June

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, the Maine State Police, Southern Field Troop responded to an incident in Norway. The initial investigation indicates an Oxford Police Department Reserve Officer, 31-year-old Joe Correia of Norway was off duty and outside his vehicle when he was struck by a vehicle on Crocket Ridge Road in Norway. After being struck, a physical altercation occurred between the officer and the male suspect who was operating the other vehicle being driven by 29-year-old Michael Carleton of Paris. Carleton was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Oxford County Jail.  He was charged with Class A Aggravated Assault, Class C Reckless Conduct with Dangerous Weapon. Correia was transported to a local hospital where he is having surgery for non-life-threatening injuries. There is no threat to the public. The investigation is on-going.

On the evening of June 20, 2024, Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North Detectives responded to a shooting incident on Westmanland Road in Westmanland. As a result of the shooting, on June 22, 2024, 22-year-old Brandon Belanger of Presque Isle, died of his injuries. The case and circumstances remain under investigation by the Major Crimes Unit-North. There is no danger to the public. Additional information will be released when it’s appropriate to do so.

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, at approximately 12:12 PM, Troopers responded to the four-way intersection of Route 117 and Route 11 in Limington for a three-vehicle crash. Two vehicles were still in the roadway, and one struck the front porch of a house at the intersection. A Subaru Impreza and a Lexus RX300 were traveling in opposite directions on Route 11 and a Jeep Cherokee was traveling north on Route 117 when the crash occurred. The rear passenger in the Subaru Impreza, 32-year-old Casey Lubell of Ipswich, Massachusetts was pronounced dead on scene. Three other occupants in the Subaru Impreza were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Lexus RX300 was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The circumstances which led to the crash are still under investigation. The road was shut down for approximately three hours. The State Police was assisted by Gorham PD, Limington Fire and Rescue, Hollis Fire and Rescue, and Standish Fire and Rescue.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at approximately 6:02 PM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a domestic violence complaint from a 70-year-old woman in Readfield. The woman told dispatchers her ex-husband 71-year-old Carl Hiebert of Belgrade had a firearm and assaulted her at her Morrill Road home. Also in the home at the time was the couple’s 41-year-old son who resides at the residence. Troopers arrived on scene and found the female victim in the driveway. She was safely removed from the location and treated by Winthrop Rescue. A perimeter was set up around the residence with the help of Troop G, Troop I and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. The son was able to remove himself from the residence and was unharmed. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the residence and was able to take Hiebert into custody. Hiebert was arrested and charged with DV Criminal Threatening with a Dangerous Weapon, Reckless Conduct with a firearm and DV Assault. Hiebert was transported to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM, the Maine State Police Southern Field Troop, assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 361 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for the two males that fled on foot from a June 14, 2024, crash on Sokokis Avenue after the vehicle they were driving struck a school bus. The two males were identified as 33-year-old Robert Hargis and his brother 30-year-old Patrick Hargis of Hiram. Troopers developed information that the brothers were staying at the Sokokis Ave address. After a search of the property, with the help of a K-9, the brothers were located hiding inside a wall in an upstairs bedroom. They were both taken into custody without incident and transported to the York County Jail.  Robert had nine active arrest warrants. Patrick had one and is also on probation. Patrick was charged with Felony Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon. He will also be charged with Operating After Suspension, Operating with Suspended Registration, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, three counts of Violating Conditions of Release

The body of a man reported missing by his family on May 18, 2024, was discovered on Lincolnville Beach on June 3, 2024. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) identified the deceased as 30-year-old Jonah Farley of Union. The OCME determined the death was not suspicious.

Following the discovery, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central. On June 17, 2024, the State Police Dive Team located and recovered Farley’s vehicle, a 2010 Chevy Silverado near the Ferry Terminal in Lincolnville. The investigation has ruled the death a suicide. There is nothing further to release at this time.

On Friday, June 14, 2024, the Maine State Police Central Field Troop executed a drug search warrant at the residence of 31-year-old Caleb Woodward and 34-year-old Ryann Kenny at 51 Flatt Road in Knox. Attention was brought to the residence after Woodward’s arrest following a traffic stop the morning of June 14th. Drugs were seized during the traffic stop which gave probable cause to investigating Troopers to search his home. In addition to 30 grams of fentanyl, Troopers located crystal methamphetamines, Crack Cocaine, and 10 different unprescribed pills, including suboxone, oxycodone, and Xanax. Troopers further seized two firearms. Three minor children reside in the residence. The Department of Health and Human Services was notified as a result of the investigation. Woodward and Kenny were transported to the Knox County Jail.

*Please contact the jail for booking photos

Caleb Woodward was charged with the following offenses:

• Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs Fentanyl
• Furnishing Schedule W Drugs, Methamphetamines
• Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drugs Cocaine Base
• Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drugs Suboxone
• Unlawful Possession of Schedule W Drugs Oxycodone
• Unlawful Possession of Schedule Z Drugs
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

Ryann Kenny was charged with the following offenses:

• Aggravated Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs Fentanyl
• Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child

In the early morning hours of Saturday, June 15, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a domestic violence incident at a residence on Russell Avenue in Auburn that resulted in an officer involved shooting. Please see the attached remarks from an afternoon news conference that provided a timeline of events.

*The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating the underlying criminal conduct, and the Office of the Attorney General is investigating the officer involved shooting.  

Officer Involved Shooting Investigation (Auburn).pdf

On Friday, June 14, 2024, at approximately 2:18 PM, the Maine State Police and Limington Fire Department responded to the area of 419 Sokokis Avenue in Limington for a car crash involving a school bus. Troopers arrived on scene and discovered that the school bus had been heading southbound on Sokokis Avenue prior to the crash. As the bus approached Axelsen Road, it began to slow down. The vehicle behind the bus, a 4-door sedan, failed to slow down in time and crashed into the back side of the bus.  The damage to both the bus and the sedan was severe and both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Troopers also learned that the occupants of the sedan, two white males who appeared to be in their 20’s or 30’s, exited the sedan and fled the scene on foot, heading into the woods nearby.  A K-9 track was conducted and an article of clothing belonging to one of the suspects was located. However, the males are still at large.

The school bus was transporting 13 children at the time of the accident. No children were reported to have been injured during the incident. The bus driver was also not injured.

This is an ongoing investigation with criminal charges pending.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at approximately 9:29 AM, Troopers responded to a single vehicle, single occupant crash on Avenue Road in Levant. Initial investigation indicates the driver of the vehicle, 38-year-old Jennifer Archie of Bar Harbor was traveling westbound when she lost control of her 2010 Toyota Corolla and struck a telephone pole causing the car to catch fire. The driver was ejected from the car. It is unknown if she was wearing her seatbelt at the time. The driver was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center with life threatening injuries. Avenue Road was shut down for several hours but has since re-opened. Levant Fire, Central Maine Power and Northen Light Ambulance Service assisted on scene. Speed appears to be a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.