Editor’s Note: An arrest or summons does not constitute a finding of guilt. An individual charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at criminal proceedings.
HOULTON, Maine — The Maine State Police Troop F barracks in Houlton responded to a number of calls for service during the period of Feb. 17-23, 2020, including the following.
Monday, Feb. 17
MAPLETON — Trooper Levesque observed a female on her cell phone in Mapleton. Tr. Levesque stopped her and discovered that her license was suspended. She was summonsed for operating after suspension and operating a motor vehicle using a handheld mobile device. Her brother came to pick her up.
PRESQUE ISLE — Tr. Levesque observed a male on his cell phone in Presque Isle. Tr. Levesque stopped him and discovered that his registration was out for almost a year. Tr. Levesque summonsed the operator for failure to register a motor vehicle more than 150 days.
ISLAND FALLS — Houlton Regional Communications Center advised Tr. Cotton that a female had called to report her car had been backed into at Jerry’s Store in Island Falls on Feb. 15. Tr. Cotton called the female and determined that she did not notice the damage until Feb. 17, backtracked where she had been and ultimately went to Jerry’s and obtained surveillance footage of a light-colored truck, with a snowmobile in the bed, back into her car and drive away. Tr. Cotton went to Jerry’s, watched the video and determined it was a light-colored GMC extended-cab truck, but the plate was not visible. Tr. Cotton used names of people who signed into the local fishing derby to develop a suspect. After running vehicles registered to the people on the list, a male from Monticello became the primary suspect. On Feb. 20, Tr. Cotton contacted the male and met with him at his residence in Monticello. Tr. Cotton interviewed him and he admitted he probably hit the car and never got out to check. The male was given a summons for failing to report an accident by the quickest means.
WALLAGRASS — Cpl. Hafford responded to a residence in Wallagrass for a reported assault. A female had met Cpl. Hafford at Fort Kent Police Department and reported she had been assaulted by a male. Cpl. Hafford interviewed three separate witnesses and found that the female had approached the male swinging her fists to hit him and he put up his arms to protect himself. The female fell, then tried to hit the male, but was held down by people in the residence. No actual assault occurred in this case. This was an argument that began over tending to a woodstove.
BRIDGEWATER — Tr. Sylvia and Sgt. Haines were conducting a well-being check on an individual in Bridgewater. While checking on the subject, they discovered a local woman at the residence who had a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested without incident and transported to the Aroostook County Jail.
DYER BROOK — In the late evening hours of Feb. 17, HRCC received multiple reports of a vehicle that was traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-95. Several troopers converged on the area, and the vehicle was located by Tr. Adam Bell in Dyer Brook. He was able to get the vehicle pulled over and brought an end to the incident. Tr. Saucier arrested the Indian Island man and transported him to the Aroostook County Jail. He was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
PRESQUE ISLE — Cpl. Michaud was patrolling in his unmarked cruiser in Presque Isle when he observed a driver who was using his cell phone while drinking a beer. Cpl. Michaud pulled the subject over and his investigation revealed that not only was the man drinking while reading a text message on his phone, his license was also suspended. The operator was cited for using his mobile device, possessing an open container of alcohol, failing to provide evidence of insurance, failing to produce his registration, and operating after suspension.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
CROSS LAKE — Tr. Desrosier responded to a crash in Cross Lake. While conducting his investigation, he suspected the driver was intoxicated and conducted Field Sobriety Testing. The man did not pass the tests and was arrested for OUI. He was taken to Fort Kent PD for a breath test; the result of the test was over the legal limit. The man was able to post bail and arranged to have a sober driver come get him.
MONTICELLO — Tr. Kilcollins responded to a two-vehicle crash in Monticello. A local man, who drives a logging truck, had parked the loaded truck on the Gentle Road, Monticello, in the travel lane, without any lights or flashers activated. A juvenile was driving west on the Gentle Road and did not see the truck until the last moment. He tried to swerve to avoid the truck but was not able due to the slippery roads. The juvenile struck the rear of the trailer head-on. He suffered some injuries but none that were life-threatening. The driver of the truck was issued a summons for blocking the public way and the juvenile received a summons for not having proof of insurance. The car was towed from the roadway and the truck was moved to a local lot.
Thursday, Feb. 20
MARS HILL — Tr. Kilcollins stopped a vehicle in Mars Hill for speeding. While conducting the traffic stop, he recognized the female passenger, who was refusing to look at him, as having an active arrest warrant. When Tr. Kilcollins called the woman’s name, she looked at him. She was arrested without incident and was taken to Presque Isle where she was able to post bail. The driver was issued a warning for the speed infraction.
ST. JOHN PLT. — Tr. Desrosier was conducting traffic enforcement in St. John when he observed a vehicle defect. When he turned to stop the car, the driver sped up. Tr. Desrosier pursued the vehicle for a short distance and then terminated the pursuit. Tr. Desrosier recognized the man and began searching for him. He located the man at his parent’s residence in Saint John. The man was already on bail for an unrelated incident; however, one condition of his release prohibited him from being at that residence. The man was arrested without incident for eluding, violation of conditions of release, operating after suspension, and criminal speeding. The man was transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
Friday, Feb. 21
MASARDIS — Cpl. Quint responded to an address in Masardis after a homeowner reported being locked inside her residence. An investigation determined that a man, who stayed with the couple for a week or so, became upset with them when he was told he could not stay there any longer. The man used a padlock to lock the couple inside the trailer. A week prior, the man poured gasoline on their front door and left the gas can, cap off, in front of the door, to scare them. He was located in Ashland and arrested for terrorizing (class C) and criminal restraint. The man was transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
Sunday, Feb. 23
HOULTON — Tr. Bell observed a male driving in Houlton known to not have a valid license. The driver was stopped and summonsed for operating without a license. While typing the report in Houlton, Tr. Bell observed a male driving. The male had a suspended driver’s license. After the male parked, Tr. Bell approached the male and summonsed him for operating after suspension.
SMYRNA — Tr. Bell observed a known revoked male driver driving a car in Smyrna. When Tr. Bell turned around he observed the car cross the centerline and when he stopped the car, the male was no longer driving. The car crossed the centerline because he switched with his female passenger and eventually admitted that he was driving. The male was summonsed for operating after revocation and violating his bail conditions.
