News Briefs

Ronald Lewis
Suspect sought
    HOULTON —  An arrest warrant has been issued through Maine State Police (MSP) for Ronald D. Lewis, 20, for allegedly violating his bail conditions while under house arrest in Littleton and a brief police chase in Houlton on June 15.
    According to Houlton Police Department (HPD) Chief Butch Asselin, MSP requested assistance in locating Lewis based on a 9-1-1 call that Lewis was trailing a man’s daughter, Lewis’ ex-girlfriend, from Littleton to Houlton.
    Sgt. Fred Parker headed to the North Road as requested by MSP and was advised by dispatch that the vehicles were on the Ludlow Road in Houlton where a possible disturbance was occurring. As Parker approached, Lewis turned onto the Callaghan Road “and fled at a high rate of speed,” according to Asselin.
    In the police report, Lewis went through the intersection at Cogan Rd. ignoring a stop sign when his 1996 Isuzu Rodeo continued across the intersection, became momentarily airborne and then crashed into a wooded area sustaining minor damage. Parker proceeded to look for Lewis on foot. Assistance from the US Border Patrol and MSP proved unsuccessful.
    Later, when Lewis called his mother via cell phone, Trooper Dennis Quint was at her residence but Lewis would not reveal his location. Although he agreed to meet Quint on the B Road and turn himself in,  Lewis never showed. Also according to Asselin, police suspect that Lewis was picked up by a friend or relative later the next morning.
    The police report revealed that bottles of medication, not belonging to Lewis, were found in a book bag inside the Isuzu which was towed from the crash scene by Acott’s Towing.
    Prior to this incident, Lewis was under house arrest at his Carmichael Road residence for an unrelated charge. As a condition of his release, Lewis was prohibited from leaving his residence.
    To contact HPD with any information on Lewis’ whereabouts, call the Anonymous Tip-Line at 694-3545.
Positions open at HPD
    Following the recent resignations of HPD Officer Randall Wilson and Sgt. Fred Parker, Asselin is in the hiring process to fill both positions.
    Asselin said there are five candidates for the officer position who were interviewed Monday. And, he said he is focusing on that vacancy now, but he is looking to fill both positions as quickly as possible with the most qualified candidates.