Author: Seamus Othot

A Bangor woman is facing a potential 30-year prison sentence after she pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. [RELATED: Attempted Bank Fraud in Houlton Leads to Cross-Border Chase Into Canada Involving Canadian Mounted Police…] Nichole Kelley, 46, of Bangor, pleaded guilty to her role in a bank fraud conspiracy that lasted from July to October 2024. As part of the scheme, Kelley entered banks while impersonating legitimate bank customers. She used false ID cards to access and withdraw funds from the accounts of the victims. Investigators searched Kelley’s home and seized two false IDs with different…

Somali-run home care agencies aren’t the only Medicaid recipients failing audits. The immigrant resettlement organization Catholic Charities of Maine failed two audits, one in 2020 and one in 2024, all while taking in millions in taxpayer funds. [RELATED: Catholic Charities Maine Plans to Resettle 150 Refugees in 100-Mile Radius Around Bangor…] In July 2020, auditors with MaineCare’s Office of Program Integrity sent Catholic Charities of Maine a notice of violation after a review of their 2016-2018 Medicaid billing. The review found that the resettlement organization failed to provide a variety of records, including comprehensive assessments of patients’ medical needs, individual…

The Auburn Police Department is investigating after a homeless man was found dead on Tuesday at an encampment near the railroad tracks. [RELATED: Railroad Company Begins Clearing Bangor Homeless Camp Along Train Tracks…] At approximately 3:02 p.m., the Auburn Police Department and the Auburn Fire Department responded to reports of a medical emergency at a homeless encampment near the railroad tracks at 104 Washington Street North. The first responders quickly located a 47-year-old homeless man who was deceased upon their arrival. Police do not believe the death is suspicious, but an investigation is ongoing. They did not release the name…

The U.S. military launched a joint operation in Ecuador against “Designated Terrorist Organizations” on Tuesday, even as the war with Iran continues. [RELATED: Maine Playing Growing Role In ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ With War Planes And Ships Joining The Fray…] “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country,” said U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2029011785567572285 According to SOUTHCOM’s statement, U.S. forces joined Ecuador to launch operations against foreign terrorist organizations engaged in narco-terrorism. While SOUTHCOM…

Democrats in Maine’s Legislature put forward a bill that appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to hinder ICE from holding any detainees in the state’s jails under the guise of increasing access to facilities for Maine law enforcement. [RELATED: DHS Slams Sheriff Joyce After “Bush League” Arrest Critique — ICE Pulls Detainees from Cumberland County Jail, HSI Subpoenas I-9 Records…] Sen. Rachel Talbot-Ross (D-Cumberland) sponsored LD 2058, titled “An Act to Require Municipal and County Jails to Be Available at All Times for the Detention of Persons Arrested on Criminal Charges by Maine Law Enforcement Officers.” Three Democratic lawmakers…

Cumberland County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men in Gray on Sunday after they allegedly discharged firearms from a moving vehicle while passing a cruiser. [RELATED: Portland PD Investigating Shooting That Damaged a Seventh-Day Adventist Church…] At approximately 1:08 a.m., a deputy in a marked sheriff’s cruiser was conducting routine stationary traffic enforcement on West Gray Road in Gray when he saw what appeared to be muzzle flashes and heard what he believed to be gunfire. He determined that the gunfire was allegedly coming from a passing vehicle and took action. The deputy then allegedly witnessed another volley of gunfire, and…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested three people, including a New Jersey man, and executed warrants in Baileyville and Calais following a week-long investigation into a motel-based drug operation. [RELATED: Vassalboro Man Busted with 2,000 Grams of Cocaine Following Maine DEA Investigation…] On Monday, the MDEA executed a search warrant at a Baileyville motel following a week-long surveillance operation into suspected drug trafficking activities. During the surveillance operation, agents allegedly witnessed activity in one room consistent with drug trafficking and applied for and received a search warrant. At approximately 8:30 a.m., agents reportedly witnessed Katherine Smith, 36, of Baileyville…

U.S. Marshals arrested a Georgia man wanted on charges of murder and possession of a machine gun on Monday after he was allegedly found hiding out in Auburn. [RELATED: Firearm Thief from Topsham Pleads Guilty After Marshals Apprehend Him for Failing to Surrender for His Sentence…] “Crossing state lines does not grant escape—it only strengthens our resolve. The United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners will remain in pursuit. We will locate you, apprehend you, and return you to face justice. No fugitive is beyond our reach,” said District of Maine Chief Deputy Marshal Kevin Neal. On February…

Penobscot County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Charleston woman on Monday after she was allegedly found trying to conceal illegal drugs during a bail check following a prior drug arrest. [RELATED: Drug Raids Involving K-9 Units Lead to Seizure of Fentanyl, Firearms, and Over a Kilogram of Methamphetamines…] At approximately 1:45 p.m., Penobscot deputies conducted a routine proactive bail check on Lou Ann Smock, 67, of Charleston, at a Puddle Dock Road residence in Charleston. During the check, a Sheriff’s Department supervisor reportedly saw Smock attempting to conceal something or destroy evidence. The supervisor was able to successfully stop Smock from…

Police arrested a Bangor man on Sunday after he allegedly assaulted someone at a hotel connected to Bangor International Airport and threatened to use a firearm. [RELATED: Private Jet Flips during Takeoff at Bangor Airport with Eight Aboard as Winter Storm pounds Maine…] At approximately 3:44 a.m. on Sunday, the Bangor Police Department responded to reports from a hotel on Godfrey Blvd after employees reported that an argument in one of their hallways had escalated to threats of bodily harm and potential violence. Multiple officers responded to the hotel and discovered that the argument had moved into a hotel room.…

The Portland Police Department arrested a homeless man on Monday morning after he allegedly severely injured a security guard. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested After Chasing Woman With a Knife…] At approximately 3:50 a.m., police responded to reports of an assault at 1 City Center. Police arrived, and the victim was transported to Maine Medical Center for treatment. The alleged attack was captured on security cameras, and the police were able to use the footage to obtain an image and description of the suspect. Police began a search for the alleged attacker and eventually located him on Marginal Way at 5:21…

The Hancock Sheriff’s Department arrested a Deer Isle man on Sunday after he allegedly caused thousands of dollars in damage to the exterior of Stonington’s Burnt Cove Market. [RELATED: Homeless Bangor Man Arrested After Taking a Hammer to a Granite Pillar…] In the early morning, the Sheriff’s Department received reports of alleged vandalism, claiming that the suspect had damaged the storefront along with vehicles parked at the business. He then reportedly brandished a firearm before fleeing the scene. Hancock deputies and detectives responded to the scene to investigate. Over the course of the day, they interviewed witnesses and collected evidence.…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a man on Friday after he allegedly chased a woman with a knife after she received a protective order against him. [RELATED: Woman Arrested Following Bangor Stabbing Incident…] At approximately 5:39 p.m., police responded to reports from multiple callers that a man was inside a Summer Street office building threatening to murder people while wielding a knife. One caller reported that she had a protective order against the suspect, identified as Jeremy Trudeau, 35, of Bangor. She reported that Trudeau was waiting for her outside the office building. Witnesses allegedly told police that Trudeau chased…

MaineCare auditors attempted to recoup nearly $450,000 from the Somali-run Affinity Homecare, co-located with Rep. Yusuf Yusuf’s (D-Portland) shady Care for Everyone and a foreign money transfer station. According to records obtained by the Maine Wire via a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request, auditors with the Office of MaineCare Services could find no documentation showing that the services for which Affinity billed the taxpayer-funded welfare program actually took place. Affinity, according to Medicaid payment records obtained by The Maine Wire, received $1,157,503 in taxpayer-funded MaineCare payouts from 2020 to 2024. One of the multiple addresses listed for Affinity across…

The Nokomis Valley Middle School suspended an 8th grader for “bullying” after he mentioned a Title IX investigation against the school for allowing a trans-identifying male on the girls’ cheerleading team during a private conversation. [RELATED: DOE Launches Title IX Investigation Into Two Maine School Districts for Allowing Males in Girls’ Sports…] According to an incident report from the school, provided to The Maine Wire by the student’s guardian, the student simply made an innocuous reference to an ongoing federal investigation against the school district, and that was marked as bullying. The incident took place on February 13, as students…

The Sanford Police Department executed a search warrant at a questionable Chinese-run spa on Thursday as part of an investigation into an alleged sex trafficking operation. [RELATED: Numerous Chinese Massage Parlors in Maine, Some Run By Illegal Aliens, Busted for Sex Trafficking…] At approximately 4:00 p.m., Sanford officers executed a search warrant at 1328 Main Street, Unit 5, in Sanford as part of an investigation into an alleged sex trafficking operation. The Sanford Police Department’s Detective Division applied for the warrant, which was approved by the Biddeford Court. Officers reportedly encountered no problems while completing a search of the address.…

A prisoner incarcerated in the Cumberland County Jail on arson charges allegedly called the Portland Press Herald on Wednesday to make a bomb threat against the jail. [RELATED: Burglar Makes Bomb Threat Against Bangor Non-Profit After Officers Discover Him Inside Their Building…] At approximately 2:15 p.m., the Cumberland County Jail received notice from the Portland Police Department of a bomb threat made against the facility. According to police, they were notified of the threat by the Portland Press Herald, which allegedly received a call informing them of the threat. Cumberland County Jail Lieutenants instituted security protocols and other precautions. Within…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested a Vassalboro man on Wednesday and seized 2,000 grams of cocaine following an eight-month investigation into drug trafficking operations. [RELATED: MDEA Arrests Three in New Gloucester Morning Raid…] For the past eight months, the MDEA has been investigating alleged drug trafficking operations out of the Weber Pond Road residence of Edwin Lawrance, 24, of Vassalboro. On Wednesday, agents learned that Lawrence was allegedly on his way back to Maine with a substantial cargo of illegal drugs. In response to that information, the MDEA applied for and received a search warrant for Lawrence’s vehicle…

A former U.S. Air Force major with experience training pilots to fly the F-35 Lightning II was arrested on Wednesday after he reportedly spent years in China instructing the Communist nation’s military. [RELATED: Chinese-Born U.S. Navy Sailor Convicted of Acting as a Spy for the Chinese Communist Party…] “Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of experience flying U.S. military aircraft, allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect,” said FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. “The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current…

The U.S. House passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at ending burdensome efficiency standards that restrict the home appliances Americans can buy. [RELATED: From Paper Straws to Appliance Regs, Trump Rolls Back Nanny State and Irks Enviros…] The “Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act” from Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.) would require the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to significantly alter its criteria when considering potential energy conservation requirements. The bill allows the DOE to remove or revoke any energy conservation standards that result in additional consumer costs, do not significantly conserve energy or water, are not technologically feasible, and prevent…

The Maine State Police arrested an Alabama woman on Tuesday after an I-95 pursuit through Androscoggin County. [RELATED: Maine State Police arrest suspect in Skowhegan homicide after pursuit across three states…] The Augusta Regional Communications Center received numerous calls at around 5:38 p.m. reporting an erratic driver. According to reports, the operator of a red SUV was traveling at high speed while weaving in and out of traffic on I-95 around Auburn. Troopers tried and failed to locate the vehicle initially, but a short time later, they spotted the SUV traveling southbound around mile marker 83 in Lewiston. They initiated…

The Westbrook Police Department arrested a convicted drug trafficker on Tuesday after he allegedly fled from police and caused a serious crash that left a dog dead. [RELATED: Chaos Erupts in Lowell, Maine Involving Firearms, a Drunk Driving Crash, and Maine’s Yellow Flag Laws…] At approximately 2:21 p.m., the Westbrook Police Department responded to reports of an erratic vehicle on Spring Street near the intersection with County Road. The caller informed dispatch that a white pickup truck had driven off the road and believed that the driver had overdosed or had a seizure. While on the phone with dispatch, the…

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire identified the man accused of shooting at a Border Patrol agent on Sunday and charged him with attempted murder. [RELATED: NH Border Patrol Agent Returns Fire After Being Shot at at the NH-Canada Border…] Cullan Zeke Daly, 26, of Manchester, NH, who also goes by the name Blu Zeke Daly, is facing charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon. He is currently under guard while receiving medical treatment at an unspecified New Hampshire hospital. After initially providing few details on the incident, other…

Maine’s teacher hiring standards could become much stricter if a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting children, currently under consideration in the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, passes into law. [RELATED: Kennebunk Teacher Who Hoped Charlie Kirk Would “Rest in Hell” Resigns…] “My goal with this legislation is to ensure the protections that should already be in place are clear, enforceable, and truly make sure children and young people are safe in our schools. It also adds protections,” said bill sponsor Sen. Margaret Rotundo (D-Androscoggin). “The status quo is not acceptable. We are failing our children and educators,” she added.…

Correction: Bobby Charles was polling at 28 percent, not 38 percent as was previously stated in this article. The latest Pine Tree State Poll from the University of New Hampshire brought disturbing news for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Tuesday when it showed Graham Platner with a significant lead in a senate general election. The poll also revealed clear frontrunners in the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries and gave former Gov. Paul LePage a slight lead in the Second Congressional District’s general election. [RELATED: Susan Collins Announces Re-Election Bid with Shoe Unboxing Video and Bangor Daily News Op-Ed…] Pollsters asked…

The Portland Police Department arrested a South Portland man on Friday after he allegedly failed to appear in court on child pornography charges. [RELATED: Topsham Teacher Under Investigation But the School is Providing Scant Details…] Police arrested Nathan Lee Valentine, 32, on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear. He was meant to appear for an arraignment on charges of possession of sexually explicit material involving a minor under the age of 12. Police arrested him in South Portland’s Red Bank area at approximately 11:30 a.m. without incident. He was transported to the Cumberland County Jail.

Chaos erupted at a Lowell, Maine, home on Saturday after Penobscot Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to reports of a potentially armed, intoxicated man destroying a residence during a family fight. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Arrest Men in Hermon and Garland on Domestic Violence Charges…] At approximately 7:45 p.m., Penobscot deputies received notice of a family fight in Lowell, with callers reporting that William Smith, 48, of Lowell, was drunk and destroying their house. Deputies responded, but Smith had reportedly departed the residence. When deputies arrived, witnesses reported that Smith had threatened to retrieve a firearm. A witness later reportedly found two…

The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating three serious fires that took place in under 24 hours, including one in Augusta that left a man dead. [RELATED: Lewiston Firefighter’s Praise Shooting Survivor Ben Dyer After City Council Snub: Op-Ed…] Lisbon At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, the Lisbon Fire Department received a call from a neighbor reporting that the house at 104 Ferry Road in Lisbon was filled with smoke. The caller reported seeing flames at the front of the residence. The fire department arrived and extinguished the blaze quickly, but the home is believed to be a total loss.…

A Border Patrol agent working at the U.S.-Canada border in New Hampshire allegedly shot an armed suspect on Sunday after the suspect allegedly opened fire. [RELATED: Justice Department Seeking Death Penalty for Vermont Border Patrol Killer Who Used “Xe/Xem” Pronouns…] U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott issued a statement to the NH Journal and other outlets, saying that the incident took place at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sunday near the Pittsburg, NH, Port of Entry at the Canadian border. According to Scott, an armed suspect opened fire on the Border Patrol agent, who then returned fire, hitting the…

A female inmate at the Maine State Women’s Prison detailed alleged sexual abuse and threats she suffered when forced to share a bunk with a trans-identifying male, as well as retaliation from prison officials, in a letter sent to The Maine Wire. [RELATED: Trans-Identifying Murderer Given Taxpayer-Funded Sex Change Drugs Alleges Mistreatment and Wants Sentence Reduction and Transfer to Women’s Prison…] “My roommate Andrea Balcer [Andrew Balcer] is still at the woman’s center living her [sic] best life. He assaults women like me and they look the other way as I have now found I am the at least 6th…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department executed a drug raid on Wednesday at a North Anson residence as the culmination of a months-long investigation into drug trafficking operations. [RELATED: Somerset Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests in Madison…] At approximately 1:15 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department’s Criminal Division executed a warrant at an Embden Pond Road residence. Detectives from the Waterville Police Department joined Sheriff’s Department personnel in executing the warrant. Law enforcement arrived to find the residents gone. During a search of the property, law enforcement allegedly found 30 grams of suspected cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia and documentation related to drug…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department arrested two Madison residents wanted on outstanding warrants on Friday after they were allegedly found during the execution of a drug-related search warrant. [RELATED: Somerset Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests in Madison…] At approximately 6:25 a.m., the Somerset deputies executed a search warrant at a residence on Ingalls Street in Madison. The department’s Criminal Division obtained the warrant as part of a “lengthy” investigation into alleged drug trafficking operations from the residence. A search of the property reportedly revealed over 48 grams of suspected fentanyl, along with documentation related to drug trafficking, digital scales,…

A Casco man was arrested on Valentine’s Day after he allegedly fled from police, traveling at over 100 mph while transporting over 900 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of fentanyl. [RELATED: Bangor Man Flees Police at High Speeds Before Mile-Long Foot Chase Through the Woods…] The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department first announced the arrest on Monday, though it took place over a week ago. At approximately 1:00 a.m., Kennebec Deputy Elijah Curtis witnessed a “disturbance” on Water Street in Hallowell and attempted to stop a 2006 BMW. Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly sped away, turned onto Central Street,…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department arrested three alleged drug traffickers on Thursday while they were reportedly smuggling drugs with a street value of $37,900. [RELATED: 36-Year-Old Homeless Man with Pink Hair Arrested in Canaan While Trafficking Drugs With a Minor…] At approximately 2:20 a.m., the Knox County Sheriff’s Department provided information to Lincoln deputies about a trafficking operation. The Knox Department specified that a vehicle was transporting a significant amount of fentanyl and cocaine to be distributed in the Midcoast area. In response to the tip, Lincoln deputies stopped a pickup truck traveling northbound on Route 1 in Newcastle. A…

A private plane crashed onto the frozen Thompson Lake in Otisfield on Friday, prompting an investigation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). [RELATED: Doomed Maine Plane’s Wings May Have Been Weighted Down By Ice In Fatal Crash, History And Analysts Suggest…] At approximately 4:38 p.m., the Oxford County Radio Communication Center received an emergency call reporting an aircraft emergency in the area of Thompson Lake. The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department and other emergency services responded to the area. Upon arrival, responders traveled out onto the frozen lake and made contact with the pilot of a private plane that was lying…

A Maine man reportedly smashed his pickup truck through a Dunkin’ Donuts and Burger King on Thursday before fleeing the scene while allegedly high and was ultimately arrested following a second crash. [RELATED: Hermon Woman Indicted on Manslaughter Charges After Allegedly Causing Fatal Crash While Drunk-Driving…] The Massachusetts State Police told WCVB that, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, a Ford F-350 pickup with Maine plates, operated by Andrew Beaulieu, 30, of Carthage, Maine, slammed into a rest stop off Route 24 South in Bridgewater, Mass. Beaulieu allegedly slammed through the doors of a Dunkin’ Donuts and a Burger King…

The Brewer Police Department arrested the same man three times in less than a week, beginning on Saturday when he allegedly tried to fight customers leaving a Wilson Street business. [RELATED: Brewer Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges.Brewer Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges…] On Saturday, Brewer police responded to a Wilson Street business to conduct a welfare check. When they arrived, they found that David Limacher, 58, had allegedly been attempting to fight customers coming out of a different business. He reportedly refused to leave the property despite multiple warnings, and police took him into custody. He was charged…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to increase the production of controversial glyphosate-based herbicides and to grant manufacturers immunity, citing national security concerns. [RELATED: Dyed-in-the-Diet No Longer: MAHA Scores Win in Striking Dangerous Additives from Food Supply…] “There is no direct one-for-one chemical alternative to glyphosate-based herbicides. Lack of access to glyphosate-based herbicides would critically jeopardize agricultural productivity, adding pressure to the domestic food system, and may result in a transition of cropland to other uses due to low productivity,” said President Trump in his order. “Ensuring an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides is…

Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York) revealed during a work session last week that an AI data center could be coming to his district amid discussion on a bill from Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) that would impose a temporary moratorium on data center construction in Maine. [RELATED: AI Bill Claiming to Protect Minors Could Institute Online Age Verification Requirements to Maine…] “It’s once again Augusta stepping on its foot, putting a one size fits all approach, and destroying business in Maine,” said Sen. Harrington, criticizing the proposed moratorium. Opponents of new data centers typically cite legitimate concerns that they draw significant electricity…

A Blue Hill man was sentenced to one year in prison and three years of supervised release in the U.S. District Court in Bangor on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to making a false statement while purchasing a firearm. [RELATED: Lewiston Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession as City Faces Mounting Firearms Incidents…] According to court records, Caleb Rhine, 22, of Blue Hill, successfully purchased a firearm in May 2024 from a licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth. During the purchase, he was required to fill out Form 4473 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,…

A convicted felon who stole 20 firearms from a Brunswick home in 2024 pleaded guilty to an additional charge on Tuesday after he failed to surrender for his prison sentence and was apprehended by U.S. Marshals. [RELATED: Topsham Felon Found with 20 Stolen Firearms Sentenced to Six Years in Prison…] Christopher Tucker, 34, of Topsham, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of failure to surrender for service of sentence in the U.S. District Court in Portland. In September, Tucker was sentenced to spend 75 months in prison after he stole 20 firearms from a Brunswick home and pleaded guilty…

Maine’s Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would remove the statute of limitations for sex trafficking of minors and the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. [RELATED: AI Bill Claiming to Protect Minors Could Institute Online Age Verification Requirements to Maine…] The bill, LD 2207, would eliminate the 20-year statute of limitations for commercial sexual exploitation or aggravated sex trafficking of a minor who was under 18 at the time the crime was committed. The bill will not apply retroactively and will only impact criminal acts committed after it goes into effect. Current law already provides no statute of limitations…

Mainers could be forced to verify their ages before accessing artificial intelligence tools if a Democrat-led bill aimed at protecting minors from the harms of chatbot use goes into effect. [RELATED: All Residential Electricity May Soon Be Exempt from Sales Tax in Maine…] “We know that more than 70% of teens report using AI chatbots for companionship, and roughly half use them regularly. Many are not simply asking factual questions — they are seeking emotional support, advice about relationships and developing their own identities, and increasingly, mental health guidance. Some are using these systems as a substitute for therapy,” said…

The Portland Police Department is investigating a shooting incident that occurred last Thursday night and left the glass door of a church shattered. [RELATED: Bath Iron Works Employee Identified as Suspect in Deadly Rhode Island Ice Rink Shooting…] At approximately 10:54 p.m., police responded to reports of shots fired in the area of 91 Allen Avenue. That night, officers canvassed the area, searching for suspects but found nothing. The next day, officers responded to the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 91 Allen Avenue after it was reported that its glass door had been shattered by a projectile. Law enforcement believed that…

Penobscot County Sheriff’s deputies responded on Friday night and into Saturday morning to two unrelated domestic violence incidents in Garland and Hermon. [RELATED: Brewer Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges…] At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Friday, deputies responded to a Garland residence for reports of a family fight. Deputies mounted an investigation and reportedly developed probable cause to arrest Wade Bigelow, 54, of Garland. Law enforcement believed that Bigelow had strangled his partner and tried to drag her out of the home. Bigelow was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault and domestic violence criminal threatening. Image of Bigelow from the…

The Somerset Sheriff Department arrested a homeless man from Bangor after he was allegedly discovered trafficking methamphetamine along with a 17-year-old and a 29-year-old. [RELATED: Homeless Bangor Man Arrested After Taking a Hammer to a Granite Pillar…] At approximately 1:11 a.m. on Thursday, deputies responded to reports of suspicious activity on Canaan’s Shady Lane. Deputies Bowman and Jones responded to the scene and discovered a Nissan Altima parked off the road with three males inside. Law enforcement identified the three as a 17-year-old, Joel Sweetser, 36, homeless from the Bangor area, and Austin Wing, 29, who recently moved from South…

A Sagadahoc Grand Jury indicted a Hermon woman on charges of manslaughter, assault, and operating under the influence on Friday after she allegedly caused a fatal crash in October while drunk driving. [RELATED: Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department Investigating Fatal Crash that Left a Gorham Man Dead…] On October 4, Lacey Wiles, 26, of Hermon was driving at approximately 10:38 p.m. at the Merrymeeting Bridge on Route 196 in Topsham. Wiles reportedly caused a head-on crash with a vehicle driven by Joseph Lemont, 34, of Bowdoin. The crash ultimately caused the death of Wiles’ passenger, Marcus Steinman, 23, of Topsham, and seriously…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a 47-year-old man on Friday during the execution of a search warrant in the city’s Thorndike Apartments. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested in Rockland on Drug Trafficking Charges…] Officers executed a search warrant at the Thorndike Apartments as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking activities. Police did not specify whether the warrant covered more than one apartment in the building. During the execution, police allegedly discovered evidence of drug trafficking and seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and over $1,000 in suspected drug proceeds. Police arrested Seth Poland, 47, of Rockland, and charged him with unlawful…

The Rockland and Rockport Police Departments teamed up on Saturday to arrest an alleged homeless drug trafficker who was wanted on an outstanding warrant following an investigation that began in December. [RELATED: Rockland Man Arrested for Disseminating Nude Images of Local Women Taken When They Were Minors…] The Rockland and Rockport Police followed up on a lead in Rockport as part of a months-long investigation into a homeless woman Tianna Brancella, 30, for alleged drug trafficking. The investigation began on December 13, when Rockland Police pulled over Brancella’s vehicle during an enforcement operation near a location suspected of involvement in…

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took steps to combat Somali fraud on Friday with a new anonymous reporting portal for whistleblowers, offering monetary rewards for those who expose the theft of public funds. [RELATED: Rep. Yusuf Yusuf Tied in to Vast Network of Million-Dollar Somali-Run Medicaid Recipients and Money Transfers…] “President Trump has been clear that Americans have a right to know that their tax dollars are not being diverted to fund acts of global terror or to fund luxury cars for fraudsters,” said Bessent on X. “At Treasury, we follow the money. We did it with the mafia, we…

A Maine Democratic lawmaker is using the state’s “concept draft” policy and the extremely vague bill title “An Act Regarding the Laws of the State of Maine” to conceal a proposal to use taxpayer funds to install security systems at legislators’ homes. [RELATED: Rep. Laurel Libby Seeks to Eliminate the Use of Place-holding “Concept Drafts” in Augusta…] The bill would appropriate $450,000 from the state’s general fund to create the “Legislator Residential Security Fund,” which would be used to install security systems in legislators’ homes upon request. Sen. Teresa Pierce (D-Cumberland) put forward the bill, LD 695, as a concept…

The Brewer Police Department arrested a man on domestic violence charges on Wednesday after receiving reports of an assault. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested After Domestic Violence Assault…] Police responded to the reports, and an investigation identified Clint Britton, 43, of Brewer, as a suspect who had allegedly assaulted a family member. Officers responded to Britton’s home to take him into custody. Britton was inside when police arrived, and instead of entering the home to arrest him, the police made contact via phone. After a short phone conversation, police convinced Britton to exit the residence, and he surrendered without further incident.…

Maine Director of Elections and Voter Registration Heidi Peckham sent out a notice to municipal clerks warning them to follow procedures requiring voters to be citizens after an independent journalist exposed how easily non-citizens can vote in the state. [RELATED: ‘Honest Mistake’ or Cover-Up? Maine Officials Offer No Answers After Ballots Found in Amazon Box…] “A group in Maine is calling towns and pretending to ask about how to register their friend to vote, and their friend is from another country. They are asking about what documentation is needed to register and if citizenship status is checked. These calls are…

An ICE enforcement action targeting one man in Brunswick on Tuesday prompted the Bowdoin security office to warn students about the law enforcement action. [RELATED: ICE Surge in Maine Ends, But the Political Fight Is Just Getting Started…] “We have been made aware that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are conducting an operation near the train station, northwest of campus. We have no information that ICE intends to come to Bowdoin’s campus,” said Vice President of Safety and Security Bill Harwood in an email obtained by WCME. According to Bowdoin’s student paper, The Bowdoin Orient, Harwood sent out his…

A Connecticut killer was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday after he trafficked nearly a pound of cocaine and over 100 grams of fentanyl into Maine while violating his parole following a homicide conviction. [RELATED: Domestic Abuser Arrested on Drug Charges Escaped Custody While Undergoing Medical Treatment…] In October 2024, the Maine State Police stopped a vehicle on I-95 driven by Cyrus Griffin, 42, of Connecticut. During the stop, police learned that Griffin was on parole following a homicide conviction, with conditions preventing him from leaving Connecticut. Troopers searched Griffin and found more than $2,000 in cash on…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant in Madison on Tuesday, which led to the arrest of two people on drug charges. [RELATED: Somerset Bust Leads to Seizure of Over a Pound of Drugs and Arrest of Out-of-State Traffickers…] Deputies executed the warrant at approximately 9:30 a.m. at the residence of Allison Brown, 42, of Madison, on Naomi Avenue. They obtained the warrant after a month-long investigation into alleged drug sales from the residence. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division executed the warrant along with patrol deputies and allegedly discovered a small amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Law…

The Androscoggin Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that left a Gorham man dead in Poland on Tuesday. [RELATED: MSP Investigating Fatal Vassalboro Crash Involving Commercial Vehicle…] At approximately 3:40 p.m., deputies, along with Poland Fire-Rescue, responded to Plains Road in the 300 block to reports of a head-on collision involving two vehicles. Deputies arrived to discover one driver, Dylan Sanphy, 26, of Gorham, dead on the scene. A preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that Edward Morris, 52, of Mechanic Falls, was traveling westbound on Plains Road in a silver 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 while towing a snowmobile trailer. At…

The Bangor City Council voted during a workshop on Friday to advance a proposed ordinance aimed at restricting city cooperation with immigration enforcement, despite serious concerns from the city solicitor. [RELATED: Killer Of Canadian Tourist In Old Orchard Beach Among Three New City Councilors In Bangor…] “I think that this is between the state and the government, and that Bangor doesn’t need to interject itself where we may face consequences that are unexpected. And if it ain’t broke, why fix it, when we have bigger issues,” said Councilor Carolyn Fish during the meeting. “There’s no way that legal could give…

A homeless man in Bangor allegedly attacked a granite pillar outside a local business with a hammer on Wednesday, leading to his arrest. [RELATED: Domestic Abuser Arrested on Drug Charges Escaped Custody While Undergoing Medical Treatment…] At approximately 4:13 a.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to a Main Street business after a caller reported that a homeless man was attacking a granite pillar with a hammer. When police arrived, they allegedly found the suspect still locked in combat with the stone, actively beating it with his hammer. Officers noted that, as a result of the attack, a large amount of…

The Rockland Police Department is searching for a convicted domestic abuser who reportedly fled law enforcement on Thursday while receiving medical treatment following a felony drug arrest. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested After Domestic Violence Assault…] Police initially arrested the suspect, Daniel Barnes, 38, who is homeless, while investigating reports of drug-related activities at an unspecified hotel. During the investigation, police allegedly seized approximately 10 grams of cocaine and charged Barnes with felony drug possession and violation of conditions of release. At the time of his arrest, Barnes was out on bail following a prior, unrelated felony drug trafficking arrest and…

The Five Towns School District superintendent is outraged that a recording showing Camden Hills High School students publicly protesting while carrying signs with profanity and anti-ICE messages ended up on social media. [RELATED: ICE Student Walkout Across Maine Comes Amid Record Academic Failing And Skyrocketing Education Funding…] “Unbeknownst to school administrators, two parents were parked near the campus entrance, filmed the student protest, and shared it publicly, including disparaging commentary. It inevitably spread on social networks. Much of the ensuing social media fall-out is targeted at our students and school which understandably resulted in many parents across the political spectrum…

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) officially announced her re-election bid on Tuesday via an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News and a TikTok-style short showing her unboxing sneakers while making a joke about running. [RELATED: Collins Announces $190 Million for Maine Rural Health Care as Part of $50B Federal Program…] “This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running,” said Sen. Collins in her official announcement video. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/2021238938229219735 “I consistently approach issues with an eye toward pragmatic results rather than through the distorting lens of ideology. My record is based on achieving outcomes for Maine and the nation, and that speaks louder than…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a man on domestic violence charges on Sunday after he allegedly assaulted a woman and threatened to assault her friend if she called the police. [RELATED: Fairfield Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges After Causing a Standoff in Waterville…] At approximately 10:34 a.m., police responded to reports of a couple fighting at a residence. Officers made contact with the female victim, and she was eventually transported to a local hospital for treatment. She told police that her partner, Axel-Rodney Brooks, 38, of Bangor, had assaulted and threatened her all weekend. She also accused him of…

A Rockland man was arrested on child pornography charges on Friday after he allegedly disseminated nude images of local women taken before they turned 18. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested in Rockland on Drug Trafficking Charges…] Police took Patrick Corcoran, 25, of Rockland, into custody on an arrest warrant following a months-long investigation into the dissemination of nude images. The images allegedly included pictures of local women who were under the age of 18 when the pictures were taken. Corcoran faces charges of felony possession of sexually explicit material involving a minor and multiple counts of unauthorized dissemination of private images.…

The Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced a confirmed case of the highly contagious measles in Penobscot County on Friday, marking the first case of the virus in the state since 2019. [RELATED: Maine CDC Celebrates Record High Vaccination Rates Among School-Age Children…] The CDC confirmed the case on Thursday, identifying it as an adult from Penobscot County who recently traveled from a state with active cases. Health authorities believe that the infected person was contagious from January 28 through February 5. The Maine CDC has informed the facilities where the person was known to have been and is…

The Waterville Police Department arrested a Fairfield man on Monday on domestic violence charges after he allegedly caused a brief standoff. [RELATED: Cross Lake Township Man Arrested After Domestic Violence Incident Turns Into Police Standoff…] At around 2:40 a.m., Waterville police officers responded to reports of a domestic incident at 267 Main Street. When officers arrived, they were reportedly able to develop probable cause to charge a male occupant of the residence, Christopher Bryant, 49, of Fairfield, with domestic violence assault and domestic violence terrorizing. Bryant reportedly refused to submit to arrest and remained inside the building, sparking a standoff.…

The Oxford Police Department arrested four suspects wanted on outstanding warrants on Thursday at the Hampton Inn after hotel staff reported suspicious activity and unwanted guests. [RELATED: Portland PD Arrests Six Anti-Ice Protesters For Causing Disturbance at Residence Inn…] Employees at the Hampton Inn at 151 Main Street requested that police respond to the location to investigate activity in one of the hotel rooms. Police responded and knocked on the door of the suspects’ room. Officers heard a window being opened when they knocked on the door and observed a man, identified as Jason Purington, 44, allegedly fleeing into a…

The Brewer Police Department arrested a Corinna woman late last month on drug charges after she was found unresponsive at a stop sign. [RELATED: Ex-Maine Coast Guard Cutter Helps With Massive Drug Haul In Pacific Ocean…] While the arrest took place on January 31, police did not release information about it until Friday. Police responded to reports of a woman sitting unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a car parked at a stop sign. During the investigation, police determined that the woman was allegedly impaired and identified her as Kelcea McPhail, 28, of Corinna. McPhail was arrested and allegedly found…

The Maine State Police confirmed that the unrelated deaths they are investigating in Standish and Augusta were both shooting homicides and identified the victims. [RELATED: Maine State Police Investigating Deaths in Augusta and Standish…] At 11:15 p.m. on Monday, police began an investigation into a death at a residence on Flagg Street in Augusta. Previously, police released scant details, saying only that they responded to reports of an unspecified incident. On Friday, they confirmed that they were responding to a reported shooting at a residence. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta concluded an autopsy on the victim…

A New Gloucester man pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to wire fraud charges after he deposited counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks. [RELATED: Maine State Police Warns of Rise in Counterfeit Cash Across the State…] From May through June 2024, Keith Mitchell, 38, of New Gloucester, deposited eight counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks worth a total of $40,379 into his bank account. According to court documents, Mitchell’s checks included the serial numbers of real Treasury checks issued to other individuals. Mitchell then falsified the checks to make them appear payable to him. The counterfeit checks weren’t Mitchell’s only fraudulent scheme. In…

Over 60 percent of illegal immigrant-led households and 51 percent of legal immigrant households received some sort of welfare benefits in 2024, compared with just 37 percent of natural-born citizen households taking taxpayer benefits, according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies. [RELATED: Maine GOP Files FOAA for Fraud Report Data Amid No-Bid Contract Spending and Welfare Fraud Allegations…] The study, released on Wednesday, paints a concerning picture of welfare use by both illegal immigrants and natural-born U.S. citizens. “If we wish to avoid high use of welfare by the foreign-born in the future, then moving to…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a mailman on Monday after he allegedly drove a mail delivery vehicle while drunk. [RELATED: Two Bangor Residents Arrested After Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run…] At approximately 4:02 p.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to reports of a mail van operating erratically in the area of French Street. Police located the van and identified the operator as Anthony Federico, 43, of Bowerbank. While speaking with Bowerbank, the police noticed signs of impairment. Following additional investigation, police arrested Federico on a charge of operating under the influence. He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail. Image of Federico…

The Brewer police arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday and discovered a dead dog while executing a search warrant, leading to an additional animal cruelty charge. [RELATED: Androscoggin County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty In Wanton Cat Killing…] Sgt. Christopher Woodman of the Brewer Police Department led the execution of a search warrant related to drug trafficking operations at a Brewer residence. Police discovered and arrested David Zabala, 40, of Brewer, and Cassandra Cote, 34, of Bangor, at the residence. According to police, Zabala was out on bail following a prior domestic violence arrest and refused police instructions, resisting…

The Maine State Police is investigating unrelated deaths in Augusta and Standish that occurred just one day apart. [RELATED: MSP Investigating Child Death in Penobscot County…] On Monday, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the Augusta Police Department responded to an unspecified incident on Flagg Street. When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased adult male, and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit began an investigation. The body was transported to the Office of the Maine Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death and to identify the man. Police promised to release more information as it…

Local and federal law enforcement discovered an illicit biolab with links to China operating out of a Las Vegas home over the weekend, possibly containing biological agents with “unusually high transmissibility,” with potentially “extensive exposure” in the area. [RELATED: DCNF EXCLUSIVE: USAID Quietly Sent Thousands Of Viruses To Chinese Military-Linked Biolab…] The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) issued a statement and held a press conference on Monday, announcing a raid on a biolab located in a residence on Sugar Springs Drive in Northeast Las Vegas. The LVMPD and FBI spent multiple days investigating and safely extracting biohazardous material from…

The Lewiston Police Department arrested a homeless man on Tuesday after he allegedly robbed a bank on Sabbatus Street. [RELATED: Three New York Men Busted with False Identities After Fraud Scheme Targeting Banks in Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor…] At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Lewiston Police Department responded to reports of a bank robbery at the Maine Family Credit Union on 555 Sabattus St. Investigators arrived and found that a suspect had entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller. Police did not specify whether the suspect was armed or if he threatened the teller. The Lewiston Police Department collaborated…

The Maine State Police arrested a Howland sex offender on Wednesday after he allegedly violated the sex offender registration requirements and had contact with a minor. [RELATED: Howland Sex Offender Let Off With Time Served After Passport Fraud Conviction…] Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit mounted a six-month-long investigation into James Cameron, 62, of Howland, which ultimately led them to apply for and receive an arrest warrant. Troopers took Cameron into custody in Howland. He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail and faces four counts of violation of sex offender registration and two counts of prohibited contact with a…

The Maine State Police are investigating a fatal crash that took place in Vassalboro on Monday between a pickup truck and a commercial vehicle. [RELATED: State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Pittsfield…] At approximately 6:40 p.m., troopers responded to reports of a head-on crash on Route 3 near Ritch Road involving a Chevy Silverado pickup truck and a Ford F-650 commercial vehicle. Investigators believe that the driver of the pickup truck, Ryan Page, 48, of China, crossed the center line, prompting the commercial driver, Douglas Boivin, 64, of Jay, to swerve to the right in an attempt to avoid the…

The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office arrested a Buckfield man on Monday after he allegedly manufactured explosives and detonated them in a snowbank. [RELATED: Frozen Pipes, Heaters Spark Accidental Structure Fire in Norway, Fire Marshal Says…] At approximately 11:00 a.m., the Marshal’s Office arrested Zachary Williams, 50, of Buckfield while executing a search warrant at his residence on Allen School Road. During the warrant execution, investigators allegedly discovered and seized multiple items that could be used in the manufacturing of explosives. Investigators believe that Williams was behind a January 12 incident on Decoster Road in Sumner. During that incident, explosives were…

The Brunswick Police Department arrested a Brunswick man on Saturday after he was allegedly injured while attempting to burglarize a home armed with a knife and a baseball bat. [RELATED: Armed and Armored Burglar Arrested in Portland After Fleeing Police on Electric Scooter…] Police responded at approximately 6:41 p.m. after a caller on Linnell Circle reported a man without a shirt shouting. Officers arrived to discover the man, identified as Timothy Miller, 41, of Brunswick, with several injuries to his face and body. The investigation revealed that a homeowner had allegedly awakened to find that Miller had broken into his…

The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a fugitive wanted on four outstanding warrants after he was found hiding in Otisfield. [RELATED: Oklahoma Fugitive Wanted on Child Porn Charges Arrested in Waldoboro…] Deputies developed information leading them to suspect that the wanted Anthony Jensen, 45, was hiding out at a residence on E Andrews Hill Road in Otisfield. Jensen was subject to four active arrest warrants on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, failure to stop for an officer, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and operating a vehicle after license suspension or revocation. He was also wanted for a felony…

The Portland Police Department arrested a Falmouth man on Sunday after he allegedly broke into a home carrying a firearm, assaulted a resident, and fled from police on a scooter while trafficking fentanyl. [RELATED: Nine Protesters Arrested for Criminal Trespass Outside Susan Collins’ Portland Office…] At approximately 12:54 p.m., police responded to a reported disturbance at 64 Munjoy South Street. Police arrived to discover that the door had been kicked in and that the suspect allegedly threatened a resident with a firearm and struck him with the weapon before fleeing. At approximately 3:40 p.m., law enforcement spotted the suspect traveling…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested a Bangor man on Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a resident of a group home in Hermon where he worked. [RELATED: Westbrook Police Arrest Maintenance Worker for Stealing Medication…] At approximately 4:50 p.m., the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported assault at a residential group home in Hermon, allegedly carried out by an employee. When deputies arrived, they determined that the injuries were serious enough to require the resident to be transported to a hospital for treatment. The Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Division mounted an investigation into the alleged assault and eventually identified…

The Kennebec Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting incident caught on video last Friday outside a Farmingdale apartment building. [RELATED: Kennebec County Pursuit Ends in Police Shooting and Arrest of Man Wanted on Felony Charges…] At approximately 9:19 p.m., Kennebec deputies responded to an apartment building at 60 Hasson Street in Farmingdale after receiving reports of multiple gunshots. By the time deputies arrived, they were unable to locate any persons or vehicles of interest. The Maine State Police, Gardiner Police Department, and Hallowell Police Department responded to assist in the investigation but did not immediately find anything. As of Thursday,…

As businesses across the state are closing on Friday in protest against ICE as part of a “National Shutdown” that amounts a long weekend, others have decided to stay open while promising customers that they still oppose ICE. [RELATED: Mills Maintains Radical Anti-ICE Rhetoric After They End Crackdown on Maine…] “While many Maine businesses will be closed today for the strike, we have made the decision to remain open from 10am-6pm,” said the Briar Patch Bookstore in Bangor “The Briar Patch stands in solidarity with our fellow businesses that will be closed as well as the immigrant members of our…

The Westbrook Police Department was busy on Wednesday, arresting a maintenance worker who allegedly stole medication and a sex offender who reportedly failed to register. [RELATED: Westbrook Driver Busted After Striking School Bus in Standish and Causing a Road Closure…] During the day, a patrol officer responded to reports from a housing complex resident who claimed that a maintenance worker keyed into her apartment and stole her medication. The officer investigated the alleged theft and eventually applied for and received a search warrant for the residence of suspect John Bendle, 36, of South Portland. Westbrook officers executed the search warrant…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a woman on Thursday following a stabbing incident at a Bangor home the previous Saturday. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Attacking His Neighbor With a Machete…] Police responded shortly before noon on January 24 to reports of a knife assault at a Larkin Street residence. When officers arrived, they discovered a female victim with severe laceration injuries, but the suspect had allegedly fled by the time law enforcement arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital by the Bangor Fire Department and has since been released. The Bangor Police Department’s Criminal…

A Noble High School student was killed on Thursday after a crash between a pickup truck and an Amtrak Downeaster train in North Berwick. [RELATED: 19-Year-Old Dies in Falmouth Crash…] North Berwick Police Chief Stephen Peasley confirmed the crash in an interview with WMTW and provided them with a timeline of the events. At approximately 2:30-2:45 p.m. on Thursday, police received a call reporting a collision between a vehicle and a train on the town’s Elm Street, near the intersection with Buffum Road. Police arrived to discover a crash between a pickup truck and an Amtrak train. The driver was…

Border Patrol agents working out of the Calais border station apprehended four illegal immigrants on Saturday after reports of suspicious activity at an ATM. [RELATED: Chinese Illegal and Suspected Scammer Busted by Border Patrol in Fort Fairfield Carrying Over $40k Cash…] “The relationships we have built with local law enforcement and residents make these types of apprehensions possible. Border Patrol agents are members of these communities and have a vested interest in making them as safe as possible,” said  Houlton Sector Chief Derrick Stamper. Agents responded to the Machias Savings Bank in Calais after reports of suspicious activity at its…

Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) failed to lower the temperature of her anti-ICE rhetoric on Thursday, even as she responded to reports from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that ICE is ending its “enhanced operation” in the state. [RELATED: Collins says ICE has Ended “Enhanced” Operations in Maine after Pressing Noem to Pause Crackdown…] “The reported end of ICE’s ‘enhanced operation’ in Maine does not end the pain and suffering that they have inflicted on communities across our state — people who have been terrorized, mothers who have been separated from their children, businesses who have been threatened, all by their own…

The Maine State Police urged people on Thursday to be on the lookout for an antique pickup truck stolen from Ashland, Massachusetts. [RELATED: Waterville Man Rams Police Cruiser While Fleeing in Stolen Vehicle…] Police reposted a notice from the Ashland Police Department last Thursday, reporting the theft of a red 1941 Willys 441 pickup truck that appears to be in pristine condition. The vehicle was first reported stolen on Saturday, January 17. Ashland police provided the license plate number, 3HZX67, along with pictures of the vehicle but did not include additional information about the theft. They requested public assistance in…

The Lewiston-based, Somali-operated Global Home Care has continued to rake in millions in MaineCare benefits despite overbilling the taxpayer-funded program by nearly $100,000. [RELATED: Portland Office Becomes a Hub for Medicaid “Home Health” and Somali Money Transfers…] Global Home Care, also known as Global Home Health Care, drew a substantial $7,164,937 in Medicaid funds from 2019 to 2024, according to Department of Health and Human Services records obtained by The Maine Wire through a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request. That number is likely far from the total amount received by the company. According to records from the DHHS Division…

Somali-born state Rep. Yusuf Yusuf (D-Portland) runs a home care business with apparent ties to an interconnected network of Somali-operated companies drawing millions in Medicaid funding, and operating out of a Portland office equipped to funnel taxpayer money back to Africa. At the same time, Yusuf’s wife works at Legit Home Care in Portland, which faced a MaineCare audit and drew in $7,116,267 between 2019-2024, according to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) records obtained under the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). Rep. Yusuf, currently serving his first term in Maine’s legislature, revealed in his source of income filing…

A Democrat-led bill set for a public hearing on Thursday would give government agencies the power to bar concerned citizens or journalists from government property without due process and to prevent them from communicating with government officials. [RELATED: House Democrats Attempt to BAN Maine Wire Reporter from House Chambers – Maine Wire TV…] “LD 2150 undermines the First Amendment, violates due process, expands vague and discretionary government powers, and contradicts decades of federal case law. Most dangerously, it shifts the burden of proof from government to citizen, authorizing punishment without trial,” said Harris Van Pate from the Maine Police Institute…

The Portland Police Department arrested nine protesters outside of Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) office on Tuesday after they refused to leave a staged “pray-in” event meant to protest the senator’s support for ICE funding. [RELATED: Portland PD Arrests Six Anti-Ice Protesters For Causing Disturbance at Residence Inn…] A group of far-left “faith leaders” hosted the event outside Sen. Collins’ office on the eighth floor of One Canal Plaza in Portland. According to Maine Public, protesters came dressed in religious clothing, sang, read scripture, prayed, and chanted outside Collins’s office, urging her to reject a Homeland Security funding bill that would…

A Portland mental health clinic and its providers agreed to pay a $20,000 settlement after Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators found a variety of record-keeping failures regarding scheduled drugs. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Bust Drug Traffickers After They Initially Refused to Comply with Traffic Stop…] “Maintaining complete and accurate records is a baseline obligation of all DEA registrants, required to prevent controlled substances from being diverted from the legitimate drug supply,” said U.S. Attorney for Maine Andrew Benson. “Investigations such as this—where investigators discovered undisclosed instances of actual drug diversion—reinforce the need to timely record and report such instances to the DEA,”…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey launched an email address on Monday, encouraging Mainers to report federal immigration enforcement activity, including specific information such as the names and contact information of anyone involved. [RELATED: Mills Blames Trump, Demands ICE Pullout After Minnesota Killing Report—Calls Agents “Reckless” and Urges Congress to Cut Funding…] “Across our nation, we are seeing numerous reports of apparent civil rights violations and improper use of force by federal agents who have been sent into areas targeted for immigration enforcement by the federal government,” said Frey. “With the federal government now surging federal agents into Maine under the…

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Westbrook man on Friday after he allegedly crashed into an occupied school bus while driving drunk, and fled from deputies. [RELATED: Federal Report Reveals Tragic Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Standish School-Bus Crash…] At approximately 7:32 p.m., Cumberland deputies responded to reports of a 2001 maroon GMC Sierra driving erratically. The caller reported that the truck was leaving the road and almost striking multiple vehicles. During the police response, the truck allegedly sideswiped an occupied school bus after forcing it off the road and continued on. The driver then allegedly struck a telephone pole on…

The Portland Police Department arrested six anti-ICE protesters after they surrounded hotels on Friday night, banging drums and causing a disturbance, and refused to obey law enforcement orders to leave. [RELATED: Portland PD Issues Criminal Summons for Anti-ICE Protester Outside Hotel…] At approximately 9:00 p.m., police responded to the Residence Inn at 145 Fore Street and the AC Hotel at 168 Fore Street for reports of disturbances. Initially, police believed that the protesters were not causing any issues, but at approximately 10:20 p.m., a group of about 40 protesters allegedly began causing a disturbance by banging drums and blowing whistles.…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a Bangor man on Friday while executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into drug trafficking operations. [RELATED: Hope Man Arrested Following Break-in at Rockland Business…] Rockland officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the town’s south end following a month-long drug trafficking investigation. While executing the warrant, police seized approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine and arrested one suspect, Jason “JD” Viorla, 40, of Bangor. Police believe that Viorla also had ties to New York and North Carolina. He was charged with felony aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. The charge…