Orono woman who took sleeping pills charged with OUI

An Orono woman who took sleeping pills before driving found herself Monday night at Penobscot County Jail in Bangor after police concluded that she was operating under the influence of intoxicants.

A woman driving behind Ella Stormann, 31, of Orono called police to report that the vehicle was “all over the road,” Orono police Sgt. Josh Ewing said.

Police saw Stormann’s vehicle cross over the white line near the Kelly Road and Main Street intersection, and Officer Derek Dinsmore turned on his siren and pulled her over.

Stormann’s movements were slow and uncoordinated, her eyes were glassy, and her speech was slow and mumbled, according to the police report.

“She admitted to being on a prescription drug which helps her sleep, and she had taken it that evening,” Ewing said.

Stormann failed field sobriety tests, but she hadn’t consumed any alcohol.

Officer Lee Miller from the Old Town Police Department was called to assist Dinsmore and performed a drug recognition evaluation.

“Based on his evaluation, he felt that she was under the influence,” Ewing said. She was arrested for OUI and released later that evening. (Aimee Dolloff, BDN)

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Hampden police received calls around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday about a capsized canoe stuck in the Souadabscook Stream near Route 1A.

Two teenagers had flipped in the canoe earlier that day while paddling the stream with a friend in a kayak, according to reports. The boat then became pinned to a ledge near the Hampden Water District by the rushing water. No one was injured in the incident. Both teens made it out safely and were found at home. Officials said they would not risk anyone’s life trying to recover the canoe until the swift and high spring waters dropped some. (Chelsey Ledue, BDN)