Owner of sunken lobster boat arrested

ROCKPORT – A man whose lobster boat was intentionally sunk in Rockport Harbor was charged Tuesday with terrorizing.

Police reported Wednesday that owner Franklin Dodge, 41, of Rockport confronted another man at the harbor Friday evening. Dodge’s boat, the 34-foot Brenda Lee, was found in the harbor half full of water early Friday.

Investigators believe the boat had been cut from its mooring and towed into the harbor, and a bilge pump used to fill it with water. The boat eventually sank in 55 feet of water but was raised and hauled ashore by Rockport Marine.

The Maine Marine Patrol was still investigating the sinking of the Brenda Lee on Wednesday. No one has been charged.

According to documents filed by Rockport police Officer Craig Cooley, Robert Crowe, 38, of Rockport and his fiancee, Jaime Reed, 22, also of Rockport, and their 18-month-old son were in their vehicle near the Rockport Boat Club on Friday evening.

Crowe and Reed told police a group of about six men and a car blocked them in on the dead-end road. Dodge, who was with the group, yelled for Crowe to get out of the car, the couple reported, and shouted, “I’m going to get you, Crowe.”

Dodge then threw a full beer bottle at the car, the couple reported.

Reed told Dodge that her young son was in the back seat and pleaded with him to stop the aggressive behavior. She reported that she tried to find her cell phone to call police but couldn’t.

Dodge also yelled, “We’re going to get your [expletive] boat,” according to Reed’s statement. Crowe is also a lobsterman who operates from Rockport Harbor.

Reed and Crowe were able to leave the harbor area and flagged down Officer Cooley near the Rockport Opera House.

Cooley found Dodge and his son Mark a short time later at Rockport Marine, working on the boat. Dodge told Cooley he had no insurance on the vessel and owes Rockport Marine $3,000 for raising and hauling the boat out, according to the officer’s statement.

Dodge told Cooley he was willing to meet with Crowe if an officer were present, but Cooley advised him to stay away from Crowe.

Dodge also told Cooley he wanted to be sure Crowe did not come near his boat.

Crowe requested that police patrol around his house and check his boat regularly.

In their statements, Crowe and Reed said they were afraid for their baby’s life.

“This is only the beginning of this,” Cooley wrote of the confrontation. “I feel this will be ongoing at a much higher magnitude.”

In addition to terrorizing, Dodge was charged with criminal threatening and criminal mischief. He was released Wednesday morning from the Knox County Jail on $300 cash bail. Release conditions included that he have no direct or indirect contact with Crowe, no use of alcohol or drugs and submit to tests and searches.