Author: Edward Tomic

Portland City Councilor Kate Sykes, self-described socialist and former co-chair of the Maine Democratic Socialists of America, gave a speech at the council’s Monday meeting blaming the deteriorating conditions of the city’s downtown area on federal immigration enforcement, the county and the state — every level of government except the city. Councilor Sykes’ remarks came amid ongoing complaints and concerns from residents and business owners from Monument Square and Congress Street in Portland’s downtown regarding quality-of-life and public safety issues caused by homeless people and drug users. The other socialist on the city’s policy-making body, City Councilor Wes Pelletier, recently gave…

Lewiston Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday outside of an immigrant advocacy nonprofit’s building. Police say that just before 3 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to 256 Bartlett St., the address of the Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services (MEIRS) building, for reports of gunshots. MEIRS, originally formed in Lewiston in 2008 as the Somali Bantu Youth Association of Maine, is one of the largest migrant advocacy organizations in the state by revenue, and is one of three nonprofits in the state designated by the federal government to be a refugee resettlement agency. [RELATED: Migrant Resettlement Agency Chronically Over-billed MaineCare,…

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has selected Craig Shepley as the new Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) of Maine’s Houlton Sector. Shepley, a 24-year Border Patrol veteran, assumed the role of Houlton Sector Chief Patrol Agent in late June, taking over from the former acting chief Christopher Kuhn. “I am truly excited to be here at Houlton Sector and looking forward to working with our federal and local partners in the state of Maine. The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol here in Maine are hyper focused on applying the law and delivering consequence to those individuals who…

Rockland police arrested a transient woman early Tuesday morning following a vehicle pursuit and the discovery of narcotics during a traffic stop in Thomaston. Just after midnight on July 14, officers stopped a vehicle for defective equipment. During the stop, police identified multiple traffic violations, including the operator driving with a suspended license. Officers observed and recovered a baggie containing narcotics from the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Jamie Nickerson, a transient. 36 year-old Jamie Nickerson, transient | Source: Rockland Police Department Nickerson reportedly refused commands to exit the vehicle and fled from officers at high speed. During the chase,…

A 14-year-old male was injured in a shooting at an affordable housing complex in Lewiston early Sunday morning, according to Lewiston Police. The incident occurred just before 2:30 a.m., when police received reports of gunshots near the Hillview apartment complex at 77 Rideout Ave., a property managed by the Lewiston Housing Authority. The same apartment complex was the site of a shooting last year that left a 17-year-old dead. [RELATED: 17-year-old Dead at Public Housing Complex in One of Three Weekend Shootings in Lewiston…] Officers searched the area by cruiser and on foot, speaking with several residents who confirmed hearing gunfire.…

A man from Connecticut was arrested on Saturday on multiple charges after allegedly traveling to a park in Lewiston to meet a 14-year-old girl. Police say that they received a tip on Saturday that a 14-year-old girl was at a local park in Lewiston waiting to be picked up by a 22-year-old man from Connecticut whom she had met online. Officers responded to the park and found both individuals. Arrested was 22-year-old Dmitriy Marker of Connecticut. 22-year-old Dmitriy Marker of Connecticut | Source: Androscoggin County Jail Marker was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted sexual abuse of a…

The Maine State Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash in Albion that left one child dead, and another minor and an adult with serious injuries. On Friday, July 11, at about 5:12 p.m., Maine State Police from the Central Field Troop responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash near 60 Hussey Hill Road in Albion. Authorities report that a vehicle struck one adult and two minor children before fleeing the scene. The adult victim, 33-year-old Mollie Egold of Albion, was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries and remains in stable condition. One of the minors was also…

Portland Police announced Monday morning that their Hazardous Devices Unit investigated a “suspicious package” at the corner of Congress and State Streets, eventually finding it not be dangerous. Portland Police responded to 188 State Street shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Monday for a report of a suspicious package. Police had asked the public to avoid the area. The department’s Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU), known informally as the Bomb Squad, is one of only three FBI-accredited bomb teams in Maine, and uses specialized equipment to approach, inspect and disarm explosive devices. According to an update posted by police later Monday morning,…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that they have charged multiple juveniles between ages 9 to 16 from the Bingham area in connection to several recent burglaries in the town. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from the juveniles breaking into vacant properties in Bingham and causing extensive damage within the structures. A total of six juveniles were charged, with counts including burglary and aggravated criminal mischief. The Somerset Sheriff’s Office described two such incidents, the first of which occurred on April 24 at what used to be the Somerset Rehabilitation and Living Center on Owens…

The Auburn Police Department’s Proactive Community Enforcement (PACE) Unit executed a search warrant at the Center Street Value Inn, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of multiple drugs and cash. Police say the operation followed an ongoing investigation into drug activity at the Inn. During the search, which was on the morning of Thursday, July 10, officers recovered methamphetamine, cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, over 600 oxycodone pills, digital scales, packaging materials, and more than $2,000 in suspected drug proceeds. Source: Auburn Police Department Authorities arrested 51-year-old Mark Buiniskas of Lisbon and 35-year-old Shannon Morrison of Lewiston. Both were charged…

The Lewiston Police Department announced on Wednesday that they arrested three individuals and seized multiple firearms in recent days as part of their ongoing effort to curb gun violence in the city. [RELATED: Lewiston Police Launch Crime Suppression Initiative to Curb Rising Violence, Shootings…] Police say that on Sunday, July 6, at about 5:20 a.m., officers responded to reports of a single gunshot near Pine Street and Webster Street. Upon arrival, they encountered a confrontation involving several young adults in the roadway. Following an investigation, police recovered two firearms and charged two individuals: Adein Issak, 19, of Syracuse, N.Y., and…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office last week executed a search warrant at a house in Fairfield, resulting in three arrests and the seizure of fentanyl, cocaine and cash. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the search warrant was obtained for the Ridge Road residence following a months-long investigation into alleged illegal drug sales by Seth Taylor, 34, of Fairfield. During the search of the residence and individuals present on Thursday, July 3, authorities seized approximately 36 grams of fentanyl and cocaine, $2,008 in suspected illegal drug proceeds, and illegal drug-related documentation and paraphernalia. Seth Taylor was arrested and charged with aggravated…

A man has been arrested on aggravated assault charges after allegedly stabbing a 21-year-old in the neck outside of a homeless shelter in Portland. According to Portland Police, at about 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, officers responded to 38 Preble St. for a report of a stabbing. 38 Preble St. is the address of the Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter, a emergency overnight homeless shelter for youth ages 12 through 20 run by the nonprofit Preble Street. Police say officers at the scene found a 21-year-old male suffering from a stab wound to the neck. The victim was transported to…

A New York man was arrested last week for allegedly making posts on the social media platform X threatening to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, including one post threatening to kill an individual’s children. Following an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Matthew White, 43, of Jamestown, N.Y., was arrested on Tuesday, July 1, and was charged with communicating interstate threats. Matthew White, 43, of Jamestown, N.Y. | Source: ICE According to the investigation, an X account believed to be operated by White was posting threats to federal immigration agents and other personnel within the Department…

A Lewiston man was arrested last week on multiple counts of possession of sexually explicit material of a child under 12. According to Lewiston Police, officers executed a search warrant at 118 Spring St. #2 last Thursday as part of an investigation into the dissemination of sexually explicit material of children. Police say electronic devices were seized as part of their search. Booking photo of Calvin Shaw | Source: Lewiston Police Department Arrested was Calvin Shaw, who is charged with two counts of possession of sexually explicit material of a child under 12. Shaw was taken to the Androscoggin County…

Nearly 50 Maine Republican lawmakers on Monday sent a letter to the presidents of the Maine Community College System (MCCS) and Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) calling for the termination of a professor for “inappropriate and discriminatory comments” made to a conservative student. The letter, spearheaded by Buxton Republican Rep. Nathan Carlow, was signed by 47 Republican members of the Maine House of Representatives and Senate, including every Republican on the Legislature’s Education Committee and the ranking members of the Appropriations Committee. [RELATED: ‘Did Jesus Pack Heat?’ – Maine Community College Professor Attacks, Discriminates Against Christian Conservative Student for Views on…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fireworks malfunction that injured three crew members during a display at Sunday River Ski Resort on Barker Mountain Road over the weekend. According to officials, the incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, when a 5-inch firework shell and mortar tube failed during an Independence Day celebration show, causing an explosion. Three members of the Central Maine Pyrotechnics crew were injured. Misty Mellor, 50, of Bath, an assistant on the display, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she remains hospitalized but is recovering, according…

The Sanford Police Department on Monday announced five major arrests from last week, including three people arrested at a home in Sanford as the result of a joint operation with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA). According to Sanford Police, on Tuesday, July 1, officers assisted the MDEA in executing a search warrant at a residence in Sanford. Police did not specify the address where the search occurred. Arrested as a result of the search was: Juan P. Zamarripa, 33, of Sanford, on active warrants for unlawful possession of a scheduled drug and unlawful possession of fentanyl powder; Paul M.…

After Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) professor Carol Lewandowski received significant backlash for providing unprofessional and discriminatory feedback to a student’s essay about gun control, Lewandowski will no longer be teaching the class for the remainder of the semester. [RELATED: ‘Did Jesus Pack Heat?’ – Maine Community College Professor Attacks, Discriminates Against Christian Conservative Student for Views on Gun Control…] Lewandowski generated controversy last week after the EMCC student in question, Katherine Parker, went on WVOM’s George Hale and Ric Tyler Show and made public the feedback that the professor gave her on the essay that she wrote for the…

Here at The Maine Wire, we consider it our responsibility to bring the public news they would not otherwise read in the state’s mainstream media. Call it duty, responsible journalism, or simply fairness, it is part of our continuing mission. Bearing this in mind, here is a recaps of some stories we’ve run in recent months that appeared no where else in Maine’s media — even if, perhaps, they should have: Alleged Sexual Assault and Drug Incident at Bonny Eagle High School A 19-year-old former Bonny Eagle High School student, Ali K. Al-Shammari of Buxton, was arrested in February for…

The Lewiston Police Department announced on Thursday that they have launched a new initiative they are calling a crime suppression enforcement detail to combat a recent uptick of violent crimes in the city. [RELATED: Arrest Made in Fatal Lewiston Shooting of 17-Year-Old…] According to Lewiston Police, they conducted a multi-jurisdiction crime suppression enforcement detail on Wednesday that resulted in eight arrests. “This Crime Suppression Operation is part of the wide range of crime-prevention strategies the Lewiston Police Department hopes will help stabilize the environment, focusing police resources on neighborhoods with higher levels of violent crime,” police said in a statement…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested two men on Tuesday following a raid on a Hancock residence as part of a month-long investigation into illegal drug trafficking. Roland Potter, 38, of Hancock, and Justin Gray, 43, of Blue Hill, were taken into custody after authorities executed a search warrant at Potter’s home on Route 1. The MDEA’s investigation, which involved undercover purchases of crack cocaine, culminated in the seizure of evidence related to drug trafficking, including two firearms, one of which was an illegally modified sawed-off shotgun. Potter faces charges of aggravated trafficking in Schedule W drugs (cocaine base),…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA), in collaboration with the Winslow Police Department and Maine State Police, arrested two men on Tuesday, July 1, following a significant drug bust at a Winslow residence. Brian Gleason, 38, of Winslow, and Milciades Diaz-Soto, 34, of Charlestown, Mass., face charges of aggravated drug trafficking (Class A). Brian Gleason, 38, of Winslow Milciades Diaz-Soto, 34, of Charlestown, Mass. Authorities had been investigating the sale of cocaine and fentanyl from Gleason’s residence for several months. During a traffic stop, Gleason was arrested, and a subsequent search of his home on Tuesday uncovered 505 grams of…

A professor at Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) attacked and discriminated against a Christian conservative student for writing an essay about gun control with which the liberal professor disagreed. The EMCC student, Katherine Parker, joined WVOM’s George Hale and Ric Tyler Show on Wednesday to discuss the incident, which resulted from a rough draft for an essay she submitted for an English class at the college taught by the English department head Carol Lewandowski. The assignment was meant to be a persuasive speech in response to an editorial, and Parker chose one written by columnist Douglas Rooks and published in…

A 68-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly fatally striking a bicyclist with his vehicle and then leaving the scene in Scarborough last week. The collision in question occurred on Friday, June 27, shortly after 4 a.m., near the area of Southgate Road on U.S. Route 1. A motor vehicle struck a bicyclist, and the operator of the motor vehicle fled the scene, police said. The bicyclist, identified as 50-year-old Howard Gribbin, was taken to Maine Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Saran Sun, 68 | Source: Scarborough Police Department The area of Route 1 between Haigis Parkway…

A Greene man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to federal charges after he was pulled over in Lewiston and found with a handgun and illegal drugs. John Labbe, 44, of Greene, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.  The charges stemmed from a January 2025 incident in which Labbe was pulled over by Lewiston Police due to operating a vehicle unlawfully. During the traffic stop, officers found a handgun with a laser sight in Labbe’s possession. Police also searched…

A 23-year-old Lewiston man has been arrested in Minnesota and transported back to Maine where he has been charged with murder in connection with the July 2024 shooting death of 17-year-old Sahal Muridi, the Maine State Police announced on Tuesday. On July 14, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Lewiston Police responded to reports of a shooting at 77 Rideout Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Muridi deceased from gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South took over the investigation, with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta ruling the death a homicide.…

A Bath man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly firing a rifle multiple times in a residential area in Belgrade. According to Maine State Police, shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, troopers responded to the area of Chandler Road and Point Road in Belgrade for reports of a man armed with a rifle. The man reportedly had been yelling and firing the rifle multiple times in close proximity to residences in the area. Police located and arrested 41-year-old William Bamford of Bath. He was taken to the Kennebec County Jail. Bamford has been charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous…

A Massachusetts man was sentenced in federal court in Maine on Tuesday for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft after using stolen debit card numbers to make purchases and obtain money orders in Maine. Andre Hill, 25, received a 32-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release from Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker in Portland. Hill was also ordered to pay $13,842 in restitution. He pleaded guilty to the charges on February 24, 2025. According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between January and February 2023, Hill illegally obtained debit card numbers from multiple account…

An Ellsworth man on Monday was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for a conspiracy to traffic drugs from California to Downeast Maine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced. Lucas Michaud, 33, of Ellsworth, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor to 70 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiring to commit money laundering. Michaud previously pleaded guilty to the charges in January of this year. According to federal prosecutors, Michaud was part of a…

The Westbrook Police Department on Tuesday issued a statement responding to allegations that they had used an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated picture of evidence seized during a drug bust on Brackett Street last week. [RELATED: Six Arrested in Westbrook Drug Bust…] In an original post to their Facebook page regarding the drug raid on Monday, Westbrook Police shared a photo (see below) that included nonsense text on packages and other visual anomalies. These anomalies in the photo led members of the public to speculate whether the image of the evidence was AI-generated, as nonsense text like that seen in the photo…

South Portland police say three masked suspects allegedly assaulted and threatened an ATM technician during a robbery at Bank of America on Monday morning, making off with an undetermined amount of cash. South Portland Police responded to an armed robbery at 425 Philbrook Ave. on Monday, June 30, at approximately 10 a.m. Officers arrived to find a male ATM technician who had reportedly been punched and threatened with a gun by three suspects demanding he open the ATM vault door. According to police, the victim described the attackers as three young Black males wearing ski masks. Police say a preliminary…

Socialist Portland City Councilor Wes Pelletier on Sunday gave a speech at an event in Monument Square in which he referred to his constituents as “creeps” and “sociopaths” for wanting the city to address the issue of homelessness, and called Mayor Mark Dion “f—ing stupid.” [RELATED: Socialist Portland City Councilor to Trump: ‘f— you,’ Calls Banning Boys from Girls’ Sports ‘fascist’…] The event was the inaugural pot luck meal hosted by a new nonprofit organization called “Food Not Bombs,” which plans to hand out food in Monument Square every other Sunday. Earlier this month, the City of Portland announced that…

A 39-year-old unhoused man has been charged with arson following a fire at an unoccupied residential property in Princeton, according to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. [RELATED: Is Arson in the Air? Maine Sees a Swarm of Firebugs in Recent Weeks…] At about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, fire crews from Princeton, Baileyville, Indian Township, and Grand Lake Stream responded to a blaze at 13 Main St. in Princeton. The property showed signs of trespassing, prompting suspicion about the fire’s origin. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was intentionally set. 13 Main Street in Princeton,…

Last week a traffic stop in Westbrook during a routine patrol led to a significant drug bust on Brackett Street, authorities reported. According to Westbrook Police, on the evening of Tuesday, June 24, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with suspected drug trafficking the officer had observed at a residence on Brackett Street. Illegal drugs were found during a search of the vehicle, police said. This prompted Westbrook Police to investigate the residence on Brackett Street, where they encountered several individuals and additional illegal substances. Quick action by officers prevented one suspect from destroying evidence, police…

A New York man out on probation for a bank robbery was arrested on drug charges on Monday after the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) raided a home in Oakland and found large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl. According to the MDEA, the arrest comes as the result of a two-month investigation by the MDEA and Oakland Police Department into suspected drug trafficking taking place at 65 Lakeview Drive in Oakland. MDEA agents, along with Oakland and Waterville Police, executed a search warrant at the Lakeview Drive residence on Monday. Authorities seized a total of 650 grams of cocaine HCL,…

Westbrook Police on Monday announced the arrest of a local man, previously charged with stealing from a vehicle and possessing a stolen firearm from Portland, in connection to their investigation into a bicycle theft on East Bridge Street. According to police, on June 16, a resident reported that a bicycle was stolen from their residence and that their vehicle was burglarized. Later that morning, a Westbrook Police officer spotted a male riding the stolen bicycle on Main Street near City Hall. Jay Warren, 37 | Source: Cumberland County Jail The officer stopped the individual and confirmed the bicycle was stolen.…

Maine’s U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Sector on Wednesday released a promotional video to social media depicting a deportation flight set to “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses. “Welcome aboard the U.S. Border Patrol Express: We fly one way, and it ain’t back,” the caption attached to the video reads. The video, put out by the official social media pages for USBP Houlton Sector, shows illegal aliens being walked in handcuffs and shackles onto a U.S. Coast Guard plane, which then takes off. “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses’ hit opener to their 1987 debut album Appetite for…

Two people were arrested on Monday after fleeing from a theft and leading police on a multi-town chase. Brunswick Police say they received a tip shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday about a red pickup truck that was fleeing from a theft that had occurred in Sagadahoc County. Police say an officer spotted the pickup truck a short time later traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 1 south near Route 196. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the truck came to a brief stop on Mill Street before speeding away with police in pursuit. The truck…

Four individuals were arrested last week in Brooks following a months-long investigation into drug trafficking in Waldo County, authorities announced. On Wednesday, June 18, Maine State Police troopers, alongside deputies from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office and an investigator from the Maine Department of Corrections, executed a search warrant at 23 Gardner Drive in Brooks. The joint operation targeted the residence, which was identified by investigators as a hub for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine in the greater Waldo County region. During the search, law enforcement seized multiple firearms, a significant amount of cash, approximately 87 grams of fentanyl powder,…

Rockland Police are searching for a man in connection to a reported assault on Sunday. Police say they are attempting to locate 28-year-old Kiune McClain of Rockland. McClain is wanted for questioning following a reported assault that occurred early Sunday morning, the Knox County city’s police said. Kiune McClain, 28, of Rockland | Source: Rockland Police Department Police warned .the public not to approach McClain if he is located, but to contact local law enforcement Rockland Police asked anyone with information to contact Detective Jordan Jandreau at JJandreau@RocklandMaine.Gov.

The Mills administration will be granting over $100,000 to a behavioral services provider to partner with immigrant advocacy nonprofits in combatting substance abuse among the Somali community in Lewiston and Androscoggin County. According to a notice to waive competitive bidding (NOI) published Friday, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will be entering into a one-year, $110,000 no-bid contract with Portland-based Spurwink Services to hire a community health worker to provide “culturally competent” substance abuse treatment to the Somali population. [RELATED: Somali-American Refugee’s Medicaid Firm Submitted Fraudulent MaineCare Claims for Years, Former Employees Allege…] “The Somali community in greater…

Lewiston Police on Friday announced that they are investigating a shots fired incident that occurred near the Masjidu Salaam Mosque, the site of another shooting in March that left one person injured. According to police, officers responded to 240 Bartlett St. at about 2:20 p.m. on Friday for a report of shots fired. Police received reports of multiple gunshots in area. Witnesses told police that two Black male suspects were seen firing shots in the direction of the Masjidu Salaam Mosque. [RELATED: Somali-American Maine Rep Says Immigrants’ ‘lives at stake’ in 2024 Election, Claims Lewiston was ‘dead town’ Before Immigrants Made…

The Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) last week announced that they have awarded over $13 million in state subsidies to create affordable housing apartment buildings in Lewiston and Portland, the state two most populous cities. According to MaineHousing, the total $13.4 million in subsidies will create 129 affordable rental units across three different projects–two in Lewiston, and one in Portland. The two Lewiston projects are Martel Phase II and Soleil I apartment complexes, both of which will contain 44 units and will be managed by the Lewiston Housing Authority. The Portland project, led by Developers Collaborative, is to build 41…

Westbrook Police on Thursday announced the arrest of a Gray man in connection to their investigation into the theft of tools from a local business. According to police, in mid-May they received a report from a business that a suspect had burglarized several of their trailers, stealing tools. An investigation into the burglary was launched and led detectives to develop a description of the suspect. Westbrook Police patrol officers then identified an individual matching the description, with whom they had recently had contact. Detectives executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in Gray. The stolen tools were found on…

Two Biddeford men were found guilty on multiple federal charges, including robbery, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms possession, after a six-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Portland, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced Tuesday. Nathaniel Ashwood, 37, and Lloyd Lyttle, 35, were convicted of interfering with commerce by robbery, conspiring to traffic cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, using a firearm during drug trafficking, and illegally possessing a firearm as convicted felons. The verdict stems from a July 28, 2023, incident in which Ashwood and Lyttle were accused of robbing and assaulting a rival drug…

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and Winthrop Police Department announced the arrest of two individuals on charges of aggravated drug trafficking following a month-long investigation into cocaine and fentanyl sales at a Winthrop motel, authorities said Thursday. Stephen Lee Smith, 34, of Broad Brook, Conn., faces two counts of aggravated drug trafficking, while Katelynn Dubois, 32, of Winthrop, was charged with two counts of aggravated drug trafficking and one count of unlawful trafficking in Schedule W drugs. Smith’s bail was set at $50,000 cash, and Dubois’ bail was set at $500 cash with $5,000 unsecured. Both are currently detained…

The stepfather of the child who died from a gunshot wound to the head in a Lewiston apartment in May has been arrested and is facing counts of manslaughter and child endangerment. Shortly before 5 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, Lewiston Police and other emergency personnel responded to 93 Pierce St. in Lewiston for a report of a child suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The four-year-old, later identified by Maine State Police as Jasper Smith, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at about 7 a.m. An autopsy was conducted at the…

A 26-year-old Farmington man is in custody following a domestic violence shooting that left a woman critically injured, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on 513 Fairbanks Road in Farmington. Farmington Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded promptly to the scene. The caller reported that the suspect had fled the residence on foot. Law enforcement located and detained Gunthar Swan, 26, of Farmington, a short distance south of the residence. Gunthar Swan, 26, of Farmington | Source: Franklin County Detention…

A transient man out of jail on 19 sets of bail conditions was arrested on Monday after allegedly assaulting a woman in Hermon and fleeing into the woods. According to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday, deputies responded to the area of Ohio Street in Hermon for a report of a male subject assaulting a female. Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office K9 Memphis Upon arrival at the scene, deputies learned that the alleged assailant had fled into a nearby wooded area. The Sheriff’s Office deployed K9 Memphis to the scene, who was able to successfully track…

One man was arrested on Tuesday after Lewiston Police launched their investigation into a drive-by shooting that occurred outside of a storefront on Pine Street. According to police, shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of Pine Street and Horton Street, where Webb’s Market, a small grocery store and deli, is located. Witnesses at the scene told officers that the gunfire came from a dark-colored SUV that was driving along Pine Street, and was directed toward a group of men standing outside of a nearby storefront. Police say both the suspect vehicle…

The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous & Tribal Populations (PCRITP), Maine’s taxpayer-funded racial equity board, is looking to hire a full-time policy coordinator who will advance state-level policies aimed at “reducing racial disparities” in Maine. [RELATED: Maine Racial Equity Commission to Be Booted from Office, New Owner Won’t Meet Their Needs…] According to a state job board post by PCRITP earlier this month, the policy coordinator will conduct policy research, track bills deliver testimony on behalf of the Permanent Commission in the Maine legislature, and work with other state agencies on “activities and programs that reduce racial…

Jordan Wood, a progressive Democratic candidate running to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins, last week boasted that his campaign has raised $1 million in just under two months and earned endorsements from several local and state politicians. Wood, 35, a former congressional staffer from Lewiston who spent about a decade working in politics in Washington, D.C., launched his campaign for the 2025 Senate race in April. He currently lives in Bristol with his husband, a specialist in online political fundraising. On Thursday, June 12, Wood announced on social media that his campaign had raised $1 million in contributions in…

Lewiston Police are investigating a shooting that occurred over the weekend that left a man with non-life-threatening injuries from two gunshot wounds. According to police, at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Bartlett and Walnut Street in Lewiston. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found 29-year-old Malik Hollis suffering from two gunshot wounds and hiding in a nearby apartment. Police say an initial investigation indicated that Hollis had been shot outside and had fled into the apartment prior to police arriving at the scene. Hollis was taken to Central Maine…

Scarborough Police on Saturday assisted the Maine Warden Service and U.S. Border Patrol with a suspicious death investigation after stopping a vehicle with eight occupants that allegedly left the scene. According to Scarborough Police, the department received information from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday regarding two vehicles that left the scene of a suspicious death in Waterford. The information relayed to Scarborough Police indicated that the two vehicles might be travelling from Waterford to a residence in Scarborough. Police say a teletype from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office was issued shortly after requesting that…

A 57-year-old Warren man is facing multiple charges following an alleged break-in and assault at a residence in Owls Head. According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Daryl D. Green Sr., 57, allegedly broke into a home in Owls Head late Sunday night. Green is alleged to have assaulted the people inside of the home before fleeing. Green was arrested Monday morning and was charged with burglary, aggravated assault, unlawful sexual touching and criminal use of an electronic weapon. Daryl D. Green Sr., 57, of Warren | Source: York County Sheriff’s Office Under Maine’s criminal code, an “electronic weapon” means…

A Saco man is facing multiple charges after leading police on a multi-town chase through York and Cumberland Counties. Maine State Police say that shortly after 10 a.m. on Thursday, a trooper observed a white Hyundai Sonata traveling at a reckless speed and passing other vehicles in a no-passing zone on Route 25 in Cornish. The driver of the Hyundai failed to stop for the state trooper and continued at a high speed. State Police coordinated with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office to deploy spike mats at the Limington-Standish town line in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Although the…

In a series of votes reflecting Maine’s divided stance on gun control, the Maine Senate this week rejected a bill redefining “machine gun” to ban bump stocks, previously vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills for its broad language, while both chambers advanced a measure requiring serial numbers on firearms and prohibiting undetectable “ghost guns.” Those bills were considered in the Legislature alongside proposals banning large-capacity ammunition magazines and penalizing improper handgun storage in vehicles, as well as the contentious public hearing on a “red flag” law referendum prompted by legal threats from gun rights groups. ‘Bump Stock Ban’ Shot Down by…

A person was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed multiple times near Main Street in South Portland on Wednesday. According to South Portland Police, officers responded to the 800 block of Main Street on Wednesday for a report of an aggravated assault. At the scene, officers found an individual suffering from numerous stab wounds. The individual was given medical aid and was transported to the hospital. Police say the injuries to the individual found at the scene do not appear life-threatening. The suspected assailant was reported to police to be in the nearby woods. Both South Portland Police and…

A juvenile male faces murder charges following the discovery of two deceased men at a residence in Chelsea on Wednesday evening, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. State troopers were dispatched to a home on Windsor Road at approximately 8:37 p.m. after reports of a possible homicide. Upon arrival, officers found two adult males dead at the scene. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded to investigate, with detectives and evidence technicians processing the scene. The victims’ bodies were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where autopsies will be conducted to establish…

A Dixmont woman was arrested on multiple felony counts on Monday after allegedly forcing her way into a home and stealing a hunting rifle, according to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after 11:20 a.m. on Monday, authorities received a 911 call from a woman at a residence on North Road in Dixmont reporting that an unknown female subject was trying to force her way into the home. The female subject, later identified as 67-year-old Renee Cohen of Dixmont, was allegedly successful in forcing her way inside, where the homeowner was alone with her infant, the Sheriff’s Office said. Upon…

The City of Portland resettled nearly 1,000 migrants within its territorial limits in 2024, including over 400 at a shelter for single asylum-seeking seeking migrants that has an operating cost of $4.5 million per year, according to the Portland Health and Human Services’ (HHS) annual report. According to the Portland HHS 2024 annual report, a total of 279 families, representing 916 individual migrants, were resettled in the city in 2024. Of those 279 families, 32 were placed into permanent housing, and 159 were placed in the shelter. The report also indicates that the city conducted six “tenant education” classes for…

An juvenile suspect who reportedly attempted to enter the graduation for Oceanside High School in Rockland while intoxicated has been charged with disorderly conduct, motor vehicle burglary, theft and criminal mischief. According to Rockland Police, at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, officers working a security detail for the high school graduation made contact with an intoxicated juvenile subject. Police say the juvenile is well known to law enforcement and was trespassing at the graduation. According to police, the juvenile refused to leave and “berated officers with racial slurs” and made hand gestures “as if shooting the officers.” The juvenile was…

A Puerto Rican man on Tuesday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for trafficking $40,000 worth of fentanyl into Maine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced on Wednesday. Rafael Omar Ojeda Lopez, 44, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland to 57 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to federal prosecutors, in September 2023, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) directed a confidential source to negotiate the purchase of a kilogram of fentanyl…

A federal judge on Monday postponed the habeas hearing for the Congolese man who has been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at Maine’s Cumberland County Jail since last fall, effectively preventing his deportation while the litigation is ongoing. Eyidi Ambila, 44, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has lived in the U.S. since the age of seven. Ambila has been held at the Cumberland County Jail by ICE on an immigration detainer since September 23, 2024, after completing a 125-day prison sentence for two misdemeanors. ICE lodges immigration detainers against unlawfully present noncitizens…

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that three suspects have been arrested in connection to a burglary at a Dixfield convenience store. According to the Sheriff’s Office, at about 2:45 a.m. on Monday, Deputy Derek MacDonald responded to a burglary alarm at Ellis’s Variety on Weld Street in Dixfield. Upon further investigation, Deputy MacDonald learned that two masked suspects had forced their way into the business at around 2:45 a.m., ultimately leaving with a small amount of cash and rolled coins totaling about $820. Later in the day on Monday, the deputy learned that a female subject had…

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an ongoing investigation into a Monday shooting in Glenburn that left two injured. The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on McCarty Road in Glenburn. Penobscot County deputies responded to the scene after receiving reports of a disorderly incident. At the scene, deputies found that one individual had sustained a gunshot wound, while another person suffered minor injuries during the incident. The suspect fled the scene following the shooting. According to the Sheriff’s Office, an initial investigation indicated that the suspect was known and that the shooting was likely an isolated incident involving…

A Rockland woman has been charged with her second Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offense after leading police on a slow speed chase during which she reportedly almost struck several vehicles. Rockland Police say that just before 9 p.m. on Friday, officers were alerted to a vehicle being operated erratically along Old County Road, reportedly nearly striking several vehicles head-on. Rockland Police officers were able to locate the vehicle as it traveled down Old County Road into Rockland, and observed the vehicle driving in the wrong lane. Police say the operator failed to stop and led officers on a slow-speed…

Scarborough public school officials sent out a letter to the community this week warning of potential threats from Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups that target children online. According to the email, sent Thursday by RSU 5 Superintended Jean Skorapa, Maine school officials throughout the region received credible information from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity agency that multiple NVEs are actively targeting children online. NVE groups, according to the email, operate by infiltrating popular video games, such Roblox and Minecraft, as well as major social media platforms, to “inflict severe psychological and physical harm on children, specifically targeting…

Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine’s only juvenile correctional facility, will be spending nearly $30,000 to purchase audio equipment for juvenile offenders to be taught poetry and rap music, a recent disclosure showed. According to a Procurement Justification Form (PJF) published on Thursday, the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) is entering into a $29,000 no-bid contract with Pennsylvania-based company Creative Hope Studios to purchase music and audio equipment. [RELATED: Maine’s Juvenile Correctional Facility to Offer Music Classes…] Creative Hope Studios’ website states that they are a “renowned organization that harnesses the power of hip-hop culture and creative…

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) on Friday issued a press release celebrating a record high level of vaccination among the state’s school-age children. According to the newly published Maine Annual School Assessment Survey for the 2024-2025 school year, more than 97 percent of Maine students have received all of the state-required vaccines. [RELATED: New Maine CDC Director Recommends Masks and Latest COVID Booster for Everybody Ages 6 months and Older…] This marks the second consecutive year that Maine has exceeded the “herd immunity” threshold among school-age children in the state since reporting began in 2011,…

A Guatemalan national was sentenced in a Maine federal court on Wednesday for illegal reentry into the U.S. after a prior deportation after he was stopped by police for having snow on the roof of his car. Samuel Par-Lopez, 37, was sentenced to time served of about 113 days for illegally entering the U.S. after a prior removal. He previously pleaded guilty to the federal charge in March. Par-Lopez was pulled over by an officer from the Wiscasset Police Department in early February for operating a vehicle with snow on the roof that had not been cleared, in violation of…

The Democrats of the Kennebunks and Arundel (DKA) is looking to form a “Rapid Response Team” in case of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in their towns, their organizing communications indicate. The Democratic Town Committee, which covers Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel, made the announcement in their June newsletter, under a header of “VOUNTEERS NEEDED! [sic]” “Several members of the DKA have begun meeting with a group of folks in Wells regarding the potential creation of a Rapid Response Team in case ICE conducts a raid in our communities,” the newsletter reads. “We are working with several immigration groups…

An Egyptian national with alleged ties to a terrorist organization was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents in Pittsfield last week. According to USBP Houlton Sector, on Friday, May 30, agents with the Rangeley Station encountered an Egyptian national near Pittsfield. During their investigation and records check, the agents determined that the Egyptian national had entered the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa — used for visiting the U.S. for business or tourism — that had expired in 2018, meaning that the Egyptian national was illegally present in the country. USBP Houlton Sector says that a further record check into…

The Maine State Police on Wednesday released the identity of a woman found dead at a home in Lewiston earlier this week. Shortly after 5 a.m. on Monday, Lewiston Police responded to a residence on Old Greene Road in Lewiston for a death investigation. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit also responded to the scene to investigate. An autopsy was performed on Tuesday at the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. Police identified the deceased as 42-year-old Melissa Donoghue of Lewiston. Police say the cause and manner of Donoghue’s death are being withheld at this time as…

A Portland homeless man was arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly stabbing another homeless man in the city’s downtown area. Portland Police say they responded to the area of Cumberland Avenue and Preble Street shortly after 6 a.m. on Wednesday for a report of a stabbing. At the scene, police found a 41-year-old homeless man who had suffered a laceration to his hand. The victim was taken to Maine Medical Center, where he was treated and has since been released. Later in the morning on Wednesday, police arrested 37-year-old Christopher Hodgkins, also described by police as “unhoused.” Hodgkins was charged with…

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) in Maine is reporting a recent spike in apprehensions, including the removal of 42 illegal aliens out of the state for deportation proceedings. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, Maine’s Houlton Sector in April saw a record 113 migrant apprehensions, bringing the total apprehensions up to 357 in fiscal year 2025 to date — already surpassing the totals from the previous three years. Following the record-breaking number of arrests in April, USBP Houlton Sector is reporting continuing elevated numbers of apprehensions. On Friday May 23, Houlton Sector, in coordination with other Department of…

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) issued a no-bid contract this week spending nearly $30,000 on English language classes for adult “multilingual learners” at a cost of $159 per seat, extending a program that launched last June for another year. According to a procurement justification form (PJF) filed by the Maine DOE on Sunday, over 50 percent of all adult education participants in Maine are learning the English language as “multilingual learners.” “Smaller adult education programs are increasingly needing to offer English language acquisition classes but often lack the human and capital resources and time to provide high-quality contextualized instruction…

A 30-year-old Lewiston man was arrested on Monday after an investigation showed that he allegedly used a social media account to send sexually explicit material of children under 12. Lewiston Police executed a search warrant at 29 Elm St. on Monday following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to the Maine Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Police obtained a search warrant to a social media provider and identified Christopher Benning, 30, of Lewiston, as a suspect. Source: Lewiston Police Department According to police, records from the social media provider showed that Benning had been…

The Opportunity Alliance, a homeless and substance abuse service provider based in South Portland, has agreed to a nearly $350,000 settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) related to allegations that the nonprofit submitted false drug testing claims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced on Monday that the group agreed to pay $346,369 as part of the settlement, which resolves allegations that the service provider caused false claims to be submitted to Medicare and MaineCare for a period of about three years. Federal prosecutors filed a civil complaint against The Opportunity Alliance in the U.S. District…

Flight Deck Brewing in Brunswick is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division for potential violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal government agency confirmed. A DOL spokesperson confirmed that the investigation into the local brewery is open but did not elaborate on the details of the case beyond that it has to do with the FLSA. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that sets standards for wages, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor. According to WGME, Flight Deck managing partner Nate Wildes acknowledged late last month…

Who’s afraid of a public hearing? Maine legislative Republicans held a press conference on Monday to call out a move by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee to deny a public hearing for a proposed “red flag” gun control law as undemocratic and potentially illegal. The bill in question, LD 1378, or An Act to Protect Maine Communities by Enacting the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, first came to the Legislature and was referred to the Judiciary Committee in March following a citizen-initiated petition led by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. However, no public hearing for the bill has yet been…

Portland Police last week apprehended a fugitive wanted by federal law enforcement after officers chased him down and found him in possession of crack cocaine and other illegal drugs. Police say their crime reduction unit was working in the area of Portland Street and Forest Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday when they observed a male subject remove what appeared to be a small baggie of drugs from his pants. When police attempted to question the man, he fled, leading to a foot chase during which the subject allegedly thew the plastic baggie on the ground. Two officers received…

A Linneus man on Tuesday became the 20th person to be sentenced for his role in a northern Maine drug trafficking ring. James Valiante, 43, was sentenced in a Bangor federal court on Tuesday to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Valiante pleaded guilty in August of last year to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, Valiente and over 20 co-conspirators trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties between January 2018 and December 2021.…

Democratic lawmakers on the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Friday afternoon chose to carry over two bills that would abolish the 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases in the state over objections from Republicans, effectively denying the two bills from being debated or getting a vote on the House and Senate floor this session. LD 208 and LD 1230, two identical bills submitted by Republicans earlier this year, both would repeal the 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases in Maine that was passed and became law without the signature of Gov. Janet Mills (D) last legislative session. The law, which…

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents from Maine’s Rangeley Station last week arrested a Salvadoran illegal alien gang member wanted by Interpol for murder. USBP Houlton Sector announced in a Thursday post to social media that agents from the Rangeley Station arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador on Friday, May 23. [RELATED: Another Illegal Alien Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Member Arrested in Maine for Theft…] According to Border Patrol, during their investigation, agents discovered that the illegal alien was wanted by Interpol for aggravated murder in El Salvador. The Salvadoran illegal alien is also a confirmed member of the…

Three 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection to a December 2024 shooting at Portland’s Peppermint Park, including two suspects who were charged for an alleged gunpoint robbery in South Portland just last month and were quickly released on lowered bail. The shots fired incident occurred in the early hours of Dec. 26, 2024, at 139 Cumberland Ave. in Portland, opposite Peppermint Park, a public park with a children’s playground. At the scene, police found damage to windows and bullet holes at several nearby apartments. No injuries were reported by any occupants of the apartments. According to police, it appeared that…

A Mexico man with an extensive criminal history in Maine described by police as a “known menace” has been arrested in connection to a robbery that occurred last week at Tractor Supply in Rumford. The robbery in question occurred on Friday, May 23. Rumford Police officers were called to Tractor Supply and learned that a male suspect had stolen a Husqvarna chainsaw, and when confronted had threatened to spray store employees with a chemical agent. Police say a “good Samaritan” intervened during the incident to assist the store employees, resulting in the suspect fleeing from the store on foot. No…

A man accused of firing a gun at passing vehicles in Lewiston on Tuesday evening was arrested after a standoff with Lewiston Police. According to Lewiston Police, officers responded to the area of Horton and Walnut Streets at about 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday due to reports of a male subject firing a gun at vehicles. Officers arrived at the scene and the located the subject, later identified at 35-year-old Troy Blanchard. Source: Lewiston Police Department Police say Blanchard had entered an unoccupied vehicle at the scene while still armed, leading police to secure the surrounding area and to begin de-escalation…

A Lewiston woman is facing a slate of drug charges after being found with over 20 grams of fentanyl during a traffic stop in Auburn on Sunday. Auburn Police say that at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, officers were called to assist the Maine State Police with a traffic stop on West Auburn Road in Auburn. According to police, the state trooper who had stopped a vehicle for operating with improper license plates observed that the occupants of the vehicle were attempting to hide items. A subsequent search led to the discovery of 21.4 grams of fentanyl and about two…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies on Tuesday conducted an immigration enforcement operation on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, resulting in the arrests of about 40 illegal aliens. According to ICE, among the 40 illegal aliens taken into custody on the two Massachusetts islands were one documented member of the MS-13 street gang, and at least one child sex offender. A gallery of photos from the operation provided by ICE shows federal agents taking the illegal aliens into custody, and the aliens being walked in life jackets to U.S. Coast Guard vessels. “Operations like this…

A Maine man on the run from New Hampshire authorities due to a probation violation stemming from a domestic violence conviction and multiple drug charges has been taken into custody in Lebanon, Maine, the York County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday. John Bauer, 43, originally from Acton, Maine, was wanted by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections for absconding from probationary supervision after being released from jail in January, following the completion of a sentence for an original charge of domestic violence assault and previous probation violations. Bauer was also sought by New Hampshire authorities on a slew of other…

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maine is challenging the detention of a noncitizen from the Democratic Republic of Congo previously arrested for criminal trespass, terrorizing and domestic violence assault, who has been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since last fall. [RELATED: Maine ACLU Vows to Resist ‘repression and totalitarianism’ of Second Trump Administration…] Eyidi Ambila, 44, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has lived in the U.S. since the age of seven, according to the Maine ACLU. Ambila was previously detained in December 2005 following a felony conviction, and was ordered…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office last week raided the American Lodge in Fairfield, resulting in one arrest and the seizure of over a dozen grams of fentanyl and other illegal drugs. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant for the American Lodge on Main Street in Fairfield was obtained after a month-long investigation into reports of illegal drugs being sold by the occupants of the lodge. [RELATED: Somerset County Sheriff Seizes $40,000 in Drugs, Crack Laced With Fentanyl and Arrests Three in Fairfield Raid…] At about 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, investigators, deputies and officers from the Somerset…

The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, a Portland-based migrant nonprofit that provides English language classes and other services to immigrants, announced on Friday that they will be closing their physical location this summer, citing a funding shortfall exacerbated by a loss of federal funding. In a Friday press release, the nonprofit’s board of directors announced that the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center’s brick and mortar location at 25 Preble St. in Portland will be closed for walk-in services after June 30, 2025. [RELATED: Catholic Charities Maine to Close Bangor Refugee Office Due to Cuts, Policy Changes from Trump Administration…] The…

A Honduran illegal alien who was arrested outside of a convenience store in Brownville in March has been sentenced and will face now face likely deportation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced Thursday. Jose Luis Matute-Duarte, 35, a Honduran citizen, was sentenced to time served of approximately 70 days by U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann in federal court in Bangor on Thursday. [RELATED: Maine Border Patrol Arrests Hit Near Quarter Century High as Southern Crossings Remain at Historic Low…] Matute-Duarte previously pleaded guilty to illegally entering a U.S. after a prior removal in early April,…

An Alabama man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending threatening text messages to employees of Bangor International Airport, saying he was going to detonate a bomb at the Maine airport, according to an FBI indictment reported by The Decatur Daily. Robert Tyler Wicks, of Decatur, Ala., has been charged with knowingly conveying false and misleading information involving an explosive device for his alleged threats. According to the affidavit, submitted last week by an FBI agent and unsealed Wednesday, Wicks’ targeted two American Airlines employees at Bangor International Airport with threatening text messages on Feb. 13 and 14 of this…

An Indian national pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to serving as a getaway driver in staged armed robberies of convenience stores and restaurants as part of visa fraud conspiracy. Balwinder Singh, 41, pleaded guilty to on one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, a charge that provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11, 2025. Singh would be subject to deportation following any sentence imposed. Singh was first charged in December 2023 along with a…

A South Portland Police crisis negotiator on Wednesday was successfully able to safely de-escalate a situation involving a 20-year-old South Portland man who reportedly threatened to commit “suicide by cop.” According to South Portland Police, at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday officers responded to an address in South Portland to check on the well-being of a 20-year-old male who had threatened to harm himself. Police say that the man reportedly made threats to commit “suicide by cop.” A license plate number and description of the vehicle the man would be operating was put out by police, and a South Portland…

One woman is dead and two others injured after a vehicle crashed into a home on Webster Street in Lewiston early Wednesday morning. Lewiston Police say they responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle crash at 816 Webster St. in Lewiston at about 4:17 a.m. on Wednesday. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found that a 2017 BMW had driven into a single-family home at the address. According to police, several occupants had been trapped inside of the vehicle as a result of the crash and required extraction. One of the passengers, identified by police as 28-year-old Natasha…