Author: Seamus Othot

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (ACF) issued an urgent warning on Thursday about the invasive Japanese Stiltgrass spreading across the state, which has the potential to destroy forests, degrade soil, and increase wildfire risks. [RELATED: New Invasive Tick Species from China Capable of Creating Infestations Discovered in Cumberland County…] “Japanese Stiltgrass is one of the most aggressive invasive plants we’ve seen in Maine,” said DACF State Horticulturalist Gary Fish. “It crowds out native species, alters the natural balance of our forests, and leaves behind dry fuel that makes our woodlands more vulnerable to fire. We need the public’s…

The State of Maine is suing preacher John Andrade Jr., 42, of Brunswick, accusing him of violating the Maine Civil Rights Act and “interfering” with health services by preaching and playing worship music outside Planned Parenthood’s clinic at 443 Congress Street in Portland. [RELATED: Judge Rejects Maine Abortion Clinics’s Request to Temporarily Restore Medicaid Funding Amidst Legal Challenge…] “In my understanding, it seems that “noise” is not Planned Parenthood’s issue with me. Instead, they are opposed to the message of love and salvation through Jesus, along with our message that killing children in the womb is a great evil, and…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took a semi-pro Maine soccer player from Angola into custody last Wednesday as he was stopping at a Scarborough gas station. [RELATED: Gray Woman Struck and Killed by Illegal Alien Driver One Day After Another Illegal Killed a Pedestrian in Lewiston…] Malunda Destino played for the Lewiston-based Maine Legends FC soccer team, which competes in the semi-professional United Premier Soccer League. Destino’s team appears to have particular ties to his home country and has a page on their website dedicated to “Angola Ambassadors.” Based on the page, the role of those ambassadors appears to…

Rep. Jared Golden’s (D-Maine) putative primary challenger, State Auditor Matt Dunlap, poses the incumbent congressman a serious threat, according to a new polling memo obtained by Breitbart, coming within two points of the incumbent with 25 percent still undecided. Dunlap has said he might run, but not yet formally announced that he will. “The poll numbers continue to paint an unmistakable picture: Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden is wildly unpopular among Democrats and Republicans,” a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee said of the report. “Voters are fed up and Golden should spend the long weekend updating his resume,” the…

A Merrimack, New Hampshire man who claims to be Ukrainian and holds Israeli citizenship was sentenced to probation and community service last Friday after he conspired to sell military-use electronics and ammunition to Russia using his home-based Etsy shop. [RELATED: Chinese-Born U.S. Navy Sailor Convicted of Acting as a Spy for the Chinese Communist Party…] In 2022, Alexey Brayman, 38, of Merrimack, NH, was arrested at his home after law enforcement determined that he was part of a broad conspiracy involving two Russian companies known to collaborate with Russian intelligence agencies, Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, to send ammunition and…

A Lewiston juvenile imprisoned in Long Creek, Maine, faced additional charges on Tuesday after he allegedly conspired over the phone to pressure people into confessing to a crime and to commit murder. [RELATED: Gray Woman Struck and Killed by Illegal Alien Driver One Day After Another Illegal Killed a Pedestrian in Lewiston…] The Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office informed the Lewiston Police Department on Tuesday of suspicious phone conversations between a Lewiston juvenile offender and two other Lewiston residents. The juvenile allegedly communicated with his girlfriend during monitored phone calls, urging her to pass messages to other associates. He and…

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department found a Plymouth woman dead in the Newport woods on Monday after she had gone missing under mysterious circumstances earlier this month. [RELATED: Marine Patrol Search of the Kennebec River for Missing Man Results in the Discovery of a Body…] The Sheriff’s Department received reports on Friday that Pauline Berardi, 70, of Plymouth, had gone missing from her home on August 15. The department issued a press release one day after receiving the report, requesting the public to inform authorities of any sightings of Berardi. The investigation was conducted by the department’s Criminal Investigation Division…

In a tragic and ironic accident, an eight-year-old girl was struck and killed in Van Buren by an ambulance on Wednesday as she was trying to cross the road. She ultimately succumbed to her injuries. [RELATED: Lisbon Man Struck a 72-Year-Old Pedestrian Before Fleeing the Scene, Later Arrested in Brunswick…] The girl was attempting to cross Main Street in Van Buren near Kennedy Terrace as an ambulance from the Van Buren Ambulance Service was traveling north on the road. The ambulance struck the child, causing life-threatening injuries. Ambulance personnel tried to help the girl, but they could not save her.…

A Bethel man wanted on multiple warrants, including a firearms charge from New Hampshire, sparked a police standoff on Friday after he allegedly barricaded himself in a Norway home. [RELATED: Shoplifting Complaint Leads to 4 Arrests, Seizure of 60+ grams of Cocaine at Bethel Home…] Police initially responded to 14 Tucker Street in Norway following reports of suspicious activity when they discovered Michael Greene, 25, of Bethel, who was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants. Police did not specify what the warrants were for, other than one for a weapons offense from NH. Greene reportedly barricaded himself inside an apartment, sparking…

A massive drug bust in Franklin, New Hampshire, carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, led to the arrests of 27 people and the seizure of approximately $100,000 in cash along with drugs linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. [RELATED: Nine Arrested, Fentanyl and Gun Seized in Pre-Dawn Skowhegan Drug Raids, Sheriff Says…] “The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico has a strong hold on drug distribution in New England and this week’s enforcement action attacked their street level distribution network,” said New England Field Division DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget. https://twitter.com/DEANEWENGLAND/status/1960758173536579939 The DEA began investigating the Franklin area after receiving tips…

A Thomaston man was arrested on Monday after he allegedly tried to run over border patrol agents while they were taking suspected illegal immigrants into custody in Washington, Maine, following a truck crash. [RELATED: Passenger of Illegal Alien Driver who Killed a Lewiston Woman was Also an Illegal, Had Maine Drivers’ License…] Deputies from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department arrested Olivia G. Wilkins, 24, of Thomaston, also known as Stevie Wilkins, on Tuesday after he allegedly tried to run over a Border Patrol agent and a Maine State Police officer. According to the Midcoast Villager, an affidavit from Maine State…

An Owls Head man will spend no time in jail thanks to a plea agreement after he caused a police standoff in March following a report of domestic violence when he fired 17 shots at police officers from a house where he was barricaded. [RELATED: Man Accused of Firing Gun at Passing Vehicles Arrested After Standoff with Lewiston Police…] In March, Waldo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to calls from a woman in Northport reporting that she had been the victim of domestic violence. Police arrived to discover that the visibly injured woman had fled to a safe location. After speaking…

Convicted pedophile Henry Eichman, 65, of Topsham, was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison this week on federal child pornography charges after new evidence emerged while he was already serving time for child sexual abuse charges. [RELATED: Missouri School Teacher Arrested for Producing Child Porn Says Traces His Perversion Back to His Counseling at a Maine Boys Camp…] Eichman has been in state prison since 2018, where he has been serving a ten-year sentence for numerous counts of unlawful sexual contact with minors. On Tuesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Eichman to an additional 20…

The recent string of vehicles crashing into pedestrians continued on Sunday when a Lisbon man allegedly struck a 72-year-old woman in the Topsham Market Basket parking lot before fleeing the scene. [RELATED: Gray Woman Struck and Killed by Illegal Alien Driver One Day After Another Illegal Killed a Pedestrian in Lewiston…] Topsham Police and Topsham Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a hit-and-run incident in the Market Basket parking lot at around 2:40 p.m. First responders arrived to discover that the victim, Althea Kennedy-Ecker, 72, of Lisbon, was laying in the crosswalk with numerous injuries. The victim was transported…

A contingent of left-wing hecklers banded together to shout at U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) on Tuesday as she headlined a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the reconstruction of Route 1 in downtown Searsport. [RELATED: Democrats Fantasizing About Retiring Susan Collins Need To Get Real Already…] “This long-overdue reconstruction of Route 1 will make downtown Searsport safer and more accessible for drivers and pedestrians alike. I am proud to have secured the funding for this important project that will help continue the growth of the town and benefit its residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come,” said Sen. Collins. Protesters arrived…

The ex-wife of Rep. Holly Eaton (D-Deer Island) pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of criminal mischief after stealing campaign signs from Rep. Eaton’s political opponent last year. [RELATED: Maine Democrat Rep’s Ex-Wife Caught on Camera Stealing Her Opponent’s Political Sign…] Trisha Eaton, Rep. Eaton’s ex-wife, was caught on a trail camera last October stealing signs for independent candidate Jason Joyce, who was running at the time to unseat Rep. Eaton. The owner of the signs, Kyle Jones, posted a video online at the time showing the theft. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1844122394711265496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1844122394711265496%7Ctwgr%5Ef68d297642b777e4862fd0b2cd701a866798c0e9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themainewire.com%2F2024%2F10%2Fmaine-democrat-reps-ex-wife-caught-on-camera-stealing-her-opponents-political-sign%2F In response to the video, Rep. Eaton took to social…

A domestic situation involving an armed man on Monday sparked a shelter-in-place order in Bowdoinham from the Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency. [RELATED: Dover-Foxcroft Manhunt Leads to Shelter-in-Place Order and the Arrest of Two Felons, One of Whom Was Armed…] At around 9:22 a.m., deputies received a call reporting a “domestic incident” involving a potentially armed man threatening suicide at 363 Fisher Road in Bowdoinham. Deputies and officers from the Maine State Police responded to the scene and discovered that the armed man had allegedly left in a vehicle in an unknown direction. That information prompted a shelter-in-place order for…

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department took to social media on Tuesday to complain about alleged “hate speech” in the comments section of their Facebook page and stated they would hide comments they consider to be in violation of their community guidelines. [RELATED: Bangor Police Invoke Sci-Fi Movie in Statement on Arrest of Man Caught on Camera Punching a Woman on Street…] “There has been an increase in hate speech on our page recently. The purpose of this page is for productive community engagement, and instructive or educational information for Cumberland County residents. We hope that this page will continue to…

Police arrested a Bangor man on Friday after he allegedly subjected a victim to multiple assaults throughout the day while out on probation following a previous domestic violence conviction. [RELATED: Anson Selectman Resigns After Facing Domestic Assault Charges Related to a “Potential Sex Offense”…] Police received a call at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday from an alleged victim requesting help. When they arrived, they discovered a severely beaten woman, who was eventually transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The victim allegedly told police that she had been subjected to a series of beatings, including slaps, punches, and kicks, throughout…

The Rumford Police Department released more information late on Monday regarding two arrests made earlier this month after a high-stakes police chase in which a group of heavily armed suspects allegedly opened fire on police after a traffic stop. [RELATED: Three Hispanic Males On the Run After Opening Fire on Rumford Police with Rifles…] On August 15, a group of suspects reportedly opened fire on police with “AR-15 style” rifles while trying to escape, prompting a shelter-in-place order for the town and surrounding area. At the time, police announced that two suspects had been arrested and that three suspects, described…

A Lewiston man faces charges after he allegedly caused the complete shutdown of one of the two bridges connecting Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts on Friday night while drunk driving. [RELATED: Drunk Driving Illegal Arrested by Maine State Police Sentenced to 10-Months for Illegal Re-Entry After Removal…] Garret Mullen, 37, of Lewiston, was allegedly driving on Massachusetts’s Bourne Bridge on Friday night in his Ford F-250 when he rear-ended an SUV at around 9:30 p.m., causing a serious crash. As a result, first responders were forced to shut down the entire bridge to access the scene of the…

Maine’s House and Senate Republicans excoriated Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in a letter last week asking why an Angolan illegal immigrant who killed a pedestrian in Lewiston was able to drive with Maine credentials. “This tragic death comes on the heels of your public statement that, as Administrator of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, you would refuse to share vital information with federal law enforcement. This begs the question: how are you determining legal presence for non-United States Citizens applying for drivers’ licenses in Maine,” said the Republicans. [RELATED: Bellows Promises that Maine BMV Won’t Share Information with ICE…

Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) issued a statement on Sunday celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day, but made no mention of peace – sharply contrasting with the federal government’s peace-focused messaging. [RELATED: The Rush to Judgment on Alaska May Not Age Well…] As the Trump Administration works to find a peaceful resolution for the Russia-Ukraine war, which will likely require unpleasant concessions from both sides, Gov. Mills’ statement on Ukrainian Independence Day urged apparently unconditional support for the war-torn nation while making no mention of an end to the war. “I’m proud to join Governors across the country in honoring the 34th Anniversary…

Law enforcement records obtained by the Maine Wire paint a startling picture of life and crime in Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city, which has seen significant increases in firearm-related incidents and opioid overdoses since 2019. Each skull represents an overdose incident recorded from 2019 to June 2025, per Lewiston PD records. The Maine Wire obtained several years’ worth of data from the Lewiston Police Department regarding life-threatening drug overdoses and police responses to gunfire incidents in Maine’s second-largest city. This information was released in response to a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request for public records covering a six-year period. Records…

The FBI took to X on Monday to celebrate the conviction of a Lewiston man who pleaded guilty on Thursday to cyberstalking charges. [RELATED: Scarborough Schools Issue Alert on Potential Online Threats from ‘Nihilistic Violent Extremist’ Groups…] https://twitter.com/FBIBoston/status/1959980264278442466 Brent Ouellette, 33, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking using facilities of interstate or foreign commerce on Thursday after harassing a victim online for an unspecified period, ending in August 2021. According to court documents, Ouellette’s actions included posting sexually explicit images and videos of his victim online against her will, contacting the victim while impersonating others, and even obtaining…

An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Portland to ten months in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the U.S. following a prior deportation. [RELATED: Federal Judge Sentences Brazilian Illegal Immigrant to Time-Served After Re-Entering Despite Past Deportation…] The illegal immigrant, Miguel Gomez-Sanchez, 45, pleaded guilty in June after he was arrested by the Maine State Police the month prior. Police stopped Gomez-Sanches in May after he was found driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol on I-95. After the stop, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that he…

A Kansas City, Missouri, elementary school teacher charged with child pornography production on Wednesday reportedly told investigators that his “dark inclinations” began while he counseled at a boys’ camp in Naples, Maine. [RELATED: ‘Gentleman In All Respects’: Ghislaine Maxwell Insists Trump Never Acted Inappropriately With Epstein…] The FBI executed a search warrant at the home of Dennis Adlai Hernandez, 28, on Wednesday after Google sent a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reporting that an account allegedly belonging to Hernandez uploaded child pornography to Google Photos. According to court documents, the images allegedly uploaded by Hernandez…

Angolan illegal aliens struck and killed two pedestrians in Maine last week. In both instances, they were legally sanctioned to drive. In the first case, Lionel Francisco, 31, was driving with a Maine-issued learner’s permit and had an illegal immigrant passenger who held a Maine license when he struck and killed a Massachusetts woman in Lewiston. The other instance involved Mukendi Mbiya, 49, who killed a pedestrian crossing the street in New Gloucester. The Cumberland County Sheriff confirmed for The Maine Wire that Mbiya was driving with a Maine-issued license. [RELATED: Passenger of Illegal Alien Driver who Killed a Lewiston…

Arden Shaw, 52, will spend three years behind bars after he was sentenced on Thursday for stealing federal U.S. Border Patrol property, including a firearm, from the site of a grisly quadruple murder in 2023. [RELATED: Autopsy of NH Murder Suicide Victims Reveals Mother Murdered Her Young Children and Husband Before Turning Gun on Herself…] Shaw, along with two other thieves, previously pleaded guilty to the crime after they stole from a home in which Joseph Eaton murdered his parents and the home’s owners, their long-time friends, Patti and Robert Eger. The Egers’ son, a Border Patrol agent, was staying…

An Auburn man who kidnapped and raped a 13-year-old girl in 2022 before attempting to murder her will now spend the next 56 years in prison, according to the sentence he received on Tuesday. [RELATED: Midcoast Maine Lawyer Arrested For Possession of Child Pornography…] “This was one of the most disturbing cases we’ve ever encountered,” said Auburn Police Chief Jason Moen in a statement on social media. “The courage of the victim, the dedication of our officers, and the tireless work of the prosecutors ensured that this dangerous individual will never again harm another child. Today’s sentence sends a crystal-clear…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that not one, but two illegal aliens from Angola killed pedestrians in Maine last week on two consecutive days. [RELATED: Passenger of Illegal Alien Driver who Killed a Lewiston Woman was Also an Illegal, Had Maine Drivers’ License…] “It seems to be almost a daily occurrence where an illegal alien driving kills innocent Americans,” said Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “All of these deaths are preventable because these illegal aliens should have NEVER been in our country. These two illegal aliens in Maine came to the country on B-2 tourist visas that allowed…

Mosquitoes in Portland tested positive for the West Nile Virus, the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Thursday, marking the first in the state to test positive for a mosquito-borne illness in the state this year. [RELATED: New Invasive Tick Species from China Capable of Creating Infestations Discovered in Cumberland County…] The Maine CDC routinely tests mosquito pools—groups of 50 mosquitoes taken from targeted areas in the state—to determine whether they are carrying any diseases that could pose a risk to humans. Testing typically occurs during peak mosquito season in the summer and fall. Though the Portland pool…

Chinese-born U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted on Wednesday of acting as a spy for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after he sold military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer for $12,000. [RELATED: Former U.S. Army Intel Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Transfer Military Secrets to China…] “The defendant’s actions represent an egregious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the U.S. military. By trading military secrets to the People’s Republic of China for cash, he jeopardized not only the lives of his fellow sailors but also the security of the entire nation…

Autopsy results for a New Hampshire family found dead in their home on Monday revealed that the mother likely killed her husband and two young children before turning the gun on herself, leaving her three-year-old alive to witness the murders. [RELATED: Police Investigating Potential Murder-Suicide after Two Adults and Two Young Children Found Dead in NH Home…] On Monday, police discovered Emily Long, 34, Ryan Long, 48, and two of their children, Parker Long, 8, and Ryan Long, 6, dead in their Madbury, NH, home, with an additional three-year-old child uninjured in the residence. Image appearing to depict Ryan and…

The Piscataquis Sheriff’s Department asked the local community for information on Wednesday regarding the theft of solar panels in Parkman. [RELATED: Cumberland Sheriff Searching for Suspects Who Rampaged Through Solar Farm with Construction Equipment…] According to the Sheriff’s Department, a “large number” of panels were stolen from a solar field near 619 State Highway 150 between 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, and 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19. The stolen panels had reportedly not been installed in the field yet and were lying in stacks on three pallets. Each photovoltaic panel was four feet wide, six feet long, and…

The FBI arrested a Chinese national on Tuesday night as part of a sting operation after he allegedly tried to solicit sex from an undercover agent he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. [RELATED: New Hampshire School Teacher Arrested in Sting Operation After Soliciting Sex from a 12-Year-Old While on the Job…] Qichen Yuan, 31, a Chinese national living legally in Boston, allegedly responded on Saturday to a listing posted on a website commonly used to advertise prostitution, which had been placed as part of an FBI sting operation. The advertisement featured images of a young female along with a…

A new invasive species of tick native to China and other countries in the region was discovered in Maine for the first time, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) confirmed on Tuesday, and it can cause an infestation from just one individual, experts said. [RELATED: Chinese Nationals Caught Trying to Smuggle Dangerous Biological Agent Into the U.S….] The UMaine Extension Tick Lab confirmed the presence of an Asian longhorned tick in Cumberland County, the first instance of this invasive species in Maine. The tick’s presence was first confirmed in the U.S. in New Jersey in 2017 and…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a Congolese man living in Westbrook and serving as a pastor in South Portland last Wednesday after he reportedly overstayed his visa. [RELATED: Passenger of Illegal Alien Driver who Killed a Lewiston Woman was Also an Illegal, Had Maine Drivers’ License…] The pastor, Michel Tshimankinda, was reportedly driving his wife home from her job when ICE agents stopped their vehicle and requested identification. According to Tshimankinda’s daughter, Jobel Tshimankinda, speaking with the Portland Press Herald on Monday, ICE agents escorted her parents home, where they took her father into custody and allowed her mother…

The New Hampshire State Police are investigating a grizzly scene after troopers and local police discovered two adults and two young children dead from gunshot wounds in their Madbury, NH, home, with one toddler found at the horrifying scene uninjured. [RELATED: NH Navy Veteran Lawyer Convicted Of Murdering, Chopping Up Wife, Gets Life Without Parole…] The NH Department of Justice announced the investigation on Monday after law enforcement entered a home on Moharimet Drive in Madbury and discovered four people deceased inside. State police officers found the bodies of Emily Long, 34, Ryan Long, 48, their eight-year-old son, and their…

Houlton Border Patrol Agents operating out of the Fort Fairfield Station recently apprehended a Sudanese illegal alien who ignored a 2019 removal order. [RELATED: Passenger of Illegal Alien Driver who Killed a Lewiston Woman was Also an Illegal, Had Maine Drivers’ License…] “Now Houlton sector will be happy to help him return to his home country,” said the Houlton Border Patrol on Facebook. According to a Tuesday press release, the Sudanese national, who was not named, served four years in prison in the U.S. for cocaine distribution. They did not explain how he avoided deportation when he was jailed for…

The passenger in the illegal-alien-driven vehicle that killed a woman in Lewiston on Friday was also an illegal immigrant from Angola and has been taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Despite his non-legal status, the passenger had been issued Maine driver’s license. [RELATED: Illegal Alien Driving on Maine Permit Hits, Kills Pedestrian in Lewiston…] Lionel Francisco, 31, an illegal immigrant from Angola, was driving on Friday afternoon when he allegedly crashed into and killed a Massachusetts woman in Lewiston’s Kennedy Park. At the time, Francisco was operating under a Maine learner’s permit. As a result of its continued…

The Autism Society of Maine (ASM), a non-profit, dismissed board member Nicholas Pike, 29, on Monday after an inquiry by The Maine Wire inquired about why a Tier III lifetime sex offender registrant was serving on its governing body. [RELATED: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC CONTENT: DHHS Drag Queen Was Filming and Posting Hardcore Pornography While Employed by the State…] “The Autism Society of Maine has dismissed a Board member after learning they are listed on the Maine Sex Offender Registry. This information was not disclosed during the application process. We take this matter seriously,” said ASM Board President Melissa Ponce in a…

The Hallowell Police Department arrested and charged a Mexican citizen who had overstayed his visa in connection with an alleged sexual assault early Saturday morning. [RELATED: Judge Allows “Voluntary Departure” for Old Orchard Beach Police Officer in the U.S. Illegally…] Hallowell Police Chief Christopher Giles told the Portland Press Herald that officers from his department arrested Mexican citizen Zuniga Balderas, 33, who also uses the alias Javier, at around 1:00 a.m. Police arrested Balderas following an alleged sexual assault against a 25-year-old woman that reportedly took place on Hallowell’s Front Street outside a former nightclub. After the arrest, federal immigration…

Former Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Nirav Shah, who headed the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, told the Portland Press Herald on Friday that he is considering a Democratic run for governor. “I think we are in a moment where all of us should be considering running for something,” Shah told the outlet. “I’m considering throwing my hat into the governor’s race,” he added Gov. Janet Mills appointed Shah to head the Maine CDC in 2019, the year she took office, and he served in that position until 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shah became the public face…

The Rangeley Police Department arrested a 14-year-old boy on Monday in connection with a Fire Marshal’s Office investigation into multiple small fires at a vacant Rangeley home. [RELATED: Maine Volunteer Fireman Living in NH Arrested for Arson after Burning His Own Home with Pet Turtles Inside…] The Fire Marshal’s Office began the investigation on Friday after the Rangeley Fire and Police Departments reported multiple fires at 50 Pleasant Street, a one- and two-story home with an attached garage. Police arrived to discover that the vacant home, owned by a Massachusetts resident, had been entered and ransacked. There was also evidence…

An immigration judge granted voluntary departure for former Old Orchard Beach police officer John Luke Evans, who was arrested by immigration authorities in July for overstaying his visa. This decision requires him to leave the U.S. while allowing him to avoid deportation. [RELATED: ICE Arrests Old Orchard Beach Police Officer from Jamaica for Overstaying Visa…] WMTW reported the ruling on Monday after reviewing court documents. The immigration judge granted Evans a pre-conclusion voluntary departure, which can be granted upon request at the beginning of immigration proceedings. Voluntary departure requires the illegal immigrant to leave the U.S., but allows him to…

The Portland Police Department responded on Friday to a third bank robbery in the city this month, leading to the arrest of a man who allegedly left the University Credit Union with $100 in stolen funds. [RELATED: Portland Police Investigate Second Bank Robbery Within a Week, Same Culprit Possible…] At around 2:07 p.m., police responded to reports of an alleged robbery at 391 Forest Avenue at the University Credit Union. The suspect, Kenneth Morey Jr., 64, of Portland, allegedly entered the bank and escaped with just $100 in cash without displaying a weapon. He then reportedly fled along Forest Ave.…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a homeless man on Friday and allegedly discovered illegal drugs in his possession after he reportedly fled from officers earlier in the week. [RELATED: Illegal Alien Driving on Maine Permit Hits, Kills Pedestrian in Lewiston…] Rockland police allegedly tried to initiate a traffic stop of Dylan McClure, 27, earlier this week based on the belief that he was driving with a revoked license. Instead of pulling over for the officers, McClure allegedly fled, accelerating to over twice the speed limit and running a red light, nearly causing multiple crashes. Police broke off the pursuit at…

Three suspects remain at large and armed with “AR-15 style” rifles and handguns after a group of five suspects allegedly opened fire on Rumford police officers on Friday night, sparking a shelter-in-place order in the area. [RELATED: Armed Hero Maine Guide Chased Down The Windham Killer, ‘But I Couldn’t Get Off A Safe Shot’…] “These individuals are dangerous and pose a significant risk to our officers and members of the community. We will utilize every resource we have—and those of our partners—to ensure safety in our community. We will not rest until these criminals are behind bars where they belong,”…

The Bangor Police Department issued a lengthy statement on Thursday, referencing the 2002 science fiction movie Minority Report while addressing the arrest of a man caught on camera allegedly punching a woman on the street directly outside Second District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s office. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested for Allegedly Punching Dog and Assaulting Owner, Police and Himself…] Security footage showing the alleged assault gained attention online, and the Bangor Police Department issued their statement in response to comments asking why officers were not already on scene. “It should be noted that our employees would have relished the opportunity to…

The Acting U.S. Attorney in Vermont will seek the death penalty for the woman accused of the January murder of Vermont Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, following a request from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. [RELATED: New Details on Vermont Border Patrol Murder Suggests Suspects Were Members of “Trans Militia”…] The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the grand jury indictment of Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Seattle on Thursday, charging her with the murder of a federal agent, assault with a deadly weapon against two other Border Patrol agents, and related gun crimes. “We don’t forget our own,” said…

The chair of the Anson Board of Selectmen, Arnold P. Luce, 68, resigned from his post after he allegedly assaulted a woman last Wednesday at his business “Luce’s Meat Market” in what the Somerset Sheriff’s Department called a “potential sex offense.” [RELATED: Admitted Maine Child Beater Quits School Board Before Even Starting His Term…] The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office received information last Thursday about what they described as a “potential sexual assault” that had occurred the day before at Luce’s business on Embden Road. Deputy Stacey Slate met with an adult female alleged victim to discuss the reported incident. As…

Dexter’s Town Council considered an ordinance on Thursday evening that would bar private school employees or parents operating homeschool co-ops from holding a school board seat after a June recall vote that removed a board member who ran a homeschooling group. [RELATED: Dexter Group Gets Enough Signatures for June Ballot Question Calling for the Removal of Two School Board Members Who Say They’re Being Targeted…] The Dexter Town Council sent the proposed ordinance to their legal council for review after receiving a letter from Heidi Sampson, director of the Maine Education Initiative, warning the town that the ordinance could expose…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department executed a warrant at a Skowhegan residence as part of an ongoing drug investigation on Tuesday and arrested the homeowner, who had previously been arrested in June during an earlier raid on the same property. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Bust Drug Traffickers in Patten With Help from Federal Authorities…] Deputies led by Detective Lieutenant Gottardi II obtained the warrant after a months-long investigation revealed that the owner of a Pine Street residence, Hallie Stevens, 39, of Skowhegan, was allegedly dealing drugs in the area. During the execution of the warrant, carried out with assistance from Waterville…

The Sanford Police Department is seeking community assistance in identifying a man who allegedly used fraud to steal $7,000 from two banks in the latest in a growing number of recent bank thefts in Maine. [RELATED: Portland Police Investigate Second Bank Robbery Within a Week, Same Culprit Possible…] Police issued a request for assistance on Thursday, claiming that a man used a fake ID and misused identification in order to walk out of two different Sanford banks with a total of $7,000 in illicitly acquired funds. Images of the suspect from the Sanford Police Department. The request for assistance comes…

A deputy fire chief at the Gilead Volunteer Fire Department was arrested last Friday after he allegedly set his own home ablaze in Gorham, New Hampshire last month, killing his two pet turtles. [RELATED: Lincoln County Refuses Federal Disaster Funds Because They Require Cooperation with Immigration Authorities…] The Gorham Police Department announced the arrest on Monday, which came after an investigation from the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s office determined that a fire at a Second Street residence in Gorham was caused by arson. Law enforcement believe that Travis Davis, the owner of the residence, intentionally set a fire that engulfed…

A Dexter man is facing felony assault charges after he was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly abusing his seven-month-old infant, causing severe injuries requiring hospitalization. [RELATED: Admitted Maine Child Beater Quits School Board Before Even Starting His Term…] The Dexter Police Department received reports last Thursday of suspected violent abuse of a seven-month-old infant. The injuries to the infant were described as “serious” and required the baby to be hospitalized. After the baby was discovered with severe injuries, local law enforcement contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit for assistance with the investigation. Detectives arrived and collaborated with the…

Waterville police arrested a Liberty man last Friday after he allegedly robbed a shoe store. [RELATED: Westbrook Bank Robber Nabbed in New Hampshire…] Police responded on August 8 to reports of a robbery at the Shoe Department Encore store at 40 JFK Plaza at around 7:00 p.m. The suspect had gone by the time police arrived, but store employees were able to provide a description of the suspect, Kirby Bradford, 58, of Liberty. About ten minutes after taking statements from store employees, police identified the suspect’s vehicle traveling on Carter Memorial Drive. Law enforcement conducted a stop, and took Bradford…

Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested two people while executing search warrants in Patten as part of an ongoing drug investigation conducted with help from Federal Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. [RELATED: Ellsworth Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering…] The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team executed two search warrants at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday on Shin Pond Road in Patten. The Department obtained the warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the area. Deputies arrested Ricky Grant, 43, of Patten on an outstanding arrest warrant and charged…

Lewiston Police officers seized fentanyl and cocaine while executing a search warrant on Tuesday, and arrested two people, including a juvenile implicated in an earlier shooting incident. [RELATED: It’s Just a Prank Bro: Man Who Claims He Was “Joking” After Attempting to Kidnap Three-Year-Old in Lewiston Arrested and Placed on ICE Detainer…] Early Tuesday morning, Lewiston officers executed a search warrant at 158 Blake Street with help from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and the Maine State Police Tactical Team, because the suspects were believed to be highly dangerous. The warrant was obtained as part of an ongoing investigation…

The Lincoln County Administrator plans to reject Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds rather than work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after the Trump Administration tied the funds to cooperation with federal authorities. [RELATED: New York Times Joins Chorus of Voices from Away Assailing Now-Paused Pact b/n ICE and Wells Police…] “I’ve never had an experience where our emergency management agency was now going to be required to be part of the immigration enforcement arm of the federal government,” Lincoln County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reportedly said at an August 5 meeting. “We do homeland security grants for community…

A 19-year-old from Bingham will spend the next 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last Thursday to three counts of gross sexual assault against a minor under the age of ten. [RELATED: Kenduskeag Man Faces Up To 80 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Producing Child Pornography…] According to a Somerset County Sheriff’s Department press release on Wednesday, Justin T. Harris, 19, of Bingham pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charges over a year after his initial arrest on March 27, 2024. Somerset Sheriff’s Department arrested Harris one day after receiving a Department of Health and Human Services…

American schools and colleges saw 1,299,063 criminal incidents and 1,504,310 individual offenses between 2020-2024, according to an FBI report released on Tuesday, showing assaults as the most common crime committed on school or college property. [RELATED: Northern Maine Man Who Admitted Assaulting His Infant Elected To School Board…] The report included both K-12 schools and colleges, and compiled data acquired under the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Criminal incidents were divided into three major categories, crimes against persons (589,308 incidents), crimes against property (479,670 incidents), and crimes against society (314,898 incidents), and further divided into types of crime. The…

A Hooksett, New Hampshire man was seriously injured early Tuesday morning when he crashed while allegedly fleeing police after almost running over a construction worker. [RELATED: Some People Never Learn: NH Man Receives Federal indictment After Robbing the Same Bank Twice…] NH State Police Trooper Noah Gooch conducted a routine traffic stop of a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta at 2:47 a.m. Gooch had a brief interaction with the driver, Aaron C. Thurber, 21, of Hooksett. Thurber then allegedly drove off at high speed in an attempt to flee the officer before the stop could be concluded, sparking a police pursuit. During the…

Federal authorities filed charges against thirteen people on Tuesday in a takedown of a Dominican-Republic based fraud operation targeting elderly victims by impersonating grandchildren in need of assistance. [RELATED: Trump Admin Charges 324 – Including Lewiston Man – in $14.6 Billion Welfare Fraud Operation…] “These scams are not just financially devastating–they are emotionally traumatizing. Many victims lost not only their savings, but their sense of safety, judgment, and trust in the world around them. I am here to say that we’ve had enough. Preying on our elderly is ruthless and immoral,” said District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley.…

A Portland man allegedly sparked a police standoff on Monday after threatening his landlord, neighbors, and other bystanders with an unspecified weapon before eventually surrendering to police after hours of negotiations. [RELATED: Man Accused of Firing Gun at Passing Vehicles Arrested After Standoff with Lewiston Police…] Police responded to 55 Portland Street at around noon after receiving calls from employees of the nearby Preble Street homeless shelter reporting a man repeatedly threatening his landlord and others. Using a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check, police determined that the suspect, Gregory Vanchester Gilliams, 51, of Portland, was allegedly a serious threat…

Maine Secretary of State and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Shenna Bellows assured a Maine-based news outlet aimed at African immigrants that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will not share information with immigration authorities except when required by law. [RELATED: Shenna Bellows Refuses to Share State Voter Rolls with Feds and Tells the DOJ: “Go Jump in the Gulf of Maine”…] “We take our responsibility to keep your personal information safe and secure very seriously. The information you provide to the BMV is confidential and cannot be shared with others except as provided by state or federal laws,” said Bellows. “BMV…

An Ellsworth man may spend over seven years in prison after he was sentenced by a federal judge on Monday for his role in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamines from California into Maine. [RELATED: Drug Raids Involving K-9 Units Lead to Seizure of Fentanyl, Firearms, and Over a Kilogram of Methamphetamines…] Jeremy Kane, 38, of Ellsworth pleaded guilty in February to charges of conspiring to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, along with conspiring to commit money laundering. Between May 2022 through May 2023, Kane, along with unnamed co-conspirators, worked to illegally traffic methamphetamines into Maine via…

A Greenville, New Hampshire man received a federal indictment last week after allegedly robbing a bank while on federal supervised release for robbing the same bank in 2014. [RELATED: Westbrook Bank Robber Nabbed in New Hampshire…] Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced the indictment on Monday, charging Eric Lord, 54, of Greenville, NH, with one count of bank robbery. According to court records, Lord allegedly robbed the New Ipswich, NH, branch of TD Bank on April 2 of this year. At the time of the alleged robbery, Lord was out on federal supervised release following a conviction for robbing the…

A Kenduskeag man faces up to 80 years in prison and $750,000 in fines after he pleaded guilty on Monday to multiple counts of producing child pornography involving two “very young” children. [RELATED: NH Men Arrested for Sexually Assaulting a Child…] Justin Leonard, 24, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of child pornography possession. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant at Leonard’s home in February 2024 following an online tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Leonard was present during the execution of the warrant…

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley called on Monday for the immediate removal of Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) employee Cameron A. Grover, the former child protective caseworker and current supervisor who seemingly posted hardcore pornography on social media during normal government work hours. [RELATED: Former Fitness Exec Ben Midgley Launches Republican Campaign for Maine Governor…] “The story today from The Maine Wire, with seemingly verifiable facts, is extremely disturbing. If [Gov.] Janet Mills’ [D-Maine] DHHS has allowed this man to not only work for the state of Maine but work with children and receive a promotion, it raises…

A Jay man pleaded guilty on Monday in the U.S. District Court in Bangor to distributing narcotics and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after he sold contraband to a confidential informant (CI) working with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced on Monday. [RELATED: Drug Raids Involving K-9 Units Lead to Seizure of Fentanyl, Firearms, and Over a Kilogram of Methamphetamines…] In February, Thomas Ray Cook, 44, of Jay sold a CI $600 worth of cocaine from his home, the court docket shows. In March, the informant returned and…

Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a convicted felon in Milford on Saturday after he allegedly broke into a car, discharged a stolen firearm near a school, and attempted to flee the scene. [RELATED: Oakland Man Goes on Car-Theft Spree Before Fleeing Police on Foot…] Deputies responded after a call at around 12:54 a.m. from a resident of County Road, near Milford’s Dr. Lewis S. Libby School. The caller reported loud bangs outside his house, and saw on his home security cameras that a man had come onto his property and allegedly broke into his car. An investigation revealed that Brian…

The Maine State Police are actively investigating a homicide in Waldoboro after a local woman was found dead in her home on Saturday morning. [RELATED: Maine State Police, Attorney General Conclude Investigation into Farmington Double Homicide…] Waldoboro Police Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff Deputies responded to a residence on Genthner Road after receiving a 911 call at around 8:25 a.m. asking for a welfare check on Levern Kelley, 53. After the body was discovered, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit arrived to assist in the investigation. Levern was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where…

The former child protective caseworker and Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) employee who drew attention for promoting a Bangor drag show targeting minors appears to be behind an X account that has posted hardcore gay pornography. The Maine Wire previously reported that Cameron Alexander Grover, 31, of Bangor, was headlining a drag show marketed by him as being for all ages, while employed at the DHHS in child protection services. That report led the venue Grover said was hosting the event to cancel his appearance and claim they were not aware that Grover would be touting the…

Maine State Police charged a Pennsylvania woman with manslaughter on Sunday after her three-year-old daughter was discovered dead in a car in the parking lot of a Milford business. [RELATED: NH Men Arrested for Sexually Assaulting a Child…] The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Milford business on Saturday night and discovered a three-year-old child dead in a car registered to her mother, Kelly Brown, 40, of Havertown, Pennsylvania. Deputies located Brown nearby and detained her. Prior to the child’s tragic death, Brown and her daughter had been subject to attempts to locate them after requests for welfare checks…

The Scarborough Police Department slapped an Oakland man with an array of charges after he allegedly stole multiple cars and then fled officers on foot while out under bail conditions. [RELATED: Maine Man Accused of Violent Carjacking Arrested in New Jersey…] The Scarborough Police received a call at 12:29 p.m. on Friday reporting a vehicle theft from the Cumberland Farms gas station on Payne Road. As officers investigated the reported theft, they learned that the alleged carjacker, Paul Garland, 40, of Oakland, had abandoned the vehicle at Pet Quarters, and had reportedly stolen another car there. The suspect allegedly crashed…

The New Hampshire State Police busted two alleged child rapists on Friday as the result of two separate investigations. [RELATED: Judge Reduces Bail for Old Town Man Arrested for Sexual Assault on a Child Under 10 Years of Age…] The NH State Police officers from the Troop F Barracks conducted both investigations and carried out both arrests. Police first arrested Custer Reed III, 38, of Rumney, NH, on charges of felony aggravated sexual assault involving a juvenile female. Image of Reed from the NH State Police Officers then arrested Jeremiah Godfrey, 38, of Wentworth, NH, and charged him with possession…

Washington County’s Baileyville School Department voted overwhelmingly at a Tuesday meeting to move towards compliance with federal Title IX antidiscrimination laws barring transgender-identifying males from girls’ sports, locker rooms, and restrooms. [RELATED: RSU 4 Becomes Latest School District to Defy Mills and Repeal its Transgender Policy…] Baileyville School Board Vice Chair Jamie Bohanon told The Maine Wire that the board voted to take steps towards compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports.” The AOS 90 board voted 4-1 in favor of sending a series of proposed changes to the department’s policy committee, which will…

Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a 20-year-old woman in Benton after she allegedly shot a 19-year-old man in the neck following what police called a days-long alcohol and cocaine bender. Deputies responded to 246 Unity Road in Benton at around 3:03 a.m. on Friday after receiving reports of a 19-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound, with the alleged shooter still on scene. Deputy Chad Webster arrived with a Fairfield police officer and arrested the 20-year-old Hailie A. Hotham, who lived at the residence where the alleged shooting took place. Law enforcement secured the pistol used in the reported crime.…

The Rockland Police Department executed a search warrant on a Second Street residence on Thursday, leading to the arrest of a 64-year-old woman who was previously arrested on Saturday for drug possession. [RELATED: Rockland OUI Enforcement Activities Lead to Over a Half Dozen Drug Arrests…] The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and Knox County Sheriff’s Office joined Rockland Police in executing the warrant secured as part of a drug investigation. During the raid, police arrested Wanda Chipman, 64, of Rockland, for felony unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violating conditions of release. Chipman was previously arrested over the weekend during…

A South Carolina man is awaiting extradition to Maine after he was arrested on Thursday in New Hampshire for having allegedly robbed a Westbrook earlier that day, marking the third bank robbery in Maine within a week. [RELATED: Portland Police Investigate Second Bank Robbery Within a Week, Same Culprit Possible…] The Westbrook Police Department responded to reports of a bank robbery taking place around 10:51 a.m. on August 7 at the Chase Bank located at Rock Row. The robber allegedly fled in the direction of Larrabee Rd. Police did not specify how much money the suspect allegedly stole. Law Enforcement…

Bangor police officers arrested a man early Wednesday morning after he reportedly punched a dog, assaulted its owner, and spat on police officers. Police responded to Front Street at around 2:00 a.m. after reports that Dirk Weber, 34, of Bangor had punched a dog. When the dog’s owner tried to intervene, Weber allegedly assaulted him. Officers found the victim with visible injuries. Weber was allegedly uncooperative with officers, and became more disorderly when they told him he would be issued a summons to appear in court on assault charges. After Weber repeatedly became more belligerent, officers arrested him, and he…

A Rockland minor is facing felony charges following a Tuesday arrest for allegedly assaulting, strangling, and robbing a man as part of a larger altercation involving multiple individuals. [RELATED: 14-Year-Old Apprehended After Escape from South Portland’s Long Creek Juvenile Detention Center…] Rockland Police officers responded to the area of Willow Street following reports of an assault in the area involving several people. Police interviewed several people involved in the altercation along with third-party witnesses, and learned that a juvenile offender allegedly attacked a victim, attempted to strangle him, and damaged and stole some of his property. Officers located the juvenile…

Penobscot County Sheriff’s deputies conducted drug raids on two Charleston homes on Tuesday that led to two arrests and the seizure of massive amounts of drugs, including over a kilogram of methamphetamines. [RELATED: Five Arrested in Searsport Following Successive MDEA Raids on Cocaine Trafficking Operation…] Deputies from the Penobscot Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence on Bacon Road in Charleston on Tuesday. During the execution of that warrant, deputies uncovered evidence that led them to secure another warrant for a residence on Puddledock Road in Charleston. While carrying out the second warrant, Penobscot Sheriff’s Department K9 unit…

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Pennsylvania man in Rangeley Plantation on Wednesday after he was discovered allegedly trafficking methamphetamines and cocaine. [RELATED: Rockland OUI Enforcement Activities Lead to Over a Half Dozen Drug Arrests…] Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at 140 South Shore Drive in Rangeley Plantation following a two-month investigation into suspected drug trafficking at the residence. The investigation began after the Sheriff’s Department received reports of drug trafficking, and a two-month period of surveillance allowed the department to compile enough evidence to apply for and attain a search warrant. While executing the warrant and during…

The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department busted a trio of alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday when they executed a search warrant at a Vassalboro residence. [RELATED: Rockland Police Arrest Drug Traffickers During Routine Stop Following Brief Struggle…] At around 6:00 a.m. Kennebec County Deputies, along with Maine State Police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) executed a search warrant at 635 Webber Pond Road in Vassalboro. The Sheriff’s Department obtained the warrant after a months-long investigation, initiated by Deputy Jeff Boudreau, into alleged drug trafficking at the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized 27.3 grams…

The Portland Police Department is investigating the city’s second bank robbery within the span of a week after a masked man entered a Kennebec Savings Bank on Wednesday and escaped with cash under circumstances similar to a bank robbery on Saturday. [RELATED: Portland Police Searching for Masked Bank Robber Who Escaped a Bangor Savings Bank with Cash…] At around 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Portland Police officers responded to the Kennebec Savings Bank at 53 Baxter Boulevard following reports of a bank robbery. A masked suspect allegedly entered the bank and demanded cash from the teller before successfully escaping with an…

The Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) ordered the Piscataquis County Jail to stop taking on new inmates as of Tuesday, after the jail failed to meet 11 mandatory standards during its bi-annual inspection in July. [RELATED: Pissed in Piscataquis, Massachusetts Man Leads Police on Multi-Town Chase Before Arrest – and Hangover…] The DOC was reportedly unable to review nine other mandatory standards due to a lack of documentation, and the jail failed to meet one essential standard. “The Commissioner has determined that the scope and nature of the failures are substantial enough to constitute a danger to the health and…

Former fitness executive Ben Midgley announced his gubernatorial run in Kennebunkport on Tuesday, pledging to commit 100 percent of his efforts going forward to helping the Maine people rather than the “political class.” Midgley touted his lack of a political past as a strength, and claimed that his experience as a successful businessman, first as president of the national gym chain Planet Fitness then as CEO and founder of Crunch Franchising, would allow him to help Maine succeed. “The last seven years have shown us we do not need more politicians, we need someone whose lived it built it, and…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department arrested an Old Town man on Friday for alleged gross sexual assault against a child under the age of ten following a two-year investigation. [RELATED: Old Town Residents Arrested in Brewer for Drug Possession and Child Endangerment…] Initially, Corey M. Cox, 28, of Old Town, was issued a $10,000 bail, but, following a Monday court appearance, Judge Andrew Benson reduced his bail to just $2,500 with conditions that he have no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or any minors. Judge Benson was appointed under former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, and it is unclear…

A Brooks man was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Tuesday for the 2022 murder of his girlfriend’s father when he was 16, after the victim took him in for three years and treated him “as a son” by some accounts. [RELATED: Police Arrest 17-Year-Old for Killing Sunshine Stewart in Apparent Resolution of Union Homicide…] The 20-year-old Atilio Delgado was 16 in 2022 when he murdered the 49-year-old James Cluney in his Brooks home. Delgado accepted a plea deal before to Tuesday’s sentencing, allowing him to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than murder charges, and to face a 25-year…

Border Patrol agents from Maine’s Houlton sector busted an illegal alien gang member from Colombia last month who was the subject of an active New Jersey arrest warrant and deemed a national security threat. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Team Up with Local Police to Bust Wanted Trinitarios Gang-Member Hiding Out in Bethel…] The man was reportedly arrested in the ordinarily sleepy town of Union, where early last month an unrelated murder investigation seized the attention of the state, and nation. “Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. Public safety, border security, and national security threats are the number one focus of…

A Sanford man is in police custody after allegedly driving a truck into an apartment building early Friday morning before attempting to flee the scene. [RELATED: Sanford Police Announced String of Major Arrests, Including 3 in MDEA Drug Bust…] At around 12:30 a.m. Lucas Matt, 30, of Sanford, allegedly drove a commercial truck into an apartment building on Oxford Street. The Sanford Police Department told Maine’s Total Coverage that the crash caused damage to trees, along with the building’s siding and window air conditioning units. The building is believed to remain structurally sound. After the crash, Matt reportedly attempted to…

Border patrol agents attached to Maine’s Houlton border sector operating out of Jackman Station arrested a group of 13 Romanian citizens illegally present in the U.S. late last month. [RELATED: Border Patrol Apprehends 20 Romanian Nationals Who Illegally Crossed US-Canada Border into Hodgdon…] Border patrol agents conducted a routine traffic stop near Skowhegan on July 27, and discovered 13 Romanian citizens. During the stop, agents discovered that the Romanians were in the U.S. illegally, and they were taken into custody. The Romanians are now facing deportation. This is notably not the first time a large group of Romanians have been…

Mainers are facing the highest year-over-year energy rate increase in the nation, surging by over a third, according to a Monday report from Axios, as average energy costs skyrocketing by over 36 percent in just one year. [RELATED: House Republicans Decry Recent Finding in National Survey that Maine’s Infrastructure Ranks Dead Last…] Maine’s average residential energy costs increased by a staggering 36.3 percent in just one year, from May 2024 to May 2025. Ratepayers in Maine faced an increase nearly twice as large as those in Connecticut, the state with the second-fastest rising costs, which saw an 18.4 percent increase…

The University of Maine System spent nearly $2 million on out-of-state trips, according to recently released 2025 first quarter data, spending more on travel than every other state agency combined. But not all those funds come from the state, a university official said. [RELATED: Collins Successfully Pushed for Maine to Get $28 Million in Frozen Federal Funds for Public Education Programs…] According to a recent state report, the University of Maine System had already spent $1,975,096 in taxpayer funds, including federal grants, on travel by the end of the 2025’s first quarter. That number takes on even greater significance when…

The Portland Police Department is searching for a masked bank robber in connection with an apparently successful robbery at a Bangor Savings Bank on Saturday. [RELATED: FBI Executes Warrant in Portland as Part of Ongoing Federal Investigation…] At around 9:32 a.m., Portland police responded to the Bangor Savings Bank at 1071 Brighton Avenue to reports of a robbery. Police arrived and learned that a suspect, dressed in a hoodie and wearing a mask and sunglasses, had entered the bank and successfully escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. According to law enforcement, the suspect is believed to have fled into…

The Rockland police department’s patrols for drivers operating under the influence (OUI) led to a slew of drug arrests over the weekend. [RELATED: Rockland Police Arrest Drug Traffickers During Routine Stop Following Brief Struggle…] “Rockland Police would like to remind folks to never mix alcohol or other substances with driving and that tonight (8/2) we will again have additional staff doing OUI patrols, funded in part by a grant through the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety,” said the department on Facebook. Overnight enforcement activities from Friday to Saturday led to seven arrests. On Saturday, officers initiated a routine traffic stop…

Penobscot County sheriff’s deputies took two suspects into custody following an incident in Glenburn on Sunday, when a group of masked individuals allegedly opened fire at a residence, causing significant property damage. [RELATED: Illegal Immigrant Scammer Caught by Penobscot Sheriff’s Department after Extorting Money from an Elderly Hermon Resident…] The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department received reports at around 3:10 p.m. Sunday from a homeowner on Danforth Drive claiming that “several” masked suspects had opened fire on her home and vehicle. The homeowner said that none of the occupants had been injured in the barrage, but that the shooters caused significant…