Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Auburn Domestic Incident Ends Violently
(Auburn) An intense and tragic morning Saturday in Auburn. Police say they received a 9-1-1 call shortly before 1 a.m. from a woman on Russell Avenue, who reported her significant other was in a fight with someone trying to break into her residence with a gun. While on the phone, the RCC heard shots being fired and the caller fled the home. When officers responded, they found the woman and could see the residence was on fire and heard yelling from inside. They say the suspect, 43 yo Leein Hinkley, began shooting at police, and then fled to several other residences. Hinkley was located several hours later and continued screaming at officers from a nearby rooftop, at which point he was shot and killed by Maine State Police. Authorities report Hinkley had been released from jail on June 12th for violating probation on an earlier domestic violence conviction. The Fire Marshal’s Office has located human remains at the Russell Avenue home. The Chief Medical Examiner is working to determine a positive identification.
(Auburn) Authorities in Auburn Saturday morning responded to an active shooter situation. State police tactical teams were evacuating houses and conducting a house-to-house search after a woman called 9-1-1 shortly before 1 a.m. to report her significant other was in a fight with someone trying to break into her residence with a gun. After calling for help, the woman fled the home. Authorities arrived to find the Russell Avenue home on fire and the suspect, identified as 43 yo Leein Hinkley, had fled. They say Hinkley ultimately ended up on a nearby rooftop and continued screaming at officers while holding a firearm, at which point he was shot and killed by Maine State Police. Authorities say Hinkley had just been released from jail on reduced bail on a probation violation from a previous domestic violence incident, reportedly over the objection of the DA’s Office. Following the incident, The Fire Marshal’s Office located human remains at the Russell Avenue home. The Chief Medical Examiner is working to determine a positive identification of those remains.
(Auburn) Two people are dead and the City of Auburn breathing a sigh of relief Saturday, after a Maine State Police Tactical Team was called in to deal with an active shooter situation. In a press conference Saturday afternoon, the Auburn Police Department reported about 1 a.m. a woman called 9-1-1 from her Russell Avenue residence to report her significant other was fighting with someone attempting to break into her home with a gun. The woman fled the home, and the suspect, identified as 43 yo Leein Hinkley, also fled the building, which was now fully engulfed in flames. A second Russell Avenue residence was then set on fire, and authorities were going door to door evacuating houses and conducting a search. Shortly after 5:30 a.m., Hinkley was located on the rooftop of a residence, armed with a gun and yelling at authorities, at which point he was shot and killed. The Fire Marshal’s Office has since located a body at the home from which the 9-1-1 call originated. The Chief Medical Examiner is working to positively identify that victim.
MSP Search for Suspects Who Fled Scene of School Bus Crash
(Limington) Maine State Police are searching for two suspects who crashed into the back of a school bus in Limington Friday afternoon. They say the bus was carrying 13 children but no one was injured. The bus was slowing as it approached an intersection, when a vehicle behind it failed to slow down and crashed into the rear of the bus. Both vehicles were reportedly severely damaged. Two white males who appeared to be in their 20’s or 30’s reportedly fled the sedan that was involved and took off on foot into nearby woods. A K9 unit was dispatched, but the suspects are still at large. The investigation is ongoing, with criminal charges pending.
(Limington) Criminal charges are pending and two suspects remain at large after a sedan crashed into the back of a school bus Friday in Limington. Authorities say the bus was slowing for an intersection, but the car failed to slow, hitting the bus with enough force to damage both vehicles significantly. Thirteen children were on the bus; none were injured. The suspects, described as two white men in their 20’s or 30’s, fled on foot into nearby woods. A K9 unit was called in and picked up a scent, but then lost it. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Coast Guard Reminds Public of Severe Consequences of Hoax Calls
(Portland) The US Coast Guard is reminding the public that knowingly transmitting false distress calls is a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to a quarter million dollars. The reminder comes after Coast Guard Northern New England received two hoax distress calls in two weeks, most recently a call last Wednesday that was believed to have originated near Ogunquit and that said a ship was going down. The Coast Guard says such calls divert valuable time and resources. Such calls are followed up on by the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
(Portland) Hoax distress calls are no joke. The US Coast Guard Northern New England says it has received two hoax distress calls in the past two weeks, diverting valuable time and resources. They say the most recent call, received last Wednesday, is believed to have come from the Ogunquit area, and reported a ship was going down. Such calls are followed up on by the Coast Guard Investigative Service and are considered federal crimes, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
Ellsworth DogNapping Incident Has Happy Ending
(Ellsworth) A dog-napping incident in Ellsworth last week has a welcome outcome, thanks to the public and the Ellsworth Police Department. The puppy’s owner told police she left her car locked and running in a Water Street parking lot last Thursday, with the windows rolled up and the furbaby inside. She said when she returned to her car, a window was down and the pup was gone. The frantic owner turned to Facebook for help. Several people then called police to say they had seen the dog with three adults at WalMart. Ellsworth police shared video footage of the suspects with the dog, and the alleged dognappers were quickly identified. Police have charged 22 yo Jasmine Gauthier of Fryeburg, 70 yo Marietta Lawson of Ellsworth, and 23 yo Jordan Burnell of Ellsworth with theft.
(Ellsworth) It was doggone amazing work by the public and the Ellsworth Police Department that foiled a dognapping incident last week. A woman turned to FB for help after she reported returning to her car last Thursday to find her new little puppy missing. The owner said she left her car running, locked and with the windows up in a Water Street parking lot, but came back to find a window rolled down and the pup nowhere to be found. After the woman frantically asked for help on social media, Ellsworth police say they received several calls reporting seeing the pup at WalMart with three adults. Police then shared video footage, which quickly led to the identification of the three and return of the pup. Police have charged 22 yo Jasmine Gauthier of Fryeburg, 70 yo Marietta Lawson of Ellsworth, and 23 yo Jordan Burnell of Ellsworth with theft.
Rockland Authorities Respond to Shooting
(Rockland) A potential standoff in Rockland Friday afternoon ended peacefully in just under two hours. The Pen Bay Pilot reports in the early afternoon, multiple shots were reported at a home in the area of Carolls Lane, prompting a response by Rockland Police, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marine Patrol. The incident stemmed from an argument that became heated inside 10 Carrolls Lane. Although shots were fired, no one was injured. Two people fled the building, and the suspect surrendered to police about 3 p.m. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
Local Politics
Secretary Bellows Releases Final Wording on Referendum Question
(Augusta) Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Friday announced the final wording of a referendum question that will appear on the November ballot. The question centers on contributions to political campaigns and will read, “Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?” In addition to the citizens’ initiative question, the November ballot will include candidate races, bond issues, and other referenda questions the legislature chose to send to the voters, including a decision on the state flag.
Health
Sunscreen Recall
(Undated) Makers of a popular sunscreen product have issued a recall. Tests revealed mold contamination in several batches of Suntegrity’s Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation. The product is used as a makeup foundation and is marketed as having an SPF 30. The mold found can cause allergic reactions or infections, especially on broken skin.
Beth C. Wright Rolls Out “Win-Win” Collaboration with Businesses
(Ellsworth) Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth is rolling out a new joint program with local businesses, agencies, providers and others. The Win/Win Collaboration will help the center offer free services to the cancer community and will in turn offer participating agencies free office space, scheduling and promotion of the agencies’ services that will be offered to the general public for a fee. The first local partner to sign up is Meredith Whitney, MLT, Massage Therapy. Cancer patients can contact Beth C. Wright for a free appointment, while the general public can make an appointment for a fee. Interested businesses can learn more by contacting Angela Fochesato at Beth C. Wright.
Infrastructure
Island Explorer Resumes Service Sunday
(Bar Harbor) The Island Explorer bus system will roll into its 24th season beginning June 23rd. The fare-free transportation system shuttles passengers around Mount Desert Island, offering an alternative to sometimes pricey and congested parking woes. Some routes will be affected this year, specifically due to closure of parts of the Seawall Road, although transportation to the Seawall Picnic Area will be available. Ridership has been slowly rebuilding since the years following the COVID pandemic. Service will run through October 14th. Visit explore acadia dot com for a route finder.
(Bar Harbor) You can avoid those traffic headaches, especially with road construction in Bar Harbor, by taking the bus. The Island Explorer bus system will drive into its 24th season beginning Sunday, June 23rd. The fare free transportation system shuttles passengers around Mount Desert Island, with service running through October 14th. For a route finder, visit explore acadia dot com.
Cottage Street Road Construction Update
(Bar Harbor) The Town of Bar Harbor says contractors will be completing work along Cottage Street from Maple Avenue to Eden Street today (Monday). Work will be in progress between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., with parking and traffic impacted by alternating one-lane traffic through the job site. They say to expect travel delays throughout the day.
(Bar Harbor) Looks like one more day of traffic delays on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor today. The Town says contractors will be completing work along that Street from Maple Avenue to Eden Street between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., with traffic impacted by alternating one-lane traffic through the job site.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Employees Donate to Nine Nonprofits
(Bar Harbor) DownEast Community Hospital in Machias, Friends of Baxter State Park, and The Lamb House – a single family dwelling designed to accommodate families forced from their homes by natural disaster that serves parts of Washington and Hancock Counties. Those are three of nine nonprofit organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that will share $19,000 collected in the first quarter by Bar Harbor Bank and Trust employees. The monies are donated through Casual for a Cause, a program that allows employees to dress casually on Fridays in exchange for bi-weekly payroll deductions. Since it began in 2018, the program has distributed more than $311,000 to deserving nonprofits.
City of Ellsworth Honors Longtime Election Worker
(Ellsworth) Sylvia Lock not only recognized the importance of voting, she served as Election Clerk in 56 elections, including six Presidential elections, beginning in 1998, providing 20 years of service to the City of Ellsworth. Sylvia passed away last month at the age of 100, but she left behind a legacy of service as a citizen and role model to others, and as a well-known volunteer at the Mary Dow Center at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. The City of Ellsworth is honoring her with a special display at City Hall.
Sports
The Dallas Mavericks knew it was do or die and pulled off a 122-84 win Friday over the Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics still lead 3 games to 1, with Game 5 tonight in Boston.
The Red Sox begin a series against the Blue Jays tonight in Toronto. Red Sox won last night’s game against the Yankees 9-3.