CRIME & SAFETY

This week in Hancock County, Maine, several incidents occurred that raised concerns about safety. These incidents include a fatal crash that blocked the only road out of a Maine island town, a whale watch vessel running aground, and a fatal motorcycle accident. Additionally, there was an event focused on raising awareness about domestic abuse on Mount Desert Island.

ELLSWORTH, Maine (WABI) - The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is remembering Deputy Luke Gross, on the second anniversary of his death. Deputy Luke Gross, 44, of Hancock, passed away in the line of duty on September 23, 2021. He died after he was hit by a vehicle while investigating...

BAR HARBOR – Finding Our Voices and four public libraries and downtown business communities are shining a light across Mount Desert Island as a lead-in to Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. […]

Maine House Republican Leader and Lobsterman, Billy Bob Faulkingham, and his sternman, Alex Polk, survived a harrowing incident at sea. The pair's 40-foot vessel capsized near Turtle Island in Winter Harbor, due to an unanticipated wave, causing them to fall into the freezing waters. 'It felt surreal,' said Faulkingham, about the traumatic incident.

(Deer Isle) A Deer Isle man was killed Sunday as he rode his motorcycle on the Burnt Cove Road in Stonington. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports to Star 97.7, 30 yo Lionel Nault was traveling south about 1:05 Sunday afternoon when he crested a hill and was unable to avoid another vehicle stopped in the southbound lane as it conducted a storm-related power line inspection. Nault lost control of the motorcycle, was ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say he was wearing a helmet.

STONINGTON- A Stonington man died Sunday while he was trying to avoid a crew inspecting lines after the storm. Lt. Chris Thornton with the Hancock County Sheriff's Department says 30-year-old Lionel Nault was driving his motorcycle on the Burnt Cove Road in Stonington just after 1:00 pm when the crash happened.

Dispatch received a report on Friday from a concerned citizen about a large raccoon on Seawall Road that had a jar stuck on its head. An officer went to the area and, “after a diligent search,” was unable to find the animal. About an hour later, another call came in about the jar-headed raccoon. While the officer was getting the necessary jar removal tools out of the cruiser, the raccoon approached the officer, bumped into their leg and stood motionless in the roadway. The officer reached down to try to get the jar off, but it was “firmly secured to the raccoon,” according to the police report, and the raccoon took off into the woods “with police in close pursuit.” The officer caught up to the critter and was able to grab hold of the jar, pulling it off, and the raccoon ran off.

This week in Hancock County, Maine, there were three notable incidents. First, a stand-off occurred in Deer Isle when police attempted to serve a burglary warrant. The suspect resisted and assaulted a deputy and a police dog, resulting in shots being fired and the suspect being taken into custody. Second, a family is still searching for their dog, Rex, who fell off a lobster boat near Kimball Rock. Despite ongoing search efforts, Rex has not been found. Lastly, another stand-off took place in Deer Isle, with limited official details released. Police closed off sections of Sunset Road and Pressey Village Road during the incident.

(Rangeley) An officer involved shooting Wednesday resulted in the death of a man wanted for violation of bail conditions. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, 28 yo Shay McKenna was seen carrying a firearm he was prohibited from possessing after he was accused of killing his brother in Rumford. McKenna also failed to show for a court date earlier this week. That led to an investigation, with detectives locating McKenna in Rangeley Plantation. A Maine State Police Crisis Negotiation Team advised McKenna he was under arrest. McKenna then reportedly exited a van in which he was hiding with a rifle and a ballistic vest, got into a confrontation with and was shot by Trooper Jeffrey Parks. McKenna died at the scene. Parks is on Administrative Leave per standard protocol.

DEER ISLE, Maine (WABI) - Two Hancock County Sheriff’s Officers are being put on leave after an officer involved shooting in Deer Isle on Sunday. According to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, officials attempted to arrest 37-year-old Aaron Bulger of Deer Isle on a warrant. They say Bulger...

It happened as Sgt. Travis Frost and Deputy Zack Allen were attempting to arrest a man on a warrant charging burglary, the Hancock County Sheriff's Office said.

TREMONT — A Tremont man was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison Sept. 8 after pleading guilty to one count of Class A domestic violence aggravated assault. Dusten Phippen, 33, also pleaded guilty to domestic violence criminal threatening and violating conditions of release. In exchange, the state dismissed one count of domestic violence assault and one count of violating conditions of release.

BANGOR — Two Bar Harbor and Mount Desert police officers have denied the substantive allegations against them in responding to a suit brought by Eli Durand-McDonnell of Bar Harbor, who was arrested while protesting in front of the home of prominent conservative operative Leonard Leo in Northeast Harbor on July 31, 2022.

BAR HARBOR — Bar Harbor Fire Chief Matt Bartlett gave a public service announcement and presentation on residential sprinkler systems at the Planning Board meeting on Sept. 6. The chief explained the way old and new buildings burn and showed the difference that having a sprinkler system can make...

BAR HARBOR — The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert police departments held a final signoff for a longtime officer at the Bar Harbor Police Station last week. Sergeant Leigh Guildford, who has served with Mount Desert and Bar Harbor for 18 out of his 38 years in law enforcement, retired on Friday.

(Undated) We all remember where we were and what we were doing. Twenty two years ago, nineteen terrorists from al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes and deliberately crashed two into the upper floors of both towers of the World Trade Center, a third plane into the Pentagon. Passengers on the fourth plane, Flight 93, fought back, and the plane crashed in an empty field in western Pennsylvania, just minutes from the nation’s capital. The attack killed close to 3,000 people, including 441 brave first responders. We said we would never forget, and we’re all keeping that promise today.