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 Aug. 10-16, including the following.
Monday, Aug. 10
WALLAGRASS — Trooper Desrosier received a fraud complaint at a redemption center in Wallagrass. The investigation revealed that a woman changed the numbers of returnables on a slip indicating more returnables than she actually had. The redemption center overpaid the suspect by $70. Tr. Desrosier located the woman and charged her with theft.
WADE — Tr. Martin received a theft complaint in Wade. Tr. Martin investigated a farm truck that had its catalytic converter cut off it. The victim was a farmer. There are now suspects currently. The farmer advised that he would be placing cameras around his equipment in the future.
ISLAND FALLS — On Aug. 10 at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Houlton RCC received a 911 call from a passing motorist reporting a car off the road with people trapped. Tr. Tim Saucier responded and learned from his subsequent investigation that 35-year-old Colleen Collins was driving north on the interstate in Island Falls in a full-size sport utility vehicle. Also, in the vehicle was 62-year-old Mary Michaud and her son, 42-year-old Keith Michaud, both of Van Buren. Collins lost control of the SUV and traveled off into the ditch. The vehicle came to rest in the trees before catching fire. Collins and Mary Michaud did not survive the crash and were pronounced deceased at the scene. Keith Michaud was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash remained under investigation. Also assisting at the scene were Tr. Steve Mahon, Sgt. Josh Haines, Lt. Brian Harris, Maine Forest Service, Island Falls Fire and Island Falls Ambulance.
Tuesday, Aug. 11
MARS HILL — Tr. Martin received information about two individuals with active felony warrants that were seen in a vehicle in Mars Hill by and off-duty officer. Tr. Martin and Tr. Flynn located the vehicle later on and arrested the two. They were transported to the Aroostook County Jail.
MARS HILL — Tr. Casavant received a criminal trespass complaint from a homeowner in Mars Hill. The owner of the property learned that an unwanted individual had been on her property earlier in the day. The offender was not located immediately, but Tr. Casavant will served the individual a trespass warning once he is located.
Wednesday, Aug. 12
MONTICELLO — Tr. Mahon charged a male juvenile with criminal speed in Monticello. Tr. Mahon clocked the young driver at 95 mph in a 55-mph speed zone. The juvenile turned down a side road in an attempt to avoid Tr. Mahon, but his effort was unsuccessful. Tr. Mahon contacted the juvenile’s mother and she responded to the scene to take custody of the youth.
Thursday, Aug. 13
CARIBOU — Tr. Levesque assisted the Caribou Police Deparatment with locating a male wanted on some warrants. Tr. Levesque heard Caribou PD asking for assistance with a male who had taken off on foot. Tr. Levesque responded to the location and got a description of the male from an officer on scene. Tr. Levesque saw the male in the ditch down the road. The male took off on foot, running down the road. Tr. Levesque caught up to him and apprehended him. The male was booked on the warrants and charged with new crimes including refusing to submit to arrest or detention.
ORIENT — Houlton Regional Communications Center received a 911 call of a motorcycle accident on Route 1 in Orient. Sgt. Fuller, Tr. Rider and Tr. Cotton responded and learned from their investigation that 71-year-old Thomas Harvey was traveling south on his motorcycle when he left the road and struck multiple trees causing him to get thrown from the motorcycle. Harvey was pronounced deceased at the scene. Harvey was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The scene was reconstructed by Tr. Marc Poulin. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
STACYVILLE — Houlton RCC reported a single vehicle in the ditch on the Grindstone Road with the sole occupant and operator unconscious behind the wheel. First responders determined that the operator overdosed and administered lifesaving doses of Narcan. Tr. Cotton located drug paraphernalia inside the truck and spoke to a witness who saw the male operating the truck minutes before the crash. Later, Tr. Cotton met with the operator at the Millinocket Hospital. The male consented to a blood kit and Tr. Cotton summonsed him for operating under the influence of drugs.
Friday, Aug. 14
GRAND ISLE — Tr. Levesque along with Lt. Harris, Sgt. Fuller, Cpl. Hafford and Tr. Rider responded to Grand Isle for a report of a male who had pointed a gun at a woman walking her dog. The woman said that her dog was not on a leash and got away, running towards the male with his dog and family. The male unholstered a weapon and threatened to shoot the dog. Troopers looked for the male and were not able to locate him for several hours. Tr. Levesque later located the male at a residence. The male said that he was afraid for his safety and the safety of his family since the dog came up acting aggressively towards him and his family, so he pointed the gun at the dog in case it attacked him or his family. No charges are expected at this time.
PATTEN — Tr. Saucier took a complaint from a Patten resident that a vehicle had been stolen from her property. His investigation revealed that a local man had solicited a wrecker driver to pick up the vehicle because the man told him he owned the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the owner and all parties cooperated in the investigation. The offender has not been located yet but will be charged for theft once he is found.
Saturday, Aug. 15
NEW LIMERICK — Houlton RCC received a 911 call of a vehicle that was off the road on Drews Mills Road in New Limerick. Sgt. Fuller, Tr. Rider and Tr. Cotton investigated and learned that 61-year-old Vincent True was traveling west in his 1999 Dodge pickup when he left the road and struck a tree, causing the truck to roll over onto its side. True was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
PERHAM — Cpl. Michaud responded to a Perham residence when owners of a home reported a man was trespassing at the residence. Once Cpl. Michaud had spoken to all the parties, he determined that someone was actually renting the property from the owners and they were unhappy about the person’s visitor. Cpl. Michaud explained options to the homeowners, and they determined that the solution was to start the eviction process of their tenant.
LITTLETON — Tr. Mahon was in his marked cruiser in a line of traffic on Route 1 in Littleton when a man operating a pickup pulled out and passed the entire line of traffic. Tr. Mahon got the man on radar at 84 MPH as he was passing him. He was able to pull the man over, and when he did, found the man to have an open container of alcohol with him. The operator failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol. He refused a breath and blood test and was booked at the Aroostook County Jail. He was also charged with speed and having an open container of alcohol.
