Author: Seamus Othot

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…

The Portland Police Department issued a criminal summons for one of the protesters who gathered outside a Residence Inn on Thursday night, causing a disturbance and banging on a drum set because they believed ICE agents were staying at the hotel. [RELATED: Anti-ICE Protester Blows Air-Horn In Faces of Brewer Officers While They Investigated A Series of False Threats Against Schools…] At approximately 10:07 p.m., Portland Police responded to the Residence Inn at 145 Fore Street after reports that a crowd of roughly anti-ICE protesters had gathered outside the hotel. The crowd, apparently believing ICE agents were staying inside, caused…

Maine State Police arrested a Cross Lake Township man on Thursday following an alleged domestic violence incident that turned into an hours-long police standoff involving a tactical team and crisis negotiators. [RELATED: Clifton Standoff Leads to Rescue of Victim and Arrest of 71-Year-Old on Domestic Violence Charges…] State Police responded at approximately 7:46 a.m. to reports of a domestic disturbance at a Cross Lake Township residence. The caller informed the police that her boyfriend was allegedly threatening her and destroying things in their home. By the time the troopers arrived, the caller had already fled the residence. Troopers found the…

Democrats on Maine’s Legislative Council voted on Thursday against considering an emergency bill that would require Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to issue confidential license plates to law enforcement officers after she refused to issue them to ICE. [RELATED: Bellows Orders Maine Staff to Report ICE Sightings, Tightens Access Rules in State Offices…] In response to mounting ICE enforcement activity in Maine, Bellows decided to deny new requests from immigration officials for undercover plates, potentially putting ICE agents at risk from protesters and helping illegal immigrants evade arrest. Democrats in the legislature decided to throw their support behind Bellows’ policy…

An investigation into an unassuming office building on Portland’s Anderson Street has revealed an interlinked network of lucrative Medicaid agencies co-located with Dahabshiil, an Emirati money transfer business favored by the Central Bank of Somalia. MaineCare spending records obtained under the Freedom of Access Act show that the five MaineCare agencies located within the office building at 203 Anderson St. have increased their combined annual billing from $901,126.85 in 2019 to $4,057,917.75 in 2024. The building houses a branch of Dahabshiil, the largest money transfer business in Africa, founded in Somalia and now based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).…

The Maine Wire can exclusively confirm that ICE agents arrested an Angolan national who has been working as a York County Corrections Officer since 2024. [RELATED: ICE Arrests Old Orchard Beach Police Officer from Jamaica for Overstaying Visa…] York County Corrections Officer Mauro Inacio Bernardo is currently in ICE custody in Massachusetts and is being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, according to ICE records. The Maine Wire has confirmed that Bernardo is a York County Corrections Officer, using York County employment data obtained through a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request. Those records reveal a Mauro I. Bernardo,…

Two Chinese men living in New York pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud charges on Wednesday after they conspired to obtain three homes for use as illegal marijuana grow facilities. [RELATED: Man Enters Guilty Plea in Maine’s First Federal Case for Illegal Marijuana Grow House…] Tony Liang, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, headed up a conspiracy to obtain over $500,000 in mortgage loans from two Maine banks. He and his co-conspirators used the loans to purchase residences in Bucksport, Eddington, and Canaan, after they falsely represented to the banks that the properties would be used as residences. Throughout the loan application…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a Hope man on Tuesday morning after a local business reportedly lost over $3,000 in a break-in. [RELATED: Teenaged Thieves Arrested After Trying to Escape Rockland Police Detention…] At approximately 8:20 a.m., police responded to an unspecified business on Main Street for a report that it had been burglarized overnight. Police determined, based on evidence recovered at the scene, that the suspect had prior knowledge of the business. He was allegedly able to disable the business’s security system and access their safe with little difficulty. He reportedly made off with over $3,000 from the safe.…

RSU 34 went into lockdown on Wednesday morning after receiving a threat, prompting the University of Maine (UMaine) to issue an alert due to its proximity to the school district. [RELATED: Lockdown at Southern Maine Community College Lifted After Armed Man Taken Into Custody…] The school district, which serves Old Town, Alton, and Bradley, received a threat Wednesday morning, prompting the district to place all of its schools on lockdown while police responded to investigate the situation. The Bangor Daily News reported that the lockdown alert went out to parents at 8:19 a.m. They reported that roughly 20 law enforcement…

Cumberland County Chief Deputy Brian Pellerin is running as an independent against Democrat York County Sheriff William King, he announced on Monday. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: York’s County Mechanic Suspended for Just One Day After Pulling Someone Over in a Cruiser The Sheriff Lent Him… “I am running as a principled Independent, committed to professional, nonpartisan leadership in public safety. I believe the Office of Sheriff must remain above partisan politics. Public safety leadership requires accountability, transparency, and a clear focus on putting people over politics,” said Pellerin. Pellerin has worked in law enforcement for over thirty years and has experience at…

An Anti-ICE protester deliberately interfered with the Brewer Police Department and blew an air horn at officers while they investigated false threats made against schools across the state. [RELATED: ICE arrests 50 in Maine as Federal Immigration Enforcement Expands, Prompting Warnings and Preparations…] Multiple school districts across the state, along with various other institutions, including banks and businesses, began receiving a variety of threats, ranging from school shootings to bomb threats, according to sources who spoke to the Maine Wire. The Brewer Police Department was collaborating with another unspecified law enforcement agency to investigate a person of interest in the…

President Donald Trump took executive action on Tuesday to bar large “institutional investors” from purchasing single-family homes, aiming to make homeownership more achievable. [RELATED: Trump Vows to Help Americans Buy Homes by Banning Massive Investors from Purchasing Single Family Housing…] “To preserve the supply of single-family homes for American families and increase the paths to homeownership, it is the policy of my Administration that large institutional investors should not buy single-family homes that could otherwise be purchased by families,” said President Trump in the order. The order, “Stopping Wall Street from Competing with Main Street Homebuyers,” follows up on a…

A vehicle smashed through a Westbrook business on Monday, reportedly causing significant structural damage. [RELATED: Woman LifeFlighted After Explosion, Structure Fire at Friendship Home; Fire Marshal Investigating…] At approximately 1:45 p.m., the Westbrook Police and Westbrook Fire Department responded to the Westbrook Crossing Shopping Center at 11 Main Street following reports of a vehicle crashing through the AT&T store. No pedestrians on the sidewalk, store employees, or customers were injured in the crash. The driver, identified as a 47-year-old woman from Portland, had to be extracted from the car by emergency personnel and was transported by ambulance to a local…

State Police arrested 24-year-old Shawn Stephen Samuels of Orrington on Sunday after he allegedly murdered his 12-week-old daughter in a domestic violence incident. [RELATED: Mistrial Declared After Jury Fails to Reach a Verdict on Man Accused of Killing a Toddler…] On Friday morning, the Penobscot Regional Communications Center received a call reporting an unresponsive 12-week-old infant, Lyla Samuels. Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the residence. The infant was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, the Maine…

Bangor police arrested a Bangor man on attempted murder charges on Tuesday after he allegedly attacked his neighbor with a machete. [RELATED: NH Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Stabbing A Lebanon, Maine Man Seven Times…] At approximately 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, officers responded to Sunset Avenue for reports of a man being attacked by his neighbor with a machete. Officers arrived to determine that the victim had been able to disarm his attacker. The victim suffered multiple lacerations on his head and was transported to a local hospital. He is expected to recover. The victim identified his alleged attacker…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested two New York felons on firearm charges on Thursday during the execution of a search warrant in Lagrange. [RELATED: Hartland Man Shot After Brandishing Knife at Police During Execution of Search Warrant…] At approximately 8:00 p.m., Penobscot deputies, along with the Maine State Police Tactical Team, executed a search warrant at a Town Road residence in Lagrange. They obtained the warrant as part of an investigation into drug trafficking activities and the possession of firearms by convicted felons. During the search, law enforcement seized multiple firearms and suspected drugs. The suspected drugs will undergo laboratory…

The Brunswick Police Department arrested three New York men on Friday after they were allegedly found with false identities during an investigation into attempted fraud at banks in Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor. [RELATED: Attempted Bank Fraud in Houlton Leads to Cross-Border Chase Into Canada Involving Canadian Mounted Police…] At around 1:30 p.m., the Wiscasset Police Department responded to reports of attempted bank fraud at the First National Bank in Wiscasset. A male suspect reportedly attempted to impersonate a customer and presented bank tellers with a fraudulent military ID containing the customer’s personal information. The suspect then attempted to withdraw $6,700…

A Medicaid-funded home care agency based in Portland was ordered to pay back nearly $400,000 in over-billed MaineCare payments in late 2024 after it failed to provide a variety of required documents despite multiple deadline extensions. In the subsequent year, 5 Stars Home Health Care President Mostafa Alahmedi failed to provide documents that would substantiate hundreds of thousands of dollars in MaineCare benefits paid out for “home-based care.” All told, Alahmedi received more than $1 million in taxpayer-funded payments before the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shutoff the money spigot. Those MaineCare payments include $432,384.72 paid out…

The Maine State Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in Falmouth on Saturday that claimed the life of a 19-year-old from Connecticut. [RELATED: State Police Cruiser Struck by Mercedes During Turnpike Crash Response in Wells…] At approximately 1:57 p.m., State Police troopers responded to a crash on the Falmouth Spur, near the I-295 north on-ramp. The caller who reported the crash said that the vehicle had seemingly gone off-road and hit a guardrail. Falmouth Fire and Rescue joined troopers and arrived to find a white 2013 Subaru Impreza with the driver trapped inside. Rescue personnel extracted the…

The Maine State Police joined a national initiative to enforce safety standards for commercial vehicles last week and found that a staggering 80 out of the 390 trucks examined posed a risk to the public. [RELATED: Maine Immigrant Rights Coalitions Defends CDLs for Noncitizens Despite Fatalities Involving Foreign Drivers…] The State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit joined the national Distracted, Reckless, Impaired, and Visibility Enforcement (DRIVE) campaign held by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As part of the three-day initiative, the state police inspected 390 commercial trucks and found that 80 of those inspected, roughly 20 percent, posed…

The Maine State Police are investigating after a woman was found dead at a Skowhegan property on Wednesday. [RELATED: Corinth Woman Killed in Shooting, Son Charged With Murder…] The Skowhegan Police Department received a report at approximately 11:37 p.m. that a person was not breathing at a residence located at 361 West Front Street. Officers arrived to discover a deceased woman and called the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit to assist with the investigation. The deceased woman was transported to the Office of the Maine Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was conducted on Thursday. Detectives worked…

Maine’s Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on Wednesday for a bill from Rep. Bill Pluecker (I-Warren) that would apparently ensure that some illegal immigrants can continue receiving state-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits despite federal changes. [RELATED: Nearly 700,000 Ineligible People Have Been Removed from SNAP Rolls Since Trump Took Office: Rollins…] “For nearly thirty years, Maine has provided state-funded SNAP to lawfully presentimmigrants who may have been excluded from federal benefits. This programreflects our values and pragmatic recognition that hunger harms all Mainers,” said Pluecker while addressing the committee. “It is important that the…

The Maine branch of the Fraternal Order of Police expressed its staunch support for immigration officials and enforcement action in Maine, condemning Gov. Janet Mills’ (D-Maine) anti-ICE rhetoric and any attempts to obstruct law enforcement. [RELATED: ICE Expected in Lewiston, Portland; Mills Scrambles for Answers as Trump Escalates Pressure…] “The Maine Fraternal Order of Police stands in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carrying out lawful enforcement operations in Maine, and we stand with all duly sworn law enforcement officers across the country who put their lives on the line to uphold the rule of law and protect…

The Rockland Police Department arrested school bus driver Jeffrey Colburn, 65, of Camden, on Thursday on manslaughter charges following a months-long investigation into the fatal Rockland bus crash that killed 12-year-old RSU 13 student Brayden Callahan. [RELATED: Rockland School Bus Driver Placed on Leave After Fatal Collision, Records Show Prior OUI Conviction…] Rockland police took Colburn into custody after a grand jury indictment was handed down, and the Knox County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest. The Rockland Criminal Investigation Division has worked with the Knox District Attorney’s Office since the tragic crash in November. The investigation…

The Maine State Fire Marshal is investigating an alleged arson incident in Ellsworth on Wednesday after a vacant single-family residence sustained fire damage. [RELATED: State Fire Marshal Investigating Suspected Arson at Vacant Mexico Home…] At approximately 5:50 p.m., the Ellsworth Fire Department responded to 384 Water Street for reports of a structure fire at the vacant home. The flames were subdued in time to cause only minor fire damage. The local fire department called in the Fire Marshal’s Office to help identify the cause of the fire. The Marshal’s Office classified the fire as incendiary, meaning that they believe it…

Three 18-year-olds were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly shooting up a Wiscasset home on Tuesday while a father and a minor were inside. One of the three was also charged with shooting up an Alna home last week. [RELATED: 18-Year-Old Arrested After Week-Long Investigation Into Bullet Holes Left in Alna Home…] Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Wiscasset Police Department responded to an Old Sheepscot Road residence after receiving reports that someone had shot at the home. Investigators discovered that three shots were fired at the residence. One bullet struck and shattered the storm door glass, penetrated the interior…

The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) launched an investigation Wednesday targeting 18 educational institutions, including two Maine school districts, for potential Title IX antidiscrimination law violations for allowing males to participate in female sports. [RELATED: Defiance Over Duty: Maine Education Chief Puts Ideology Above Education in Title IX Standoff…] “In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports. Time and again, the Trump Administration has…

The taxpayer-funded University of Maine School of Law’s Dean of Students sent out a notice to students and staff Thursday, encouraging them to call an anti-ICE hotline and providing pointers on recording immigration enforcement activities. [RELATED: Just 5.5 Percent of Maine College Professors Are Registered GOP — UMaine Law Profs Include Zero Republicans…] “The ACLU of Maine, ILAP, and Clinics at Maine Law have collaborated to create the attached document, “Preparing for & Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activity in Maine.” This document includes embedded hyperlinks that cover how to prepare for an ICE encounter, what to do if you witness an…

A 71-year-old woman was tragically killed on Wednesday after her vehicle was struck while she was parked on the shoulder of Harpswell Island Road. [RELATED: Two Maine DOT Workers Killed After Driver Failed to Stop at a Stop Sign in a Waterville Work Zone…] At around 2:49 p.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a crash on Harpswell Island Road in Harpswell, near the intersection with Tower Hill Road. Deputies and the Harpswell Fire and EMS Department responded to the scene. They discovered Jean Appleby Johnson, 71, seriously injured and administered life-saving measures shortly after the crash,…

Penobscot Sheriff’s Deputies busted two alleged drug traffickers on Tuesday after they reportedly initially failed to comply with a traffic stop in Milford. [RELATED: Somerset Bust Leads to Seizure of Over a Pound of Drugs and Arrest of Out-of-State Traffickers…] At approximately 1:30 a.m., Penobscot deputies were conducting an unspecified investigation on French Settlement Road when they spotted a suspicious vehicle that reportedly approached their location and abruptly stopped. Deputies reportedly observed multiple traffic violations and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle reportedly failed to stop and continued traveling toward Greenbush. Additional deputies responded and attempted to stop…

A Falmouth man was sentenced to pay $590,912 in restitution to the IRS on Tuesday after he evaded taxes and used company funds to purchase an island home. [RELATED: Portland Property Manager Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Stealing Money from Low-Income Tenants, and Defrauding taxpayers…] Jeffrey Riddle, 59, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in December 2024 and was sentenced to three years of probation in addition to the restitution he was required to pay. On his tax returns from 2006 through 2014, he reported that he owed a substantial amount of taxes but failed to pay…

The New Hampshire State Police arrested a Merrimack woman on Wednesday after she allegedly fled from the police and barricaded herself in her car, following an earlier August arrest for fleeing law enforcement. [RELATED: Kennebec County Pursuit Ends in Police Shooting and Arrest of Man Wanted on Felony Charges…] The NH State Police responded at approximately 1:06 a.m. to assist local police after a suspicious 2016 Volkswagen GTI was discovered parked near Citizens Bank in Londonderry. Londonderry officers tried to speak with the vehicle’s operator, Heather Lewis, 34, of Merrimack, but she allegedly fled westbound on Route 102 toward Hudson,…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department closed in on a suspect early Wednesday morning following a week-long investigation into six bullet holes discovered in a newly constructed Alna home as the owners were moving in. [RELATED: Lincoln Sheriff’s Department Investigating After Six Bullet Holes Found in New Home…] On January 6, Lincoln deputies began their investigation when the homeowners of a newly constructed Head Tide Hill Road residence discovered six bullet holes in the building on the same day they closed on the purchase and began moving in. Some of the bullets went through windows and traveled into the house. Deputies…

A Chinese woman living in New York pleaded guilty on Monday to operating illegal marijuana grow sites at properties she owned in Madison and Norridgewock. [RELATED: Maine Sheriff Raids Three More Black Market Pot Houses, Seizes $39k, 900 Plants, and a Toyota — One “Brooklyn” Woman Arrested…] Jiamin Liao, 30, of New York City, purchased a property at 571 Thurston Hill Rd., Madison, in order to convert it into an illegal marijuana cultivation facility. In March 2024, the Somerset Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the Madison property, along with another residence at 114 Upper Main St., Norridgewock, which…

Two Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers were tragically killed in Waterville on Tuesday after a driver allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign posted during construction, resulting in the workers being launched from a bridge. [RELATED: State Police Cruiser Struck by Mercedes During Turnpike Crash Response in Wells…] The Maine State Police responded at approximately 9:37 a.m. to reports of two pedestrians being killed in a crash on I-95 southbound near mile marker 127. The MDOT had closed down the travel lane near the end of the on-ramp from Kennedy Memorial Drive as part of bridge construction and…

The Bangor Police Department arrested an Orland man on Saturday after he was allegedly found stealing from a Bangor supermarket and masturbating before serving drinks as a vendor. [RELATED: Nude Weiner Arrested on NH Highway After He Fled Stolen Vehicle Crash…] According to a police press release, Bangor officers responded to an unspecified local supermarket at approximately 1:32 p.m. after receiving reports of a vendor concealing merchandise. The supermarket’s loss prevention team also reported that while reviewing security footage to identify the alleged theft, they witnessed the vendor, Thomas Taylor, 74, of Orland, masturbating in the store in view of…

U.S. Marshals arrested a fugitive from Oklahoma on Friday after he was found allegedly hiding out in Waldoboro to evade arrest on child pornography charges. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Lug Illegal Alien Listed on Mass Sex Offender Registry Hiding in Maine…] “The United States Marshals Service will track you, we will find you, and we will return you to face the consequences of your actions. There is no safe haven,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Josh Taylor for the District of Maine in a press release. Marshal Service investigators determined that Jaime A. Oktay, 56, of Oklahoma, had allegedly fled to…