Police say powder in Old Town letter not anthrax

A white powder found in an envelope mailed to a South Water Street home in Old Town earlier this month was not anthrax, according to police who have started a criminal investigation into the matter.

Detective Michael Holmes said Tuesday that with a state laboratory’s finding that the material was not anthrax, he expects to forward the substance to a criminal laboratory this week to determine exactly what it is. Holmes also said he is starting a criminal investigation concerning the letter that was discovered Oct. 15 by a resident going through his mail.

The resident reported finding a powdery substance in the envelope and notified authorities. Three people were inside the home at the time, according to police.

A man celebrating his 35th birthday was arrested Sunday after it was reported he tried to choke his wife in the presence of at least one of her grandchildren, according to Old Town police.

Sent to apartment No. 15 at 25 Pembroke Drive, about 8:24 p.m., Officer Bobbie Pelletier heard yelling coming from inside the apartment. Douglas Reed, 35, came out the back door. Reed had blood in his hair as well as on his face, arms and clothing, which police determined resulted from his falling down the stairs. Reed’s refusal to seek treatment for the injury is what sparked an argument between Reed and his 43-year-old wife.

Douglas Reed insisted that nothing had happened, no domestic assault, although in interviews with Pelletier and Indian Island police Officer James Fearon – who had come to assist Old Town police – Reed’s wife said her husband had tried to choke her. She also had the red marks on her neck to prove it.

Police also interviewed a 7-year-old granddaughter who recalled seeing her grandmother on her back on the floor with Douglas Reed on top of her trying to choke her.

“I’m gonna kill you,” she said Reed told her grandmother. “I’m gonna kill you.”

The girl said she was crying, scared and shaking and tried to call 911 but hung up. Someone also called a short time later to report a domestic dispute, according to the police report.

A 4-year-old grandson told police that he heard Reed say “I’m gonna kill grandma with a gun,” and Pelletier reported that while he was being arrested, Reed claimed he had a gun, although they recovered only two knives from him.

Inside the apartment, cake and other food was all over the living room floor, furniture and decorations were in disarray, and a wall thermostat was broken on the floor.

Douglas Reed was charged with domestic assault and disorderly conduct.

His wife told police that Reed had been drinking heavily earlier and that he usually became violent when he drinks.

Two teen-age youths each received multiple summonses Monday night in Bangor after drag racing at a speed of more than three times the posted limit.

Officers Chad Foley and John Robinson were headed east on the Davis Road at 10 p.m. when they noticed a Ford Focus and an Acura on opposite sides of the Davis Road. The Acura, driven by 18-year-old James McAdams of Bangor, made a right turn onto the Davis Road and headed east in front of the police vehicle. The Focus, driven by 19-year-old Michael Niedorowski of Holden, made a U-turn onto the Davis Road and headed in the same direction.

Foley followed the two vehicles as Niedorowski pulled into the oncoming lane and came alongside McAdam’s car. Both vehicles accelerated rapidly and began drag racing, reaching speeds of 90 mph in a 25 mph zone. Both cars slowed down as they reached the intersection with Finson Road and Niedorowski pulled back into the proper lane.

Officer Foley pulled the cars over and both McAdams and Niedorowski were summoned for criminal speeding and driving to endanger.

– Compiled by NEWS reporters Doug Kesseli and Anthony Saucier