June

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, at approximately 5:07 PM, Troopers from the Maine State Police Central Field Troop, along with Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputies, responded to the area of Chandler Road and Point Road in Belgrade for multiple reports of a man armed with a rifle, yelling and firing the weapon multiple times in close proximity to numerous residences. Troopers successfully located and arrested 41-year-old William Bamford of Bath. Bamford has been charged with the following offenses:

• Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon

• Aggravated Trafficking of Scheduled W Drug

• Theft by Unauthorized Taking

• Discharging a Firearm Near a Dwelling

• Violating Conditions of Release

Bamford was transported to the Kennebec County Jail following his arrest. At this time, no property damage or injuries have been reported. The incident prompted a coordinated response to ensure public safety as it unfolded. Maine State Police were assisted on scene by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police Tactical Team, Troop G, Troop I, Troop K, and Belgrade Fire and Rescue. If anyone witnessed this incident or have relevant information, please contact Trooper David Wicks of the Central Field Troop at 207-624-7076.

On Friday, June 27, 2025, at approximately 12:15 PM, a tanker truck carrying water was traveling southbound on Interstate 95 when it overturned in the median near mile marker 198 in Old Town. The driver, 58-year-old Robert Pierce of Westbrook, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

Troopers arrived quickly and rendered medical aid. Old Town Fire & Rescue transported Pierce to Eastern Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two lanes of traffic are closed, but vehicles are currently moving through the area using the breakdown lane as crews continue their work. Bouchard’s Towing is on scene, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is also assisting. The road is expected to be fully reopen within the hour.

The investigation is ongoing, but speed does appear to be a factor in the crash.

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at approximately 4:34 P.M., Troopers from the Maine State Police Northern Field Troop responded to a request for assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office regarding a serious injury crash on Ridge Road in Robbinston.

Upon arrival, Troopers located a Black Chevrolet Trax in a ditch with substantial damage to the passenger side. The vehicle was being operated by 19-year-old Aleksa Suddy of Eastport. There were five other occupants in the vehicle, including 19-year-old Tamara Sockabasin of Perry and four individuals under the age of 18.

All occupants were transported to the hospital. Three individuals were transported by LifeFlight to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, where two are listed in serious condition and one in critical condition. The remaining occupants sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under active investigation.

No further information is available at this time.

The Maine State Police will hold its annual awards ceremony on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. This event recognizes past and present members of the Maine State Police, both sworn and civilian, as well as citizens of Maine who have gone above and beyond what is expected of them. This year’s ceremony will include the presentation of awards such as Trooper of the Year, Legendary Trooper, Leadership Award, Bravery Awards, Wounds Received, Special Award of Commendation, and the Colonel’s Award.

The stories behind these awards reflect the courage, dedication, and professionalism of Maine’s Troopers, staff, and citizens. Among this year’s honorees:

• Several members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team, recognized for their response to a barricaded subject in Portage Lake during which K9 Preacher was killed in the line of duty.

• A Trooper who successfully negotiated the peaceful surrender of a barricaded subject following five hours of crisis negotiations.

• A Trooper who suffered a broken ankle in three places while making a felony arrest during a domestic violence call, injuries that required surgery and a six-month recovery.

• A Trooper and his K9 partner, commended for their work as a team on 47 deployments, locating 67 electronic devices , many of which contained critical evidence linking suspects to online child exploitation, including possession, dissemination, and production of child sexual abuse material.

• A Maine State Police Crime Laboratory firearms and toolmarks examiner, the only professional in this role serving the entire State of Maine, recognized for exceptional expertise and service supporting investigations across the state.

• The inaugural Walker-Deslauriers Memorial Award, presented posthumously to Jason Walker and Michael Deslauriers, who courageously confronted an active shooter on October 25, 2023, and selflessly gave their lives to protect others.

Friday, June 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM
Maine Criminal Justice Academy
15 Oak Grove Road
Vassalboro, Maine

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Troopers with the Maine State Police, Central Field Troop executed a search warrant at 23 Gardner Drive in Brooks, following an investigation led by Troopers and Deputies from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department, and an investigator from the Maine Department of Corrections. The search warrant was the result of a months-long investigation during which Troopers identified the residence as a source of supply for fentanyl and crack cocaine in the greater Waldo County area. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms, a significant quantity of cash, approximately 87 grams of fentanyl powder, 5 grams of crack cocaine, and illegally possessed prescription drugs.

The following individuals were arrested and charged:

• Nature Gordon, 21, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs.

• Ian Freeman, 38, of Brooks, was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

• Jamie Freeman, 39, of Brooks, was charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

• Joseph Hills, 38, of Brooks, was charged with Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drugs.

All individuals were transported to the Waldo County Jail. The investigation continues.

On May 17th, 2025, at approximately 4:55 AM, the Lewiston Police Department received a 911 call reporting a 4-year-old child with a gunshot wound at 93 Pierce Street in Lewiston. The Lewiston Police Department, Lewiston Fire Department and United Ambulance Service responded.

The child, identified as Jasper Smith, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:08 AM. Jasper was later transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy. The Lewiston Police Department requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was notified as required by protocol when a child dies in a household. Since that time, the investigation has continued.

On June 18th, 2025, at approximately 10:25 AM, police arrested 35-year-old Robert McCoy, the child’s stepfather. He has been charged with Manslaughter and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The child’s mother, 27-year-old Mikayla Smith was also arrested on unrelated warrants. Both were transported to the Androscoggin County Jail.

We would like to thank the Lewiston Police Department and DHHS for their continued assistance with this investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, at approximately 12:41 PM, Maine State Police Troop G Troopers responded to a report of a trailer carrying goats that had become detached from its towing vehicle on the Turnpike northbound near mile marker 52 in Falmouth. The trailer came to rest in the median.

As a result of the incident, 15 goats escaped and began to disrupt traffic on both the northbound and southbound lanes. Troopers quickly responded and coordinated efforts to corral the goats. The investigation determined that the driver, operating a 2013 Toyota pickup truck towing a farm trailer, experienced a disconnection between the vehicle and trailer, leading to the incident. There were no significant injuries to the driver or the goats.

Southbound traffic was minimally affected, while northbound traffic was slowed for about 45 minutes but continued to flow.

The Maine State Police were assisted at the scene by Southern Maine Towing, Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency, the Town of Cumberland, Cumberland Police Department Animal Control, and Maine Turnpike Authority maintenance crews.

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at approximately 8:37 PM, Maine State Police Troopers responded to a residence on Windsor Road in Chelsea. Upon arrival, Troopers located two deceased adult males. Detectives and Evidence Response Technicians with the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded to investigate and process the scene.

The deceased individuals were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. A juvenile male was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. He was taken into custody and transported to Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.

There is no danger to the public. The investigation remains ongoing. No additional information is being released at this time.  

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, at approximately 10:10 AM, a Maine State Police Trooper observed a white Hyundai Sonata traveling at a reckless speed and passing other vehicles in a no-passing zone on Route 25 in Cornish. The vehicle was also observed crossing into oncoming traffic.

When the Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to stop and continued at a high rate of speed. The Trooper coordinated with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office to deploy spike mats at the Limington-Standish town line. The spike mats were successfully deployed, disabling both passenger-side tires of the vehicle. Despite the damage, the driver continued to flee, driving on deflating tires and rims.

The pursuit continued through the intersection of Routes 25 and 35 in Standish, where the driver of the Hyundai Sonata rear-ended another vehicle. The driver of that vehicle sustained minor injuries. The driver of the Hyundai then continued eastbound on Route 25 into Gorham, where a Maine State Police Trooper conducted a PIT maneuver, (Precision Immobilization Technique) successfully bringing the pursuit to a safe conclusion.

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Gabriel Nodarse of Saco, sustained minor injuries. He was evaluated at the scene and transported to the York County Jail. Nodarse has been charged with Eluding and Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon. Following the incident, investigators also learned that Nodarse was involved in a hit-and-run crash earlier this morning at approximately 9:10 AM on High Street in Bridgton.

The Maine State Police would like to thank the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Gorham Police Department for their assistance. The investigation is ongoing.

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at approximately 8:00 PM, Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central arrested 69-year-old Bonnie Coombs of Garland in connection with the April homicide of 78-year-old Velma Withee of Hartland. Coombs is the sister of the victim.

PREVIOUS RELEASE

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central following the discovery of a deceased adult female at a residence on Canaan Road in Hartland. The victim was identified as Velma Withee. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta on Monday, April 14, 2025. The manner of death was determined to be homicide, and the cause was gunshot wounds. Bonnie Coombs was transported to the Somerset County Jail, where she is currently being held without bail. This investigation remains active and ongoing. No additional details are being released at this time.