Author: Seamus Othot

The Houlton Police Department worked with Border Patrol agents on Thursday to arrest two alleged drug traffickers and execute a search warrant. [RELATED: Houlton Man Arrested for Domestic Violence and Distributing Child Porn…] Houlton Police Officer Joshua Foster was responding to a routine service call when he obtained information on drug-related activities in town. Foster then worked with other officers to conduct further investigation, and eventually applied for and received a search warrant for a Houlton residence on Court Street. At approximately 7:53 p.m., Houlton officers, joined by three Border Patrol agents, executed the search warrant. One suspect was on…

The Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department is searching for two suspects believed to be responsible for a car theft and a string of burglaries in Turner, Auburn, and Sabattus on Friday. [RELATED: Bangor Burglar Busted Breaking Into Home with Officers Watching…] At approximately 3:21 a.m., the Maine State Police were notified of a burglar alarm activation at Northeastern Firearms at 868 Auburn Road in Turner. Police notified the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department and dispatched deputies. Deputies arrived at the firearm dealer and allegedly found evidence of an attempted burglary but determined that the would-be thieves were unable to gain entry. Minutes after deputies…

York County Sheriff William L. King appointed an attorney previously convicted for his role in a drug-related money laundering scheme to a board responsible for overseeing the York County Jail, where corrections officers keep being arrested. [RELATED: Dropping Like Flies: Yet Another York Corrections Officer Indicted for Smuggling Contraband to Inmate…] The attorney, Gary Prolman, was previously suspended from practicing law due to an inappropriate sexual relationship with a client and allegedly has a history of cocaine use. Prolman will serve on the York County Jail Board of Visitors (BOV), the Sheriff’s Department announced via a Facebook post on Tuesday.…

President Donald Trump’s administration restored federal funding to the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) after it was removed because the department houses violent trans-identifying males with women. [RELATED: DOJ Pulls Federal Funding from Maine’s Department of Corrections for Housing a Dangerous, Biological Male in a Women’s Prison…] Trans-identifying males are still allegedly terrorizing incarcerated women, but The Maine Wire can confirm that the funding was quietly restored in June just months after Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly bragged about defending women and revoked non-essential funding in April. “We will pull your funding. We will protect women in prison. We will…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department is investigating after a person was stabbed during a possible home invasion in Mattawamkeag on Thursday. [RELATED: Woman Arrested following Bangor Stabbing Incident…] At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, a 911 caller reported a possible home invasion at an Indian Avenue residence involving a stabbing. Deputies responded and discovered that the stabbing victim had fled in a vehicle. They tracked the victim to another residence and confirmed that he had been stabbed. He was transported to the Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln. The Maine State Police joined deputies to secure the scene of the alleged stabbing,…

Augusta School Board Member James Orr addressed significant issues facing the school district during Wednesday’s meeting, including LGBT books for children, a class on Ramadan, and a high rate of absentee students. He also tried to address a formal admonishment he received based in part on his opposition to the department’s transgender policies before he was cut off. [RELATED: Conservative Augusta School Board Member Receives Letter of Reprimand After Speaking Against Pro-Trans Policies…] “I will end with this. Matthew 18:6, Jesus says, ‘Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a Guilford man on kidnapping charges on Thursday after he allegedly held a woman prisoner at gunpoint. [RELATED: Lewiston Man Arrested for Kidnapping after Trying to Force His Ex-Girlfriend to Steal from a Walmart…] A woman called the Bangor police, claiming that she had been assaulted and held at gunpoint while staying in a Bangor hotel room. She told police that she had been staying at an Odlin Road motel with Joseph Pepin, 48, of Guilford, over the week. On the night of March 11, she told officers, she attempted to leave, and Pepin allegedly…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department arrested six alleged drug traffickers, including two from Massachusetts, on Tuesday during a warrant execution on Ward Hill Road in Norridgewock. [RELATED: MDEA Bust in Searsport Leads to Five Arrests Including Two Suspects from Massachusetts…] At approximately 5:40 a.m., the department’s criminal division executed a search warrant at a residence on Ward Hill Road belonging to William Allen. The Criminal Division obtained the warrant after a month-long investigation into drug trafficking operations. Six Sheriff’s Department Detectives, three patrol deputies, and three Waterville Police Detectives, along with four Customs and Border Protection agents with their K-9 unit…

A Salvadoran illegal immigrant was sentenced on Wednesday after re-entering the country illegally following two prior deportations. [RELATED: Alleged Salvadoran Terrorist Wanted by Interpol for Murder Arrested in Maine…] Helmer Osmin Gutierrez, 43, of El Salvador, was arrested in October after he was pulled over for a traffic violation in Farmington. The Farmington police officer requested assistance in identifying the four men in the vehicle. The Border Patrol agent identified the other three occupants and Gutierrez. A field immigration inspection determined that Gutierrez was an El Salvadoran citizen with no documentation showing that he was legally present in the U.S.…

Two teenagers from Massachusetts were among those arrested during a Wednesday drug raid at a Carthage residence following a months-long investigation. [RELATED: South Portland Man Faces Potential 20-Year Sentence After Cocaine Trafficking Guilty Plea…] The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and Rumford Police Department, executed a search warrant at 810 Carthage Road in Carthage. The residence, owned by Michael Gordon Jr., 37, of Carthage, appears to be a mobile home. During the warrant execution, officers allegedly seized more than 150 grams of suspected illegal drugs, and over $1,000 in suspected drug proceeds.…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a man on Thursday on domestic violence charges after he allegedly attacked a child. [RELATED: Windham Man Arrested for Domestic Violence After Reports of Shots Fired…] The Bangor Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division launched an investigation into alleged child abuse on State Street. The allegations suggested that a child had been beaten with a wooden dowel, and the Department of Health and Human Services joined to assist in the investigation. Police uncovered enough evidence to arrest Henry Osei, 41, of Bangor, on a charge of domestic violence assault. Police stated that Osei was a household…

A South Portland man faces up to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty on Thursday to cocaine trafficking charges after selling to undercover Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) investigators three times. [RELATED: South Portland Habitual Offender Who Obtained a $20k PPP Loan for His ‘Courier’ Business While on Probation Arrested for Drug Trafficking…] Between February and March 2024, an MDEA posing as a drug trafficker purchased cocaine from Lynel Moultrie, 43, of South Portland on “at least” three occasions. Investigators recorded the transactions, and Moultrie was arrested. Law enforcement searched 857 Broadway #2 and 112 Colin Kelly Rd.…

The Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department arrested three suspects on Tuesday during a search-warrant execution following a months-long investigation. [RELATED: MDEA Bust in Searsport Leads to Five Arrests Including Two Suspects from Massachusetts…] At approximately 1:30 p.m., Androscoggin deputies, working with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, executed a search warrant at a Bean Street residence in Turner. Investigators obtained the search warrant following a months-long investigation into drug trafficking, initiated after community members reported suspicious activities. During the warrant execution, deputies allegedly discovered 25.2 grams of fentanyl, 11.79 grams of crack cocaine, 15.2 grams of cocaine, and 18.5 grams of methamphetamine along…

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows signed onto a letter with eight other left-wing secretaries of state demanding written confirmation from the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary nominee that no ICE agents will be present at polling places. [RELATED: New Poll Shows 63% of Mainers Back Ban on Shenna Bellows’ Noncitizen Voters Raiding Elections…] “That we even have to ask for written assurances that the federal government won’t deploy armed agents to the polls is a sad and frightening sign of the times we’re in,” said Secretary of State Bellows. “The Constitution and laws could not be more clear that…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) executed two drug-related search warrants in Searsport on Tuesday following a months-long investigation, and arrested five suspects. [RELATED: MDEA Bust Involving Border Patrol Leads to Arrest of New Jersey Man and Two Others…] On Tuesday, the MDEA applied for search warrants for two Searsport addresses: 22 Homestead Lane and 119 Loop Road. The warrant request followed a several-months-long investigation in collaboration with the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department and Searsport Police Department into methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking at the two residences. Prior to obtaining the warrants, investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of cocaine base and…

The Cumberland Sheriff’s Department arrested a Massachusetts man wanted for homicide in Baldwin on Saturday after they encountered him by chance during a wellness check. [RELATED: Fugitive On the Run Since 2023 Arrested with Help from K9 Unit…] At approximately 10:45 p.m., Cumberland deputies responded to a Bridgeton Road address after callers requested a wellness check for a male in a vehicle. When deputies arrived, they initially believed the man in the vehicle was unconscious. The patrol sergeant who responded quickly determined that the man was Jean Michael Warner Delgado, 20, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Delgado is allegedly a violent wanted…

Left-wing Senate hopeful Graham Platner brought his campaign to the York County Jail on Sunday and posed for a photo-op with the left-wing Sheriff William King, despite the growing number of corrections officers there indicted for smuggling. [RELATED: Dropping Like Flies: Yet Another York Corrections Officer Indicted for Smuggling Contraband to Inmate…] Sheriff King, who is currently running for re-election, announced Platner’s tour of the facility via his campaign Facebook page. “Graham Platner stopped by the jail yesterday for a tour. Major Lori Marks demonstrated the body scanner, and Sergeant Martin and Officer Leary briefed the candidate on the booking…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department arrested three Skowhegan residents on March 1 after they were allegedly found with illegal drugs in a stolen vehicle. [RELATED: Clifton Man Found Unconscious with 500 Grams of Drugs After Stopping in The Middle of a Lincoln Road…] At approximately 10:57 a.m., Deputy Conner Falardeau pulled over a silver 2025 Nissan Versa with Florida plates. He recognized the vehicle from a state database of stolen cars, as one that had allegedly been reported stolen the previous night in Piscataquis County. Falardeau found four people in the vehicle: the driver, Ryan Corson, 43, of Skowhegan, Hanna Gerrier,…

The Windham Police Department arrested a man on domestic violence charges on Monday after receiving reports of shots being fired at a local residence. [RELATED: Brownfield Man Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges after Shooting at Woman…] At approximately 9:30 p.m., police received reports of a disturbance involving someone allegedly shooting at a residence at 5 Cornfield View. Officers arrived to discover that a single gunshot had been fired during an alleged domestic dispute, and the suspect had allegedly fled into the woods. Law enforcement established a perimeter, and personnel from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Gorham Police Department, and…

The Wiscasset Police Department arrested a man on arson and attempted murder charges on Monday after he allegedly tried to set his girlfriend on fire in bed. [RELATED: Buxton Woman Arrested for Arson after Burning Car in Dispute with Boyfriend…] The Wiscasset Police Department responded to 154 Beechnut Hill Road for reports of an intentionally set fire inside the home. Investigators arrived and allegedly determined that the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, of Wiscasset, intentionally set a bed on fire with both himself and his girlfriend in it following a disagreement. The fire was extinguished before either of them was injured.…

The Lincoln Police Department arrested a Clifton man on Monday after he was allegedly found with drugs, a firearm, and thousands in cash while unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle and stopped in the road. [RELATED: Westbrook Police Arrest Auburn Man On Multiple Active Warrants After Taking A Nap In Drive-Thru…] At approximately 7:30 a.m., the Lincoln Police Department responded to reports of an erratic driver in the area of West Broadway and Penobscot Valley Avenue. The caller reported that a black Mazda CX-50 with Massachusetts plates was swerving, repeatedly altering speed, and nearly leaving the roadway. Officers arrived…

The Maine State Police arrested a Carrabassett Valley man on Monday; he allegedly shot and killed a 23-year-old Connecticut woman. [RELATED: Marshals Track Down Georgia Murder Suspect Hiding Out in Auburn…] On Sunday at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a call reporting that a woman had been shot in Carrabassett Valley. First responders arrived to discover Makayla Rose Desantis, 23, of Colchester, Connecticut, severely injured and suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported by ambulance to the MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington. She was then transferred to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she…

A new poll from Quantus Insights gave a small glimmer of hope to Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Monday in their electoral battles against Graham Platner after it gave him a smaller lead than the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Pine Tree State Poll. [RELATED: Pine Tree Poll Shows Bad News for Collins and Mills, Good Results for LePage, and Gives Bobby Charles Massive Primary Lead…] Quantus Insights questioned a pool of 800 likely voters from March 3-5 on the highly contested midterm senate race for the seat currently held by Sen. Collins, a race that could have…

A suspected drunk driver knocked down a telephone pole in Standish on Sunday, downed wires, and caused an hours-long road closure while Central Maine Power responded to make repairs. [RELATED: Cross-Border Assistance: Off-Duty Ogunquit Cop Helps Stop Drunk Driver Fleeing Police in NH…] At approximately 11:45 a.m., Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the Standish Fire Department responded to reports of a crash at 417 Bonny Eagle Road, Standish. A vehicle allegedly crashed into a telephone pole, leaving the driver entrapped. Driver Anthony Black, 26, of Standish was reportedly traveling northbound when he drove off the right side of…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office arrested a Buxton woman for arson on Friday after investigators determined that she allegedly intentionally set a vehicle on fire following an argument with her boyfriend. [RELATED: 15-Year-Old Charged With Class A Arson in Gorham Fire, Officials Say…] At approximately 6:14 p.m. on February 26, the Buxton Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a burning vehicle at a Joyce Street residence in Buxton. The Fire Department and Buxton Police Department responded to discover a red 2011 Subaru Impreza fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle was sitting in the home’s driveway, and responders found…

A York County Sheriff’s Deputy was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital after he rear-ended a pickup truck in Waterboro on Friday, severely damaging his cruiser. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: York’s County Mechanic Suspended for Just One Day After Pulling Someone Over in a Cruiser The Sheriff Lent Him…] At approximately 1:00 p.m., Deputy Stephen Gould was driving a marked Sheriff’s Department cruiser southbound on Main Street in Waterboro when he rear-ended a 2015 Ford pickup operated by Matthew Cole, 44, of North Waterboro. According to York Sheriff William King, Cole came to a stop while trying to turn east…

Maine’s Deadly Force Review Panel issued a recommendation on Friday following a review into the 2024 deadly shooting of a suspect by Brewer Police Chief Jason Moffitt. [RELATED: Kennebec County Pursuit Ends in Police Shooting and Arrest of Man Wanted on Felony Charges…] The panel examined the March 22, 2024 fatal shooting of Barry Chick Jr., 39, who was shot by Moffitt after callers reported that he brandished a firearm after being detained for shoplifting at a Walmart. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey already ruled in late 2024 that Chief Moffitt was reasonable in believing himself to be at imminent…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested a Plymouth felon on Sunday after he was allegedly found in possession of a firearm during a child welfare check. [RELATED: Old Orchard Beach Police Bust Arundel Man Found with Cocaine and Over $16K Cash in His Car…] At approximately 8:00 a.m., the Sheriff’s Department received a report of possible child abuse at a Plymouth residence. Deputies responded to the residence to investigate and developed a suspicion that one of the people involved in the incident, Lardarrias Williams, 30, originally of Florida, was in possession of a firearm. Further investigation revealed that Williams was a…

The Old Orchard Beach Police Department arrested an Arundel man on Thursday after he was allegedly found with cocaine and over $16,000 in cash during a traffic stop. [RELATED: Fugitive On the Run Since 2023 Arrested with Help from K9 Unit…] At approximately 12:49 a.m., officers conducting proactive traffic enforcement pulled over a vehicle operated by Joshua A. Poissant, 38, of Arundel. Police learned that Poissant was subject to two sets of bail conditions and requested assistance from a K-9 unit for a drug search. K-9 Lobo responded and allegedly confirmed the presence of drugs in the vehicle, leading law…

A Somali immigrant living in Auburn who founded a translation service business tied to a home health operation billing millions to MaineCare and facing federal investigation pleaded guilty to tax fraud on Wednesday after filing a false tax return. [RELATED: Affinity Homecare: DHHS Tries to Recoup Nearly $450k from HomeCare Business Co-Located with Business Operated by Rep. Yusuf Yusuf and Money Transfer Station…] Rakiya Mohamed, 30, of Auburn, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and one count of interfering with the administration of federal tax laws. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District…

Yet another York County Sheriff’s Department Corrections Officer has been indicted for allegedly smuggling contraband into the York County Jail, following three similar indictments in November. [RELATED: Plot Thickens: Three York County Corrections Officers Indicted on Charges of Accepting Bribes…] York Sheriff William L. King issued a press release on Wednesday, announcing that a York Judicial Center Grand Jury indicted former York County Corrections Officer Jason Gilpatrick, 49, of Lebanon, along with two other suspects. Gilpatrick was charged with trafficking in prison contraband after he allegedly provided a vape to Christiane Hollis, 48, of Lebanon, who was incarcerated on charges…

The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a Brownfield man on domestic violence charges on Thursday after he allegedly shot at his female victim. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Arrest Men in Hermon and Garland on Domestic Violence Charges…] At approximately 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies, along with the Maine State Police and Fryeburg Rescue, responded to a Wakefield Road residence in Brownfield. The caller reported a domestic violence incident involving firearms. She told the police that a man in possession of firearms fired multiple rounds inside and outside the residence and at the victim, though he did not hit her. The victim successfully…

Penobscot Sheriff’s Department deputies tracked down a fugitive on Thursday who had been on the run from drug and firearm charges since 2023. [RELATED: Fugitive With Four Active Arrest Warrants Arrested in Otisfield…] Following a lengthy investigation, deputies took K-9 Memphis to follow up on a lead suggesting that a wanted fugitive was hiding out in Dixmont. Deputies arrived at a Dixmont residence and located Jesse Weeman, 29, of Dixmont, and Ashley Wilber, 42, of Orrington, sitting outside in a vehicle. Weeman was wanted on outstanding warrants from 2023 and 2024 for drug and firearm charges. A search of the…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a burglar on Thursday after they allegedly witnessed him breaking into a home moments after they had stopped him from doing the same thing. [RELATED: Lebanon Man with Outstanding Warrants Arrested After Resisting Arrest and Being Tased…] At approximately 3:15 a.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to a Center Street apartment after the tenant reported that someone was attempting to break in. Strangely, the caller did not want the suspect arrested but simply wanted the police to make him leave. Police arrived and located a man matching the description given by the caller, identifying him…

The York County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Lebanon man on Wednesday after he was allegedly found to be subject to multiple outstanding arrest warrants during a traffic stop and resisted arrest. [RELATED: Two Madison Residents with Outstanding Warrants Arrested during Drug Raid…] At approximately 1:40 p.m., Deputy Levi Johnson allegedly witnessed a traffic violation on Route 202 in Lebanon. He pulled the vehicle over and recognized the passenger as Jamison Snyder, 54, of Lebanon. Johnson was aware that Snyder was subject to multiple outstanding arrest warrants on charges of operating after revoked habitual offender status, refusing to submit to arrest,…

The left-wing Augusta School Board issued a formal admonishment against Conservative board member James Orr for alleged policy violations after he criticized the school district’s liberal transgender policies. [RELATED: Liberals Claim Victory in Augusta School Board After Two Conservative-Leaning Candidates Ran and Split the Vote…] “We value your insights and your passion for sharing your opinions, but that passion must be channeled through the professional standards we all agreed to uphold. As Board members, we set the examples for the students and community for respectful discourse,” said School Board Chair Martha Witham in her letter to Orr. Orr spoke with…

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.…