Police patrol

EAST MACHIAS — Maine State Police troopers assigned to Troop J in East Machias, responded to the following complaints and incidents in Washington and Hancock counties between Aug. 30 and Sept. 6:

Trooper Jeffrey Parola responded to an Aug. 30 motor vehicle accident on Cape Split Road in Addison which claimed the life of 81-year-old Donald Dunbar.

Investigation by Trooper Parola indicates that Dunbar’s vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Laurie Fickett, 22, of Addison. Fickett and a passenger in her car were taken to Down East Community Hospital in Machias. They were treated and later released.

For the second consecutive weekend, the Machiasport district of Bucks Harbor was again the scene of a major drug seizure.

On Aug. 31, troopers and detectives “developed information which led to the harvest of 246 marijuana plants” during a joint departmental operation conducted Sept. 1 in Bucks Harbor.

The sweep, which included a helicopter and ground teams, came a week after Washington County Sheriff’s deputies seized 42 marijuana plants from a Bucks Harbor residence and adjacent fields.

No other details about the Sept. 1 operation were available pending further investigation by police.

The annual Cooper Hill Festival, held Sept. 1 in Cooper, was monitored by troopers Parola and John Matthews. Several people attending the festival were arrested by the troopers on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

Trooper Dan Ryan and his trained dog, J.D., conducted a K-9 demonstration at the Blue Hill Fair on Sept. 2. Ryan and J.D. have been used in recent weeks to help track suspects involved in several incidents in both Washington and Hancock counties.

Troopers Brian Smith and Bryan Higgins responded to a report of a domestic problem possibly involving a firearm in Jonesport on Sept. 5. The officers determined that there was no criminal activity involving a weapon, and no arrests were made.

Trooper Herbert Leighton is continuing an investigation begun Sept. 6 after he responded to an assault complaint in Danforth. No arrests have been made.

The Four Corners Department Store in Columbia was the scene of a burglary in which several hundred dollars’ worth of property was reported stolen.

Troopers Joseph Tibbetts and Stephen Pickering responded to the complaint, which was reported Sept. 6. William Bush, the store’s owner, told troopers Sept. 6 that the burglary occurred during the previous night. Evidence of a forced entry into the building also was reported.

Also on Sept. 6, a State Police Color Guard attended the funeral of Calais Police Chief J.D. Johnson.

Troopers reported a marked increase in complaints over the Labor Day weekend, in which numerous traffic violations and OUI arrests were made in the Washington and Hancock county areas.

Anyone having information about these or other incidents are urged to contact Troop J at 255-4000 during normal business hours, or Maine State Police at 1-800-432-7381 anytime. Callers are not required to identify themselves.