Ellsworth man charged with running a red light

Bangor police arrested a man Monday afternoon after he allegedly ran a red light, crashed his car and then fled to the hospital.

Officer Jason Stuart reported that at about 1:30 p.m. Foster Kane, 38, of Ellsworth was driving north on State Street when he went through a red light at the intersection with Hancock Street. Kane’s car struck a car driving from Otis Street toward Hancock Street. Both cars received extensive front-end damage, Stuart said.

Stuart said witnesses saw Kane run to Eastern Maine Medical Center next door. When Stuart asked dispatch to notify EMMC security, he learned that Kane already had checked in at the hospital, saying he was in an accident.

Stuart also learned that Kane was wanted on two warrants, and that his license was suspended. Stuart went to the hospital and arrested Kane after medical staff released him. Kane was arrested on the warrants, and also was charged with operating after suspension and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

Brewer police charged an alleged purse snatcher with theft after broadcasting his picture on television Tuesday night.

Lt. Perry Antone said that images from a store’s security footage were given to area television stations Tuesday, which showed an unidentified man suspected of taking shoppers’ purses.

Numerous tips helped police identify the man as Foster Kane, who was already in custody at Penobscot County Jail for a separate offense. Kane was charged on two counts of theft.

Antone said the images broadcast were obtained using new digital technology that the Brewer Police Department bought with a federal grant in 2003. The system allows police to make a digital copy of security footage, which can then be converted to still photos, enlarged, e-mailed or printed out.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball