Trio arrested following shooting incident in Island Falls

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    ISLAND FALLS — An investigation into a shooting incident resulted in the arrest of three men related to car burglaries in the Island Falls area Friday morning.
    According to police, at 1 a.m. Friday, July 9, George Clements, 63, of Pratt Cove Road on Mattawamkeag Lake reported an individual near his residence had sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Clements also advised that he was holding another individual — William Campbell of Island Falls — until the police arrived.
    The three men — 22-year-old William Campbell and 19-year-old Robert Russell, both of Island Falls, and Jack Doughty, 26, of Bangor had targeted Darrell Whittaker’s vehicles to burglarize. Whittaker, 60, lives just beyond Clements at the end of Pratt Cove Road.
    In the process of burglarizing Whittaker’s vehicles, Doughty stole a handgun from one of the vehicles.  The trio then left in Doughty’s father’s vehicle, which they had used to access the camp.  Doughty crashed the vehicle in between Whittaker’s and Clements’ residence before fleeing on foot.
    While fleeing, Doughty carried the firearm, which went off causing the self-inflicted injury. Campbell went to the Clement’s residence to get assistance for Doughty and Russell fled the scene, police said.
    Campbell was arrested on scene. Russell was located in Island Falls and arrested. Doughty remains hospitalized at Houlton Regional Hospital for his injury. All three are facing a felony Class B charge of theft of a firearm, Class D charge of burglary of a motor vehicle, and Class D charge of Unauthorized Use of Property.  Doughty is also facing an additional charge of operating after suspension.
    The case remains under investigation and other charges are pending review by the DA’s Office. Trooper Timmy Saucier was assisted by Trooper Dennis Quint and the Houlton Police Department. Island Falls Ambulance and Fire Department responded to provide medical care and transportation for Doughty.