Couple arrested for alleged involved in Holden burglary
HOLDEN - A couple who had been living rent free in Holden thanks to the kindness of another resident in town will now have to find a new home after allegedly stealing from the man.
Police say they received a call around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 16 from a Clark Hill Road resident who reported he'd been burglarized. The man told authorities someone had gone through his home and safe, stealing approximately $86,000 in jewelry. Holden police interviewed the couple living in the apartment attached to the Clark Hill Road home, but the duo denied any involvement. When police ran 21-year-old Brianna Stein's name in their database they discovered she had recently tried to sell a piece of jewelry at a Bangor pawn shop. Authorities got a photo of the jewelry and showed it to the home's owner, who confirmed that it was his. Police then interviewed the couple again. This time 21- year-old Maxwell Stein admitted to entering the home at least four times and taking several pieces of gold jewelry which he then gave to his wife, Brianna, to pawn.
Maxwell Stein has since been charged with four counts of burglary while Brianna Stein has been charged with receiving stolen property.
Rumford man gets in scuffle with police
ORONO - A Rumford man spent the night in jail on Sunday after he failed to cooperate with police.
Authorities say they received a 9-1-1 call in the early morning hours of Sept. 16 from building 11 at Orchard Trails where they heard a disturbance in the background and someone clearly being asked to leave. When Sgt. Scott Scripture and Officer Stephen Marko arrived at the Empire Drive residence, they stopped two men in the entryway, one of whom had an open container of alcohol.
As they were attempting to identify the man with the open beer, the other individual, later identified as Ethan White, 21, of Rumford wouldn't stop yelling and telling his friend to just drink or chug his beer. Police tried time and time again to get White to quiet down. Authorities say at one point, White moved forward in an attempt to push Scripture. When he did so, he was quickly arrested and taken to jail where he was charged with disorderly conduct and failure to submit to arrest.
The other man, who was of legal drinking age, was simply given a warning for drinking in public.
Angry motorist allegedly attempts to run over trooper
SCARBOROUGH (AP) - Police say a Portland man pulled over for an expired registration sticker took out his frustration on a Maine State trooper on Sunday.
23-year-old Matthew Cole was traveling along the turnpike over the weekend when Tpr. Kyle Wells tried to pull him over for an expired registration. Instead of coming to a complete stop, Cole allegedly drove off and lost control of his vehicle at a Scarborough exit before going off the road. Tpr. Wells was outside his cruiser, when Cole then attempted to back up toward him. Police say that's when the trooper fired at Cole's car. The 23-year-old was not injured, but he was arrested and taken to the Cumberland County Jail where he was charged with eluding a police officer and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. Meanwhile, the trooper was placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the investigation, which is standard procedure.
Teenager stopped in stolen car in Old Town
OLD TOWN - An Old Town teenager didn't get far Friday night after the car he was pulled over in was reported stolen from the high school.
Officer Ryan Fitch saw a silver Ford Taurus traveling on Center Street with no taillights around 10 p.m. on Sept. 14. When he pulled the car over, the driver identified as Zachary Day, 19, of Old Town handed him the registration but told Fitch he didn't have his license with him. The officer went back to his cop car and punched in the information he had and discovered Day's license was under suspension.
Fitch arrested Day and while he was arranging for the Taurus to be towed, a report came in stating a woman at the high school just had her car stolen. 18-year-old Kauri Hamel told police she was at the high school football game when someone took her keys without permission and ran off in her Ford Taurus. Since the car is registered to Hamel's mother, she was contacted and confirmed Day had never driven her car and was not given permission to do so.
Day was then transported to the Penobscot County Jail and charged with operating after suspension and unauthorized use of property.
Actress Sally Struthers charged with DUI in Maine
OGUNQUIT (AP) Actress Sally Struthers is catching the attention of more than theatre enthusiasts at the Ogunquit Playhouse.
Last week, the TV star was pulled over for allegedly drinking and driving. Police say Struthers was arrested early Wednesday after being pulled over on U.S. Route 1 in Ogunquit and charged with criminal operating under the influence. Struthers who is best known for her role as Gloria Stivic in the 1970s TV sitcom, "All in the Family" denied the charges and posted the $160 bail before being released.
Her publicist, Pamela Sharp, said Struthers is not only back to work on the musical "9-to-5" at the Ogunquit Playhouse, but is fine and loves her yearly visit to the York County town.
Vacant trailer attracts unlikely tenants
CORINTH - A trailer believed to be vacant in Corinth turned out to have quite a few unwanted tenants living inside.
Around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13 Tpr. Tucker Bonnevie received a call from a trailer owner in Corinth who just made an alarming discovery. The owner told police he found several marijuana plants inside the vacant trailer. When Bonnevie arrived, he confirmed the owner's findings. Authorities counted at least 100 fully mature marijuana plants growing both inside and outside the unrented unit.
Chelsea man pleads guilty to stealing VA benefits
BANGOR (AP) - A Chelsea man admitted in court last week that he submitted more than 150 fraudulent travel claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs over a three year period.
According to court records, Stephen Longstaff, 54, of Chelsea submitted claims overstating the distance he was driving from Hancock and Washington counties to the Togus V.A. Medical Center in Augusta, where he was receiving treatment. Individuals who travel for V.A. services are permitted to be reimbursed for such expenses but an investigator discovered Longstaff actually lived closer to the medical facility than he had claimed. Authorities say he was paid over $17,000 in travel benefits between 2009 and 2012. Longstaff plead guilty to the crime in federal court in Bangor on Sept. 12.
