July

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, at approximately 9:24 PM the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, MedCare Ambulance Service, and Roxbury Fire Department responded to a residence in the town of Roxbury for the report of an individual that had collapsed at a gathering during a private fireworks display.

The victim, 41-year-old Joseph Hennessey of South Paris, was pronounced deceased after being transported from the scene by responding medical personnel. The Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit subsequently responded to assist with the investigation.

An autopsy of the victim was conducted at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. Initial findings in the investigation indicate that Mr. Hennessey was struck and killed by a projectile discharged by a mini cannon at the time of the fireworks display. This incident remains under active investigation by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit.

The Scarborough Police Department and the Maine State Police are continuing an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a Portland man who was found unresponsive on Ginn Road in Scarborough.

On the evening of Saturday, July 26, 2025, at approximately 11:21 PM, the Scarborough Police Department responded to 8 Ginn Road and found 25-year-old Darlon Aguilar of Portland lying unresponsive in the roadway. Aguilar remains in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Anyone who had contact with Aguilar on Saturday, July 26, 2025, is asked to call the Scarborough Police Department at 207.883.6361 or the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit at 207.624.7076.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at approximately 7:30 AM, a 2004 Chevrolet pickup was being driven southbound in the passing lane of Interstate 95 in Veazie by 21-year-old Colby Tear of Greenbush. 

The initial investigation indicates the hood unlatched and flew up, which blocked Tear’s view of the highway. Tear braked hard and attempted to pull over to the median. The driver of a 2019 Toyota Rav4 approached from behind and was not able to stop and collided with the rear of Tear’s truck. The driver of the Rav4 was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with non-life-threatening injuries. A third vehicle, a 2011 Subaru Forester approached from behind and steered to the right to avoid the initial collision. That driver left the roadway and entered the woods. He was transported with minor injuries and was treated and released. Tear did not report any injuries.

The interstate was shut down for several hours and southbound traffic was diverted while Maine State Police reconstructed the scene. Assistance was provided at the scene by Maine Warden Service, Orono PD, Maine Dept of Transportation, Veazie Fire Dept., Orono Fire Dept and Old Town Fire Dept.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at approximately 10:00 AM, Troopers from the Maine State Police Northern Field Troop responded to a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Route 16 near Alton Grocery in Alton.

A preliminary investigation indicates that a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 42-year-old Matthew Parsons of LaGrange, was traveling southbound when it crossed the centerline and struck a 2011 Buick Regal traveling northbound. The Buick was operated by 70-year-old Peter McCormack of Alton. Matthew Parsons was pronounced deceased at the scene. Peter McCormack was transported by LifeFlight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with life-threatening injuries.

Route 16 in the area of the crash was closed to traffic for several hours while first responders worked to assist those involved, clear the scene, and allow Troopers to conduct a full crash reconstruction.

Maine State Police were assisted on scene by Troopers from Troop I and the Traffic Safety Unit, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, Old Town Police Department, Orono Fire & Rescue, Old Town Fire & Rescue, Alton Fire, LaGrange Fire, and Silva’s Towing. The investigation remains ongoing.

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at approximately 1:09 PM, Troopers responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Lapoint Road and Merrill Road in Stetson.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a tractor trailer unit traveling north on Lapoint Road failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with Merrill Road and struck a dump truck that was traveling east on Merrill Road. The impact caused the fully loaded tractor trailer to strike a utility pole, causing it to snap and come to rest on top of the unit. The dump truck which was also fully loaded overturned onto its passenger side as a result of the crash.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 39-year-old Peter Omweno of Denton, Texas, was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center with serious injuries. The driver of the dump truck, 64-year-old Scott Webber of Glenburn, died while being transported to the hospital. The intersection was shut down for several hours while State Police investigated the crash and crews worked to clear the scene.  

Assisting on scene were:

• Levant Fire and Rescue

• Hermon Fire and Rescue

• Bouchard and Sons Towing

• Central Maine Power Company

• Hopkins Milling and Paving

On Friday, July 18, 2025, at approximately 6:05 AM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received multiple reports of a tractor trailer rollover on the southbound side of Interstate 295 near mile marker 29 in Brunswick. Preliminary investigation indicates that the operator of the tractor trailer may have become fatigued, causing the vehicle to veer off the right side of the roadway and into a ditch.

As the driver attempted to reenter the roadway, the truck rolled over onto its passenger side. The truck was transporting a shipment of frozen crabs at the time of the crash. The operator was not injured, and no other vehicles were involved.

Troopers were assisted on scene by the Brunswick Police Department, Brunswick Fire and Rescue, Maine Department of Transportation, and Copp Motors.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at approximately 10:30 PM, Maine State Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Maine, in connection with the homicide investigation in Union. The juvenile was taken into custody without incident in Union. He was transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. The arrest is the result of relentless investigative work by Detectives and Investigators with the Maine State Police.

The victim, previously identified as 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart of Tenants Harbor, was located during a search of Crawford Pond in Union on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta confirmed her cause of death as strangulation and blunt force trauma. Anyone with pertinent information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 or by texting MESPTIP to 847411.

This remains and an active and ongoing investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 5:12 PM, Troopers from the Central Field Troop responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash in the area of 60 Hussey Hill Road in Albion. It was reported that one adult and two minor children were struck by a vehicle, and the vehicle fled the scene. The adult victim, 33-year-old Mollie Egold of Albion, was transported from the scene via LifeFlight to the hospital with serious injuries. She remains in stable condition. One of the minors was also transported via LifeFlight and remains in critical condition. The second minor was pronounced deceased at the scene. Through the investigation, Troopers were able to identify and locate the vehicle as well as the operator involved. The vehicle was a white 2016 Hyundai Veloster, and the operator was identified as 44-year-old Benjamin Lancaster of Albion. Lancaster was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec County Jail on the following charges:

• Operating Under the Influence Causing Death

• Operating Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)

Troopers are seeking video footage or surveillance that may cover Hussey Road or Main Street in Albion between 5:00 PM and 5:15 PM on July 11, 2025, involving a white vehicle matching the description above. Anyone with relevant footage or information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Garret Booth at 207.624.7076. The Maine State Police were assisted by LifeFlight of Maine, Albion Fire Department, and Delta Ambulance.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 1:06 PM, the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting 34-year-old Gabriele Wilbur of Wilton was threatening to shoot a male who was doing landscaping in the yard at 58 Cemetery Road in Wilton.  

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Wilton Police Department responded to the area and attempted to negotiate with Mr. Wilbur but he refused to follow commands. Wilbur pointed a gun at law enforcement personnel. Due to the ongoing threat the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team was requested and responded.

After a brief standoff, Mr. Wilbur confronted officers while armed, and Maine State Police Trooper Andrew Hardy and Officer Cody Henry from Wilton Police Department discharged their weapons and shot Mr. Wilbur. Law enforcement personnel rendered aid to Mr. Wilbur until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.  

Mr. Wilbur is currently at Maine Medical Center receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The underlying criminal investigation is being handled by the Wilton Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit. It is expected that Mr. Wilbur will be charged with several criminal offenses.

Trooper Andrew Hardy and Officer Cody Henry are being placed on administrative leave as is standard practice when deadly force is used by law enforcement. The Office of the Attorney General will be investigating the use of deadly force by law enforcement. Please direct all further inquiries to the Attorney General’s Office.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 2:06 PM, Maine State Police received reports of a Toyota pickup truck operating erratically at high speeds on Interstate 95 southbound near mile marker 190 in Orono.

Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle near mile marker 182, but the driver refused to pull over and continued southbound at excessive speeds. The vehicle was travelling erratically in both lanes of traffic, posing a significant danger to other motorists. Troopers coordinated a response that included the deployment of spike mats. The pursuit ended near exit 130 in Waterville when the driver struck spike mats and crashed into a tree off Main Street .

The driver was identified as 39-year-old Nathaniel Porter of Crystal. He was taken into custody and transported to Thayer Hospital for an evaluation. Porter is facing multiple charges, including Criminal Speed, Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Operating Under the Influence, and Failure to Submit to Arrest. Main Street was briefly closed while emergency crews and law enforcement secured the scene.