavor, I cannot and will not support this war,” said Rep. Pingree about the Iran War in March. The House voted 226-195 on Thursday to pass the Ukraine Support Act, put forward by…

Law enforcement shot a suspect in Calais on Friday after he allegedly attacked them with a sword while resisting arrest during a traffic stop. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Searching for Suspects in Eddington Robbery and Stabbing Incident…] Calais Police officer Charles Ball and Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Taylor Leblanc conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Abinadi White, 35, at the intersection of Main and North Streets in Calais. It is not clear what prompted the traffic stop, but officers allegedly discovered that White was operating the vehicle following a license suspension, and informed him that he was under…

The Kennebunk Police Department arrested a 75-year-old man on Thursday following an alleged domestic violence incident involving a firearm. [RELATED: Westbrook Police Dealt With Two Domestic Violence Standoffs In Two Days…] At approximately 8:24 p.m., the Kennebunk Police Department responded to a residence on Caly Hollow Road after receiving a 911 call reporting a domestic violence incident. When officers arrived, they spoke with the alleged victim, who reported that the suspect was possibly under the influence of substances and had access to multiple firearms. She also claimed that the suspect prevented her from calling law enforcement during the domestic incident.…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested a homeless man on Thursday after he allegedly rammed into a cruiser during a pursuit that traveled through fields and residential properties. [RELATED: Limington Man Arrested after Fleeing State Police in Stolen Truck…] The sheriff’s department responded after receiving a report of an erratic and dangerous driver in Hudson, at the wheel of a GMC pickup truck. The caller allegedly noted that the vehicle had significant damage to its front end and was doing donuts in a public area. Deputies arrived and located the truck and determined that it had allegedly been reported stolen from…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department is searching for suspects after an Eddington man was stabbed in the neck during an alleged robbery on Thursday morning. [RELATED: Portland Man With Five Arrest Warrants Arrested After Stabbing Victim in the Back…] At approximately 5:30 a.m., Penobscot deputies responded to reports of a robbery on Chesnut Lane in Eddington. Police arrived to discover an adult male suffering from a stab wound to his neck. He claimed that he had also been threatened with a firearm. The victim told deputies that the suspects fled in a vehicle before deputies arrived. Law enforcement believes the suspects…

The Maine State Police SWAT Team and Portland Bomb Squad responded to execute a high-risk search warrant in South Portland on Wednesday and arrested a man on explosive charges. [RELATED: Trenton Man Arrested After Being Found With Multiple IEDs While Police Responded to Domestic Violence Reports…] The South Portland Police Department responded with the SWAT team to execute a search warrant at 65 Florence Street, a single-family home. During the warrant execution, detectives allegedly discovered black powder and a suspicious, unidentified substance that prompted them to contact the Portland Bomb Squad and the South Portland Fire Department. As authorities evaluated…

An Indiana man was sentenced to just 30 days in prison on Wednesday after he sexually grabbed two minor girls on a flight into Portland in December 2024. [RELATED: Police Search for Portland Pervert Who Exposed Himself to Middle Schoolers…] Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., of the U.S. District Court in Portland handed down the sentence after Aiden J. Carter, 27, of Indiana, pleaded guilty in December 2025. In December 2024, Carter was a passenger on a flight to Portland and was seated next to a 17-year-old girl. He grabbed the girl’s thigh without her consent, and she pushed his…

The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is planning to cut up to $400 million worth of construction and upgrade projects from its agenda amid massive transportation budget problems, according to a new memo obtained by the Bangor Daily News. [RELATED: Maine Faces $949.2 Million Budget Shortfall for 2026-2027…] “MaineDOT plans and delivers projects years in advance using the best funding projections available at the time, but the current transportation funding environment includes significant uncertainty at both the federal and state levels,” Transportation Commissioner Dale Doughty said in a statement to The Maine Wire. “As those risks have intensified in recent…

A Penobscot County Sheriff’s Supervisor saved an infant’s life on Sunday after he discovered the baby suffering from an alleged drug overdose and administered two doses of Narcan. [RELATED: Republican Lawmakers Renew Scrutiny of DHHS Following Death of Milford Infant and Ongoing Custody Dispute…] At approximately 2:28 p.m., a 911 caller reported an infant suffering from cardiac arrest on Clewleyville Road in Eddington. A Penobscot Sheriff’s Department supervisor was fortuitously already in the area and only approximately one minute away from the residence when the call came in. He responded immediately and found the infant in the home’s driveway with…

A new internal poll conducted on behalf of the Pine Tree Results PAC, working to elect Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), found the incumbent tied with Graham Platner after recent polling has shown the Democratic challenger leading. [RELATED: Platner Attempts to Shore-up Campaign With New Statement Touting Fundraising and Highlighting Internal Poll Maintaining Lead Over Collins…] The poll, first publicly released by Politico, surveyed 800 likely Maine voters from June 1-3, after Platner’s sexting and cheating scandals came to the forefront of public discourse, but before the Thursday release of a New York Times report in which an ex-girlfriend alleged that…

The U.S. government sent a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Thursday with a barrage of messages commemorating the 37th anniversary of the infamous Tiananmen Square Massacre when government forces opened fire on student-led protesters. [RELATED: Chinese Born California Mayor Was Working As an Agent for the CCP…] “On June 4, the world marks 37 years since the Chinese Communist Party ordered its troops to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square. Chinese students, workers, and other civilians who lost their lives had gathered to exercise their natural rights and demand democratic reforms and…

The Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department is requesting public assistance in locating two suspects who allegedly burglarized a Turner cannabis shop on Thursday morning after multiple previous burglaries at the location. [RELATED: Suspects Throw Motor Oil at Waldo Deputy Before High-Speed Chase Related to Dispensary Break-Ins…] “People have to understand the type of people that are in our communities that are not deterred by the criminal justice system, because it’s limp,” said Jeremy, one of the business owners, speaking with The Maine Wire. “If these kids were looking at actually facing felonies for stealing nine vehicles and breaking into these establishments and…

U.S. Marshals assisted the Kennebec Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday in arresting a fugitive wanted for failing to appear for sentencing following a stalking conviction. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Nab Rhode Island Child Molestation Fugitive in North Berwick…] At approximately 6:30 p.m., law enforcement attempted to locate Nicholas J. Worthing, 38, of Pittston, who was wanted on multiple outstanding felony warrants. He was convicted in May 2025 of stalking, but allegedly failed to appear for his sentencing hearing. Additional warrants were issued for his arrest for failing to appear on his initial failure to appear charge. Law enforcement allegedly spotted Worthing fleeing…

The U.S. House voted narrowly on Wednesday in favor of a war powers resolution to end the Iran War with support from all Democrats and four Republicans. President Donald Trump called the vote “meaningless.” [RELATED: Collins Votes to End Iran War After Previous Vote to Allow It To Continue…] “Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where negotiations stand,”…

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was one of just four Democrats to vote in favor of a bill aimed at cracking down on childcare fraud perpetrated through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). [RELATED: YouTuber Nick Shirley Exposes Alleged Somali Daycare Center Which Reportedly Reaped $4,000,000 From Taxpayers…] The house passed the bill 217-207, despite opposition from Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and the vast majority of other Democrats. All Republicans supported the bill, and Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.), Vincente Gonzalez (D-Tex.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.) joined Rep. Golden in voting against their party majority. The bill, the “No Funds…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a Thomaston man on Wednesday after he allegedly consumed illegal drugs in front of police during a bail check. [RELATED: Rockland Police Arrest Drug Traffickers During Routine Stop Following Brief Struggle…] At approximately 6:20 p.m., the Rockland Police Department stopped Lance Chipman, 39, of Thomaston to conduct a bail check. Chipman was free on multiple sets of bail conditions related to felony drug trafficking charges, charges of using physical force to resist arrest, and violating conditions of release. During the bail search, police allegedly located a bag of what they believed to be illegal drugs.…

The Maine State Police arrested a New Hampshire man on Thursday in connection with the decades-old murder of Maxine Bitomski, 73, of Kittery. [RELATED: Police Arrest Winslow Man for 1987 Murder of Alice Hawkes…] At approximately 6:13 a.m., the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and the Portsmouth, NH, Police Department arrested Daniel Jolly, 59, of Portsmouth, at his home on a warrant charging him with murder for the 1993 killing of Bitomski. He was transported to the Rockingham, NH County Jail, where he will remain pending extradition proceedings. On January 16, 1993, officers from the Kittery Police Department responded…

Bangor’s controversial pride flag rainbow crosswalk cost taxpayers $2,590 even before it was repainted after drivers left skid marks on it. [RELATED: Bangor Public Works Paints Pride Crosswalk Using City Resources…] Bangor Public Works sent employees to paint the crosswalk on May 27, prompting social media comments suggesting that the politically motivated project caused traffic for Bangor drivers. In response, The Maine Wire reached out to the city with a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request to determine exactly how much the city paid for the project. On Wednesday, the city responded with an itemized breakdown of the cost, which…

The Portland Police Department arrested a man on Wednesday after he allegedly stabbed a man in the back on the street and was found with five active arrest warrants. [RELATED: Wedding Photographer Stabbed in Unprovoked Attack at Raymond Camp Ground…] At approximately 10:00 p.m., a Portland officer was patrolling the area of Portland and Hanover Streets when he observed a disturbance and responded. He arrived at the disturbance to discover a 23-year-old man who said that he had been stabbed in the back. The victim was transported to the Maine Medical Center for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly after discovering…

The Maine Warden Service is searching for an ATV operator who allegedly drove on private property in Limington on Tuesday and struck the landowner, dragging him 75 feet before fleeing the crime scene. [RELATED: Game Warden Killed in Avon Plane Crash…] At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Pequawket Lake Road, a landowner reportedly saw a side-by-side ATV drive through his property at high speed. The vehicle then returned a few minutes later, and the landowner got the driver to stop and warned him to slow down. The landowner then attempted to photograph the vehicle and its license plates. In response, the…

The Cumberland Sheriff’s Department arrested two teens in Sebago on Tuesday after they allegedly shot through an occupied home’s window before fleeing deputies in a vehicle. [RELATED: Five Juveniles Charged After Retaliatory Shooting in Lewiston Ahead of Community Conversation on Gun Violence…] At approximately 4:54 a.m., the Cumberland Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a vehicle driving recklessly, tearing up a field on private property, and doing donuts on a public way near Folly Road in Sebago. Deputies responded, and members of the public assisted in identifying the vehicle involved. The public told deputies that the vehicle was occupied…

The Bangor Police Department arrested two adults and one 17-year-old on Wednesday after they allegedly broke into a man’s apartment and beat him with a baseball bat while searching for their friend’s stolen vehicle. [RELATED: Limington Man Arrested after Fleeing State Police in Stolen Truck…] At approximately 12:00 a.m., Officer Emily Konopka responded to the waterfront area near Railroad Street following a report of a stolen vehicle. She spoke with the complainant and her three friends, Serina Beaucher, 28, of Bangor; Bradley Dean, 26, of Brewer; and a 17-year-old from Bangor about the stolen vehicle. Later that morning, at approximately…

Graham Platner’s campaign issued a damage control memo on Wednesday, bragging about his fundraising numbers and a new internal poll showing him maintaining a reduced lead over Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) amid his new cheating and sexting scandal. [RELATED: Staff Departures, Sex Scandals, Nazi Tattoo and Vulgar Reddit Posts Leave Graham Platner Campaign Looking Like a Political Train Wreck…] “The past few days have seen some of the strongest fundraising of the entire campaign, with momentum growing over the last week, both on ActBlue and across traditional fundraising channels,” said the campaign memo. “The message from voters is steadfast: they…

Incumbent Oxford County Sheriff Chris Wainwright filed an ethics complaint against Republican primary challenger Frank Blauvelt Jr. last Thursday, accusing him of failing to comply with campaign filing and finance requirements by expending campaign funds prior to filing as a candidate. [RELATED: SOS Office Recommends Republican York Sheriff Candidate Be Allowed to Run Following Hours-Long Hearing, Despite His False Attestation…] “Monday I had a hearing regarding the attached response to an ethics complaint filed against me. I took full responsibility for me errors. Being new to this process and by my own fault, not properly researching the rules I made…

The Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the body of a woman on Tuesday more than a decade after she was found dead in Portland. [RELATED: Portland Police Arrest Murder Suspect in Connection with 2017 Killing…] In 2015, a woman was found dead on Portland’s East End Beach. For over a decade, the woman was known only as Jane Doe Portland. The Medical Examiner’s office has worked since then attempting through various methods to identify the woman. Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Dan Reed created an approximate sketch of the woman, her fingerprints were submitted to the FBI,…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department is investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed in Bradford on Tuesday. [RELATED: Auburn Woman Charged with OUI After Striking Pedestrian Near Central Maine Community College…] At approximately 12:40 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department received a report of a crash on Route 221 in Bradford involving a pedestrian. Deputies responded along with the department’s reconstruction and drone teams with assistance from the Glenburn Ambulance Service and the Bradford Fire Department. Preliminary investigation indicates that a sedan was traveling south on Route 221 when it struck a pedestrian who was in the road. First responders attempted life-saving…

The Westbrook Police Department is searching for a suspect who allegedly fled officers on a motorcycle in two separate incidents. [RELATED: Westbrook Police Dealt With Two Domestic Violence Standoffs In Two Days…] According to police, officers attempted to stop the same motorcyclist on May 22 and on Monday, both times for alleged high-speed and dangerous driving. On both occasions, he allegedly fled officers by driving dangerously to escape them. Westbrook Police are urging anyone with information to reach out to Sergeant Brian Grasser and included two images of the suspect. In both images, the suspect appears to be a white…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a wanted felon on Tuesday after he was allegedly found with a firearm and a large amount of illicit drugs. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested for Stealing a Woman’s Hat and Pushing Her Out of Her Wheelchair…] At approximately 12:25 p.m., Officer Nathaniel Alvarado was patrolling Essex Street after receiving information about a large quantity of drug activity. While there, Alvarado allegedly spotted a vehicle and recognized one of its passengers as Christopher Reynolds Jr., 22, of Exeter. Reynolds was subject to an active arrest warrant, and dispatch records allegedly indicated that he was known to…

A Limington man was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly fled Maine State Police troopers in a stolen truck. [RELATED: Massachusetts Trio Charged After Stolen Dump Truck Rams Lewiston Police Cruiser…] At approximately 5:54 p.m., troopers attempted to stop a poorly operated pickup truck on Route 25 in Limington. The truck had allegedly been reported stolen from a Limington residence just one hour earlier. The driver allegedly refused to stop and continued southbound on Route 25 into Standish. He then turned northbound onto Route 113. Troopers pursued the suspect through Baldwin and into Hiram, where law enforcement deployed spike mats.…

The New Hampshire State Police arrested a 50-year-old woman on Saturday after she allegedly shot a firearm into the air after two interactions with police earlier in the day. [RELATED: Mother and Son Found Dead in NH in Apparent Murder-Suicide…] At 9:45 a.m., troopers responded to reports of a suspicious person on 33 Waukewan Road in New Hampton, NH. Troopers arrived to discover Vanessa Cooke-Case, 50, of New Hampton, who was served with a no trespass order. Later that day, at approximately 4:00 p.m., troopers returned to the same area following reports that Cooke-Case was verbally threatening her neighbors. Troopers…

The Bath Fire Department is looking for information on the mysterious burning of a large American flag draped over the main entrance of the city’s Masonic Temple on Tuesday. [RELATED: Knox Woman Charged with Attempted Murder Following Arson Fire…] At approximately 10:13 a.m., the Bath Fire Rescue Department responded to reports of a fire at 958 Washington Street, the city’s Masonic Temple. The Fire Department added that the building has been an important part of the community for decades. The fire department arrived to discover that a large American flag, approximately six feet by ten feet in dimensions, that had…

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) celebrated the early completion and delivery of an Arleigh Burke-class naval destroyer on Tuesday after the delivery was announced by the U.S. Navy. [RELATED: Bath Iron Works Secures Contract to Construct New Navy Destroyer…] “@USNavy has accepted delivery of the future USS Patrick Gallagher from Bath Iron Works more than two months ahead of schedule following exceptional sea trials. Maine shipbuilders continue to prove that they are second to none because, as we know, ‘Bath built is best built,'” said Sen. Collins in a social media post. https://twitter.com/SenatorCollins/status/2061855132069871774 The post came as a quote-tweet responding to…

Noble High School in Berwick took down an Israeli flag found flying above an American flag on school property on Monday after an image of it began circulating on social media. Principal AJ Dufort explained that the flag was not placed by the school and that they believe it was flown by vandals. [RELATED: Noble High School Student Killed in Crash with Amtrak Train…] “This morning, we became aware that an Israeli flag had been raised on a flagpole near our athletic fields without authorization. The flag was not placed by the school, was not part of any school-sponsored activity,…

Longshot Democratic Senate candidate David Costello renewed his calls for Graham Platner to debate him just one week out from the Democratic primary after a new cheating scandal was added to the mountain of bad press plaguing the candidate’s campaign. [RELATED: Platner, Costello Mum On Status Of Joint Bangor Anti-Collins Rally; Costello: ‘Don’t Ask Me, It’s Not My Party’…] “LET’S DEBATE!!! Maine’s US Senate race is not settled and appears to be tightening. Maine’s primary election is next week and there’s still time. The cancelling of the 5 prior debates cut short important policy discussions and shortchanged ME voters. So,…

The Madawaska Police Department arrested two men on a slew of charges on Tuesday after they allegedly left a victim severely beaten at a Madawaska home. [RELATED: Maine State Police Investigate Three Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties…] At approximately 11:00 p.m., a man arrived at the Madawaska Police Department seeking emergency assistance after he was allegedly severely assaulted at 443 Main Street. The victim was allegedly able to identify both of his assailants to the investigating officers. Police immediately began an investigation, which quickly led to the arrest of Joshua Hafford, 30, of Madawaska. After his arrest, police…

The Lewiston Police Department arrested a Lewiston man on Thursday after he was allegedly found in possession of child pornography. [RELATED: Howland Rapist Arrested for Violating the Sex Offender Registry and Contacting Minors…] Lewiston officers, with assistance from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), executed a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. During the warrant execution, police arrested Scott Bussiere, 56, of Lewiston, and transported him to the Androscoggin County Jail. He faces charges of possession of sexually explicit material involving…

The formerly moderate Democratic congressional candidate Matt Dunlap reaffirmed his support for Graham Platner on Monday despite the new cheating scandal plaguing the presumptive Democratic Senate nominee. [RELATED: Staff Departures, Sex Scandals, Nazi Tattoo, and Vulgar Reddit Posts Leave Graham Platner Campaign Looking Like a Political Train Wreck…] “Do you still continue to support Graham Platner,” a reporter asked Dunlap. “I do. I think he’d be a good senator,” responded Dunlap. Dunlap directly reaffirmed his previous endorsement of Platner, said that Platner’s treatment of his wife was “between him and her” and condemned Nazism while refusing to directly comment on…

A parental rights group doubled down on its demand that Graham Platner be barred from school property across Maine after new revelations that Platner was sending sexually explicit messages to women on Kik, a chat site described as a “predator’s paradise” by the The Center on Sexual Exploitation. [RELATED: Maine Democratic Senate Candidate Graham Platner Kept Sexually Suggestive Account on App Dubbed “Predator’s Paradise”…] “Following additional and shocking revelations of Graham Platner’s active profile on Kik—an app widely scrutinized by law enforcement and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation as a “predator’s paradise”—Parents’ Rights in Education Maine calls on school…

A Massachusetts man was sentenced to ten years in prison on Thursday in connection with a 2024 drug-related drive-by shooting in Saco. [RELATED: Two Massachusetts Men Plead Guilty to Drug-Related Saco Shooting…] Jason Johnson-Rivera, aka “Ouda”, 20, of New Bedford, Mass., was sentenced following a January guilty plea for a federal charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He will spend the next ten years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. On February 9, 2024, Johnson-Rivera and his co-defendant Yancarlos Abrante, aka “Glizzy”, 22, fired at least five…

The Skowhegan Police Department arrested three suspects on Saturday after stopping a vehicle missing a license plate and allegedly discovering illegal drugs. [RELATED: Skowhegan Man Faces Grave Consequences After Vandalizing Cemetery…] “The drugs taken off the street continue to show we are in a war with the trafficking and using of these dangerous drugs. Not just in our Town but everywhere in the great State of Maine. The Skowhegan Police Department will continue to locate these drugs, arrest the people poisoning our citizens and ensuring you can sleep safe at night,” said the police department. At approximately 9:00 p.m., a…

The Westbrook Police Department arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Thursday following a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) investigation into a hotel on the Westbrook-Portland town line. MDEA began their investigation into the hotel on Thursday after members of the public informed them of alleged drug trafficking from the location. Agents coordinated with the Westbrook Police and the Portland Police Department Crime Reduction Unit. While they surveilled the hotel, law enforcement spotted two individuals entering a vehicle and leaving. Westbrook Police then stopped the vehicle on Larrabee Road in Westbrook. During the stop, police allegedly spotted several suspicious items in…

The Rockport Police Department responded to a bomb threat on Friday made against the MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital. [RELATED: Current Prisoner Calls in Bomb Threat at Cumberland County Jail…] In the early morning, police responded to the hospital at 6 Glen Cove Drive after an emergency caller allegedly reported a potential bomb threat. Hospital officials enacted security protocols and coordinated with law enforcement to assess the situation. The Rockport EMS and Fire Department, along with the Rockland and Camden Police Departments, responded to assist. A sweep of the facility revealed no threats, and the hospital has been cleared to resume…

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson is receiving support from a PAC funded by a variety of out-of-state organizations and a foreign-born, Illinois-based stock-trading millionaire despite positioning himself as a “clean money” candidate opposing rich “oligarchs”. [RELATED: Bangor Hands Out $336k in Grants to “Food and Medicine” That Employed Troy Jackson And Campaigned for Liberal City Councilors…] “The oligarchs who run this system want to work us to death. They want to monetize every moment of our lives and squeeze every dime out of our labor. That wheel they have us chasing all the damn time? We built it. On June…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested an alleged drug dealer from the Dominican Republic on Thursday during a raid at a Winthrop motel. [RELATED: MDEA Arrests Two Texas Residents Found With Firearms and Cocaine in Thomaston…] In the afternoon, MDEA agents executed a search warrant at the motel following a month-long investigation into fentanyl and cocaine trafficking. The investigation involved undercover purchases of drugs by agents. During the warrant execution, agents allegedly seized 180 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of fentanyl, along with $1,660 in suspected drug proceeds. The drugs seized had an estimated street value of $20,000. Agents…

The Knox Sheriff’s Department arrested two Texas residents on Wednesday after they were allegedly discovered with cocaine and a firearm during a traffic stop in Thomaston. [RELATED: Caribou Drug Bust Leads to Five Arrests Following Month-Long MDEA Investigation…] Agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and Knox County deputies received information related to suspected drug trafficking operations on the island of Vinalhaven. The information also alleged that trafficking was taking place on the ferry from the island to Rockland. During the investigation, Knox deputies located a vehicle allegedly involved in the operation and conducted a traffic stop in Thomaston.…

Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Bobby Charles admitted to receiving MaineCare benefits in a Facebook post on Thursday and reaffirmed that statement in the comments before correcting it and saying that he is actually on Medicare. Charles’s rapid-fire style on social media has successfully drawn attention from voters and has likely contributed to his consistent place at the top of polls. However, it also carries risks, such as an apparent typo suggesting that Charles was enrolled in a program whose failings he has consistently criticized. He spoke to The Maine Wire over the phone to explain the situation while taking responsibility for…

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Maine after Secretary of State Shenna Bellows refused to issue undercover license plates to ICE agents executing federal law enforcement activities in Maine. [RELATED: Maine AG Rejects DOJ’s Demand for State to Reverse Policy Refusing Undercover Plates for ICE Vehicles…] “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively. By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against…

The Dover, New Hampshire, Police Department faced a grisly sight on Tuesday when they discovered two dead bodies after responding to a welfare check. [RELATED: Autopsy of NH Murder-Suicide Victims Reveals Mother Murdered Her Young Children and Husband Before Turning Gun on Herself…] At approximately 9:00 a.m., Dover officers responded to a home on Dover Point Road to conduct a follow-up welfare check, apparently after having previously responded for a similar check. Officers arrived and entered the home to discover the bodies of the home’s two adult residents, Eileen Shevelin, 78, and Thomas Wallace, 57. Shevelin was discovered dead in…

Bangor Public Works used city resources and taxpayer funds on Wednesday to paint a rainbow pride flag crosswalk on State Street. [RELATED: Bangor Hosts Massive Pride Event Featuring Demonstrators in Fetish Gear, Drag Queens, and Small Children…] The city did not announce the politically motivated initiative through any of its official social media accounts, but Bangor Pride, an LGBTQ organization, posted a picture of the work on Facebook. The Maine Wire stopped by the crosswalk and spotted three city employees standing nearby, apparently waiting for the paint to dry. The Maine Wire reached out to Bangor Public Works seeking additional…

The White House released an update on its war against fraud on Tuesday shortly before a press conference from Vice President JD Vance on the same topic, but both failed to include any mention of Maine’s rampant fraud. [RELATED: Vance Brings Anti-Fraud Message to Bangor, Praises Maine Wire Reporting, and Backs LePage Congressional Bid…] “The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is moving at unprecedented speed and ferocity to root out the waste, abuse, and criminal exploitation of government programs that have drained billions from hardworking taxpayers,” said the White House release. The press release provides a timeline of federal…

Rep. Randall Hall (R-Wilton) pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of unsworn falsification and criminal violation of the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA) following a February indictment for allegedly forging ten signatures. [RELATED: Maine Democrats Seek to Allow “Clean Elections” Candidates to Use Taxpayer Funds to Pay for Caregiving of Their Dependents…] “Today, Representative Randall Hall (R-Wilton) pleaded guilty to unsworn falsification and criminal violation of the Clean Election law. I first requested his resignation in February 2025 following his indictment, and I am requesting it again today,” said House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford). “Pleading guilty to violating election laws…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) empowered ICE to crack down on immigration attorneys who facilitate fraudulent asylum claims in a Tuesday memo. [RELATED: ICE Blasts Maine Sanctuary Policies: “Politicians Should Be Ashamed”…] “For years, MILLIONS of illegal aliens have committed fraud in our immigration system — and no place is this more rampant than in immigration court,” said the DHS. “Now, thanks to this directive, @ICEgov attorneys have greater authority to enforce the law and STOP the abuse of our asylum system by illegal aliens and attorneys,” they added. https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2059349022805291281 The memo issued new directives to ICE, ordering them…

A student at Hampden Academy brought a firearm onto school grounds in his car last Wednesday, triggering a police response. A concerned parent who spoke with The Maine Wire says administrators have been less than forthcoming with information about the incident. [RELATED: Wiscasset Mother Says 14-Year-Old Son Was Strangled at School, Sent Back to Class Without Medical Attention…] On the morning of May 20, the Hampden Police Department responded to assist school administration officials following reports of a safety concern on school property. School administration received information suggesting that a student at Hampden Academy had brought a firearm to school…

The Westbrook Police Department responded to two domestic-violence-related standoffs in two days on Friday and Saturday, resulting in two arrests. [RELATED: Jail Escapee Arrested After Causing Head-On Crash in Naples and Sparking Brief Standoff…] Late Friday morning, police received a report from someone saying she had been the victim of a domestic violence incident in Hamlet. She explained that she was able to flee the residence and escape to a safe location where she called police. She further noted that the suspect was armed with a bladed weapon. Police established probable cause to arrest this suspect and responded with a…

Bangor Police arrested a man Saturday after he allegedly assaulted three family members during a domestic violence incident at a Memorial Day weekend gathering. [RELATED: Trenton Man Arrested After Being Found With Multiple IEDs While Police Responded to Domestic Violence Reports…] At approximately 10:47 p.m., Bangor officers responded to an Essex Street apartment for reports of a family fight. When police arrived, they learned that three people were allegedly injured by Ryan Martin, 32, of Bangor. Martin had reportedly fled the scene before police arrived. The next morning, at approximately 6:36 a.m., police returned to the residence and located Martin,…

The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a Mexico, Maine man on Tuesday morning after he allegedly arrived at the Oxford County Jail and threatened to shoot corrections officers before being tased and eventually subdued. At approximately 6:00 a.m., a Mexico resident on Richard’s Avenue called the sheriff’s department reporting a property dispute with a male neighbor. He claimed that the neighbor claimed that he planned to shoot up the Sheriff’s Office. Shortly thereafter, at approximately 6:56 a.m., the man arrived at the Oxford County Complex in South Paris and allegedly threatened to shoot jail staff. The Paris Police Department, Norway Police…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a man on Memorial Day after he allegedly attacked a woman following a dispute about gas-station bathrooms. [RELATED: York Deputies Arrest Three Lebanon Men Found Fighting Outside a Bar…] At approximately 2:22 a.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to the Main Street Circle K gas station for reports of a suspect threatening staff over their bathroom being closed. While officers were responding, the complainant called back and reported that the suspect had struck her in the face. When police arrived, they located the suspect, Caleb Hewey, 39, of Bangor, allegedly being restrained by another man.…

Secretary of State (SoS) Shenna Bellows decided on Tuesday to remove the referendum question to protect girls’ sports and spaces from November’s ballot after previously determining that it could appear, following challenges to the legitimacy of its signatures. [RELATED: Contentious Hearing Over Maine Girl Dads Ballot Initiative Puts Bellows’ Role Under Scrutiny…] “Citizen initiatives are direct democracy. Just as we take voting security seriously, we take petition integrity seriously,” said Bellows in a statement provided to the Portland Press Herald. “Unfortunately, some out-of-state circulators failed to meet certain legal requirements for petitions, resulting in this initiative failing to qualify for…

The York County Sheriff’s Department arrested three Lebanon men on Saturday after they were allegedly found fighting outside a bar as deputies responded to an unrelated incident. [RELATED: York Deputies Arrest Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting a 9-Year-Old in 2021 and Evading Justice for Years…] At approximately 9:45 p.m., York deputies responded to a Lebanon bar to assist the Lebanon Fire Department in responding to a medical incident. Deputies arrived to see several men allegedly actively engaged in a fight in the bar’s parking lot. Law enforcement attempted to intervene, but the men allegedly refused to comply with police orders,…

The Cumberland Sheriff’s Department arrested a man on Saturday after he allegedly stabbed a wedding guest at a Raymond campground in what police believe was an unprovoked attack. [RELATED: NH Killer Caught After Broad Daylight Stabbing Outside Gas Station…] At approximately 7:03 p.m., deputies responded to Kingsley Camp Ground after reports of a man being stabbed with a knife. Deputies arrived to discover Donald Halsing, 26, suffering from a stab wound in his chest in what police believe appeared to be an unprovoked attack during a wedding reception. Law enforcement identified the suspect as Andrew Manderson, 26, after speaking with…

The Cumberland Sheriff’s Department arrested a Portland man on Sunday after he allegedly escaped from a federal corrections halfway house and caused a head-on crash in Naples before fleeing on foot. [RELATED: Rumford Man Charged After Distracted Driving Crash That Destroyed a Canton Barn…] At approximately 7:16 p.m., deputies responded to Route 302 in Naples for reports of a head-on crash. Witnesses allegedly reported that one of the drivers involved immediately fled the scene on foot. The dispatcher continued to receive information from the witnesses, and deputies eventually located the driver in a yard on Saw Mill Lane. He was…

Troy Jackson, Hannah Pingree, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have formed an alliance in the Democratic gubernatorial race, vowing on Friday to rank each other as second and third choices in an apparent gambit to overturn frontrunner Nirav Shah if the race goes into ranked-choice voting. [RELATED: Democrat Drama: CD2 Candidates Team Up to Demand Baldacci Disavow Out-of-State Donor PAC Following National Dems Endorsement…] The three candidates, polling at the back of the field according to a Pan Atlantic Research Omnibus poll released on Wednesday, issued extremely similar statements, including the same graphic. The candidates each want voters to…

The U.S. House scored a victory for parental rights on Wednesday, passing a bill to prevent schools from hiding gender transitions from parents despite opposition from Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine). [RELATED: OCP Policy Director and Radical Leftist Running for Augusta School Board Previously Raised Funds for Abortion and “Gender Affirming Care”…] The bill, from Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), passed with a narrow 217-198 margin in a largely party-line vote, with eight Democrats breaking with their majority to support the bill. The bill would remove federal elementary and secondary school funding from any schools that fail to…

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) sent a letter to the lawyer representing Gateway Community Services last week affirming “credible allegations of fraud” against the non-profit reported on extensively by The Maine Wire. [RELATED: DHHS Cuts Off Medicaid Payments to Gateway Communities as Audit Finds Over $1M in Overbilling, Fraud Allegations Escalate…] The DHHS provided a letter to the Portland Press Herald dated May 12 from William Logan, associate director of compliance for the Office of MaineCare Services, to Drummond Woodsum attorney Maureen Sturtevant representing Gateway. The letter informed Gateway that the state has decided to uphold…

The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a massive bipartisan housing bill on Wednesday that bars institutional investors from buying single-family homes, eases regulatory barriers to housing construction, and bans the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). [RELATED: Trump Signs Executive Order Barring Investors from Buying Single-Family Homes…] “The Administration is pleased that Congress continues to work on legislation to make housing more affordable. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act builds on the President’s agenda by eliminating regulatory barriers to construction and enabling innovative housing solutions. The bill would also prohibit the development of a Central Bank Digital Currency…

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Drew Plantation man on Tuesday in what they described as a dangerous drug arrest. [RELATED: Hermon Drug Bust Leads to Three Arrests and Seizure of a Pound of Drugs…] At approximately 8:11 p.m., a Penobscot deputy initiated a traffic stop on Andrews Road in the tiny town of Drew Plantation. During the stop, the deputy allegedly found approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine along with an unspecified amount of psychedelic psilocybin mushrooms. As a result of the search, the deputy arrested the driver, Jamie Dowe, 38, of Drew Plantation, on charges of unlawful trafficking…

A New Hampshire firefighter pleaded guilty to a string of arson charges on Wednesday following a four-year investigation into a serial arsonist starting fires across Rockingham County. [RELATED: Maine Volunteer Fireman Living in NH Arrested for Arson after Burning His Own Home with Pet Turtles Inside…] Austen M. Cooper of Raymond, NH, a firefighter, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony arson to real estate and one count of felony possession of an infernal machine. The NH State Fire Marshal’s office began a complicated investigation into serial arson across Rockingham County. The investigation led fire marshals to believe Cooper intentionally…

Several WWII-era rockets were discovered in a Nantucket, Massachusetts, sand dune, prompting a bomb squad response. [RELATED: Bomb Squad Responds After Limington Resident Finds Grenade Near Dumpster…] The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services announced the incident on Thursday, though they did not specify when it actually took place. The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad traveled to the island, a popular vacation spot, for reports of unexploded military ordnance that was found buried in an eroding sand dune. The U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit and the Nantucket Fire Department responded to assist. The agencies were able to identify the…

New Hampshire authorities have apprehended a suspect accused of the broad daylight fatal stabbing of a man outside a Manchester, NH, gas station in broad daylight on Monday. [RELATED: NH Man Stabbed to Death Outside Gas Station in Broad Daylight – Suspect Still at Large… On Wednsday, the New Hampshire Office of the Attorney General announced the arrest of Antonio Cajigas, 22, in connection with the alleged murder of a Christopher Marcoux, 25. The fatal stabbing allegedly took place outside a gas station at 1050 South Willow Street, a major road, around 5:40 p.m. on Monday. Marcoux was transported to…

The Maine State Police are investigating after a body was found during routine operations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Wednesday. [RELATED: Passing Driver Spots Body in Lake Auburn…] At approximately 9:50 a.m., the Kittery shipyard’s civilian divers were conducting routine barge inspections. While in the area of Berth 14, they discovered human remains in the water. The Maine State Police and Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the situation. The remains will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for identification, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of…

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) announced a novel proposal on Wednesday to cut Medicare spending: send 20-30 million $11 bath mats to Medicare recipients to prevent costly falls. [RELATED: Angus King Joins Democratic Senators in Challenging President Trump’s Election Integrity Executive Order…] “I’m the Johnny Appleseed of bath mats. Whenever I go to see somebody and they don’t have one of these in their shower, I buy one and send it to them. Now here’s the proposal, though: why doesn’t CMS [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] send one of these to every Medicare recipient in the country,” said Sen.…

The New Pan Atlantic Research Omnibus Poll spelled bad news for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), cemented Bobby Charles and Nirav Shah as their parties’ gubernatorial frontrunners, and showed strong support for the referendum question banning males from girls’ sports. [RELATED: Janet’s Late Pingree Endorsement Did No Favors For Hannah – Who Latest Polls Show Losing Big-time To The Shah Of Maine…] The new poll, released on Wednesday, gave Graham Platner a strong seven-point lead in the high-stakes Senate race, with him polling at 48 percent compared to Sen. Collins’ 41 percent. A significant 11 percent portion of respondents remained undecided.…

Joe Sokol Contributed to This Article. A Bangor dog owner is facing civil charges after his pit bull reportedly charged aggressively toward his neighbor’s three-year-old on Tuesday, and the neighbor fatally shot the dog. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested for Stealing a Woman’s Hat and Pushing Her Out of Her Wheelchair…] At approximately 8:48 a.m., the Bangor Police Department received a report of shots fired on March Street. Officers responded and allegedly found that a resident of March Street had fired at and struck a large dog after it charged at him and his toddlers. Adam Stade, the man who shot…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating immigration fraud allegations against Somali-born Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) Vice President J.D. Vance announced on Tuesday in response to a Daily Caller reporter’s question. [RELATED: Trump Targets Ilhan Omar Over “$19B” Minnesota Fraud Claim and Singles Out Maine in Widening Crackdown…] “I don’t want to prejudge an investigation. You read the things about Ilhan Omar, you know, who she married or whether she didn’t marry this person or that person. It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the laws, so we’re gonna investigate it.…

Three Democrats running for the Second Congressional District Seat banded together on Wednesday and penned a letter to frontrunner Joe Baldacci demanding that he disavow a new out-of-state left-wing super PAC donating to his campaign. [RELATED: Wood Gets Shafted: “Courageous” Democratic Candidate Responds After Party Endorses Baldacci Instead of Him…] “A super PAC calling itself 218–directed and funded by wealthy out-of-state donors–began spending money in this Democratic primary in an attempt to buy this election on your behalf. This is wrong–and it should stop,” said the letter. “The three of us all agreed: Mainers decide our election–not Super PACs, not…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department arrested a Madison man on Monday following a vehicle search in connection with an ongoing investigation into trafficking activities in the area. [RELATED: Somerset Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests in Madison…] At approximately 11:28 a.m., Somerset deputies executed a search warrant of a vehicle on Madison Avenue being operated by Griffin Patchell, 27, of Madison. The warrant was obtained as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged trafficking operations in the Madison area. During the search, detectives allegedly discovered 10 grams of fentanyl, a set of digital scales, a trace amount of cocaine, and documentation…

Augusta residents will have an opportunity later this month to voice their concerns over the city’s homelessness problems and hear what city officials want to do to fix the problem. [RELATED: Maine Lawmakers Head Home after Controversial Budget Push, as Fraud, Child Welfare Failures, Homelessness Still Haunt the State…] The Community Forum on Homelessness will be held at 7:00 p.m. on May 28 at the Augusta City Hall’s Lecture Hall directly after the routine city council meeting. “This forum is intended to provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about homelessness in Augusta, hear about the work currently being…

A healthcare fraudster operating out of Massachusetts agreed on Monday to pay back $1.4 million to resolve allegations of Medicare and Medicaid overbilling but will face no jail time. [RELATED: How Maine Became Ground Zero in the National Medicaid Fraud Scandal — And Why Augusta Spent Three Years Pretending It Wasn’t Happening…] Two behavioral health clinics, Nova Psychiatric Services, P.C. (Nova), Patriot Eldercare, Inc. (Patriot),and their president and director, Alexandra Accardi, agreed to pay after they allegedly billed for psychotherapy and medication management services in violation of the False Claims Act. The settlement agreement also required Accardi and her companies…

The U.S. House passed a bill on Thursday requiring an annual report on state and local governments that allow cashless bail for dangerous criminals, in a small step towards combatting soft-on-crime policies. [RELATED: Brewer Police Chief Calls Out Soft-on-Crime Policies He Believes are Fueling Maine’s Drug and Crime Crisis…] The House voted 308-116 to pass the “Cashless Bail Reporting Act,” with Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) supporting the bill while Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) voted against it. The bill, proposed by Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.), drew support from 96 Democrats and all but two Republicans: Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) and Mariannette…

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is investigating after an NH man was stabbed to death outside a gas station in broad daylight on a major city street. [RELATED: Portland Police Report Weekly Arrests and Calls for Service, Highlight Stabbing and Vehicle Theft Incidents…] At approximately 5:40 p.m. on Monday, the Manchester Police Department responded to the Alltown Fresh gas station at 1050 South Willow Street. Google Maps Image of 1050 South Willow Street from 2023 Callers reported an adult male suffering from severe injuries outside the gas station. Police arrived to discover the victim suffering from an apparent stab…

A group of five teenagers was arrested on Monday after they allegedly led police on a multi-town chase in a stolen vehicle linked to a series of cannabis dispensary break-ins and threw motor oil on a Waldo County Sheriff’s Department deputy. [RELATED: Lisbon Cannabis Shop Burglary Involving Stolen Car Mirrors Similar Break-Ins in Turner…] At approximately 7:08 a.m., the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department responded to a request for backup from their Waldo counterparts after a Waldo deputy stopped a Black 2023 Toyota Rav 4. The vehicle had been involved in burglaries across Hancock County at cannabis and smoke shops. During…

Much of the discussion surrounding Graham Platner and his candidacy has focused on his Nazi tattoo, past controversial comments, fake blue-collar political outsider persona, and other personal controversies, allowing his truly radical left-wing platform to fade into the background. [RELATED: Platner’s “Average Man” Image Faces New Scrutiny as Campaign Finances Draw Attention…] Platner, running for a seat historically held by the moderate Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), has portrayed himself as a candidate who can reach across the aisle in an attempt to present himself as a viable option for Trump voters dissatisfied with his second term. The candidate’s upcoming campaign…

Masked suspects in a stolen vehicle allegedly robbed a cannabis shop in Lisbon early Saturday morning while driving a stolen car, in an incident that closely mirrored recent burglaries in Turner. [RELATED: Turner Cannabis Shop Burglarized Twice in One Week by Suspects in Stolen Cars…] At approximately 2:31 a.m., the Lisbon Police Department responded to a burglary reported at Lisbon Cannabis at 5 Canal Street in Lisbon Falls. A preliminary investigation indicated that four masked suspects forced their way into the store, damaged the building, and stole merchandise and an unspecified amount of cash. During the investigation, police learned that…

A Bangor man was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday after he admitted to trafficking fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine while in court-mandated treatment following an earlier burglary conviction. [RELATED: Bridgton Man Arrested After Being Found with Psychedelics and Fentanyl Amid Drug Trafficking Investigation…] Bradley Bellfleur, 33, will spend the next six years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in July 2024 to a federal charge of conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Bellfleur was enrolled in Penobscot Adult Treatment and Recovery Court in Bangor as part of his court sentence following a…

A New Hampshire woman was arrested on Sunday after she allegedly slammed head-on into an NH State Police cruiser while driving the wrong way. [RELATED: Massachusetts State Trooper Killed by a Wrong-Way Driver…] At approximately 1:47 a.m., the NH State Police received multiple calls reporting a wrong-way driver on Route 101 in Exeter. Callers reported that the vehicle was traveling east in the westbound lanes. Troopers responded and encountered a 2019 Nissan Kicks between Exits 8 and 9. Trooper Shane McClure was traveling west and believed that there were many other innocent drivers placed in danger by the wrong-way driver.…

The Lewiston Police Department arrested a man on Friday after he allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven gas station. [RELATED: Two Suspects Arrested After Luring Man to Lewiston Apartment and Beating and Burning Him…] At aproximately 3:52 a.m., police responded to a report of a robbery at the gas station. A clerk allegedly informed them that a male suspected had entered the store and forcibly stole money from behind the register. The clerk gave police a description of the suspect, and officers began searching for him upon their arrival on the scene. Officers reportedly spotted a man matching the suspect’s description entering…

The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a Sweden man on Thursday after he allegedly burglarized multiple seasonal camps in the Sweden area. [RELATED: Hermon Burglary Leads to Two Arrests And Drug Seizure…] Following an investigation into the alleged burglaries, police arrested Travis Lewis, 49, of Sweden. Deputies executed a search warrant at Lewis’ Knights Hill Road residence in Sweden and allegedly recovered multiple items identified as stolen property, along with drug paraphernalia, five grams of methamphetamine, and clothing and other garments allegedly worn by the suspect in the burglaries. Police also allegedly seized 12 firearms from Lewis’ residence, at least some…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department arrested a gang of five teenagers on Monday following an investigation into a string of car break-ins in Madison. [RELATED: Two Minors Arrested for String of Burglaries and Car Thefts Across Androscoggin and Cumberland Counties…] On Sunday, Somerset deputies responded to multiple reports of vehicle break-ins across the town. Two residents also reported that the windows of their homes had been broken. The initial investigation led deputies to believe that the break-ins were committed by minors. On Monday, Somerset Deputy Michael Pike conducted a follow-up investigation and followed multiple leads that eventually led to five juvenile…

A California man will spend the next ten years in prison after he pleaded guilty to his role in a fraud scheme to launder $46.4 million in fraudulently obtained benefits to China. [RELATED: Chinese Born California Mayor Was Working As an Agent for the CCP…] Brian R. Cleland, 72, of Los Angeles was sentenced on Thursday following a guilty plea on November 17, 2025. Cleland admitted that he and co-conspirators Bruce Jin, 61, and Carlos A. Grijalva, both of Los Angeles, worked with other unnamed conspirators to obtain unemployment funds and other welfare benefits through fraud. The three men entered…

The Bridgton Police Department arrested a Bridgton man on Tuesday after he was allegedly found in possession of psychedelics and other drugs. [RELATED: Caribou Drug Bust Leads to Five Arrests Following Month-Long MDEA Investigation…] At approximately 5:00 p.m., the Bridgton Police Department executed a search warrant at 656 North High Street, apartment four. Police obtained the warrant as part of an investigation into alleged drug trafficking activities from the apartment. During the warrant execution, police reportedly seized 13 grams of methamphetamine, 17 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and small amounts of LSD and Fentanyl. The apartment’s sole resident, Michael Walsh, 31,…

Just one day after Vice President JD Vance visited Maine and promised to crack down on the massive amount of fraud being exposed by The Maine Wire, the Small Business Administration (SBA) took a concrete step to end Covid-era loan fraud in the state. [RELATED: Mills Claims She’s Tough on Fraud In Response to Vance Visit…] SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced on Friday that “the crackdown is here,” making good on Vice President Vance’s promise. “The crackdown is here. In full support and collaboration with @VP and @WHFraudTF, SBA is announcing the suspension of about 1,500 borrowers in Maine associated with $93 million in potentially fraudulent…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a man on Thursday after he allegedly stole a woman’s hat and pushed her out of her wheelchair. [RELATED: Bangor Police Investigating Possible Hidden Camera in Best Buy Bathroom…] At approximately 9:53 p.m., officers responded to Maine Street in front of the Fire Department for a welfare check for a woman who had fallen out of her wheelchair. Officer Alex Helton spoke with the woman along with several witnesses. Based on the investigation, police determined that Christopher Genge, 45, of Bangor, allegedly caused the woman to fall out of her wheelchair and stole her hat.…

A Rumford man is facing distracted driving charges after allegedly crashing his pickup truck through a Canton barn early Thursday morning. [RELATED: Car Crashes Into Saint George Home Leaving 16-Year-Old with Life Threatening Injuries…] At approximately 5:48 a.m., the Oxford Sheriff’s Department received a report of a single vehicle crash at 19 Turner Street in Canton. The caller reported that a vehicle left the road and struck a residence. Oxford deputies responded with Canton first responders. Deputies found that a silver 2003 Chevrolet Silverado crashed into the front of a storage barn attached to the residence. The investigation allegedly revealed…

Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) issued a response to Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud visit to Bangor on Thursday, claiming that she actually is tough on fraud, and deflecting away from the fraud issue onto the Iran War. [RELATED: Vance Brings Anti-Fraud Message to Bangor, Praises Maine Wire Reporting and Backs LePage Congressional Bid…] “As District Attorney, Attorney General, and as Governor, I have always cracked down on fraud — often by working hand-in-hand with the Federal government,” said Gov. Mills. “Whenever we identify credible allegations of fraud, they are referred to the Attorney General, who works in partnership with Federal…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested five Caribou residents in a Northern Maine drug bust following a month-long investigation. [RELATED: MDEA Arrests Suspects from Boston and Unity During Waterville Drug Bust…] Last Thursday, May 7, the MDEA, along with the Maine State Police Tactical Team, executed a search warrant at 206 Sweden Street in Caribou. The warrant was obtained following an investigation conducted by the MDEA and Caribou Police Department into alleged trafficking activities from that address. During the warrant execution, police reportedly seized over 200 grams of fentanyl and a sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun. As a result of the…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Rep. Michele Meyer (D-Maine) announced a $1 million investment of opioid settlement funds on Wednesday for a social services hub in Kittery. [RELATED: Maine AG’s Office Quietly Spends Millions on Opioid Settlement Funds with Limited Disclosure…] The funding will go to Mainspring: The Seacoast Social Services Collective, a project led by Fair Tide, an organization aimed at ending homelessness, and Footprints, a food pantry. Mainspring describes itself as a collective of nonprofits, with centralized data sharing, case management, and other forms of cooperation. It provides a single building where people seeking a variety of…

A New Hampshire woman faced a horrifying ordeal when she was allegedly kidnapped, taken to Vermont, tortured, and held for ransom for 24 hours, resulting in federal charges filed on Tuesday for suspects already in custody for the same crime. [RELATED: Two Suspects Arrested After Luring Man to Lewiston Apartment and Beating and Burning Him…] Damarcus Bonner, 30, of Connecticut, and Tyrone Harris, 27, are facing federal charges on interstate kidnapping conspiracy in addition to state charges for their role in the alleged horrific kidnapping and torture of a woman. The suspects allegedly kidnapped the victim from Claremont, New Hampshire.…

A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of damaging or disabling an aircraft as his flight was departing from Boston to Puerto Rico. [RELATED: Puerto Rican Man Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Cut with ‘Tranq’ into Maine…] Angel Luis Morales Torres, 24, was first indicted in March 2025 following an incident in January that year. On January 7, he was a passenger on a JetBlue flight set to travel from Boston to Puerto Rico. As the aircraft was on the taxiway preparing for takeoff, Morales Torres left his seat and ran down…

A Skowhegan homeless shelter was ordered to shut down on Wednesday following a months-long dispute surrounding code enforcement and the shelter’s failure to install a sprinkler system. [RELATED: Maine Cities and Towns Now Required to Allow Homeless Shelters Under Unanimous New Law…] “It’s unfortunate, but I am glad that the state is providing resources for the folks that are residing there to find alternate places to live. Obviously, it is safety concerns that they’ve been cited on for years,” said Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) speaking with The Maine Wire. “I hope for the best for people. I just want everybody…

The U.S. is placing a temporary pause on new Medicare billing enrollments for home healthcare and hospice providers amid a nationwide crackdown on millions or billions in healthcare fraud from California to Maine. [RELATED: Welcome to Maine, Mr. Vice President — Now Let’s Expose the Fraud Machine…] “Widespread fraud has gone on for far too ​long. But under the Vice President’s task force we are finally putting a stop to the massive scale fraudsters ripping off the ​American people once and for all,” a spokesperson for Vice President J.D. Vance told Reuters. Reuters first reported the development on Wednesday, citing…