PORTLAND

Corrections officer faces charge of domestic assault

A Cumberland County Jail corrections officer was taken to jail this weekend after being charged with domestic assault.

Portland police charged Thomas Lano, 49, of Old Orchard Beach late Saturday night. Police said a woman at a Congress Street restaurant said she saw Lano arguing with a woman, then grab her arm and compel her to get into his pickup.

The woman said she followed the vehicle and alerted South Portland police, who detained Lano at the Howard Johnson’s parking lot. The alleged victim was not injured, police said.

Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion said the jail will conduct an internal inquiry once the criminal investigation is complete. If convicted, Lano could lose his right to carry a gun, which he does as a deputy responsible for guarding inmates as they are taken to and from court.

Advertisement

 

Report of BB shooting leads to reckless-conduct charge

A 19-year-old man was taken to jail Friday after being charged with shooting BBs at patrons in Portland’s Old Port.

Police were called to 428 Fore St. at 10:30 p.m. after a woman reported being hit in the back by a BB. Witnesses helped officers find Christopher Butt.

Butt was allegedly with three other young men and a young woman and fired the BBs from behind a fence across the street from The Pearl, police said.

Police charged Butt with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

Advertisement

 

Average price at gas pump up over last week, last year

A fuel price website says average retail gasoline prices in Maine have risen 0.9 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.93 per gallon.

MaineGasPrices.com also says prices Sunday were 63.6 cents per gallon higher than they were the same day one year ago — and 6.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said Monday that the price outlook just ahead isn’t so bad. With wholesale gasoline prices down as much as 30 cents per gallon since last Monday, DeHaan said he expects retail gasoline prices to fall.

Gas stations will continue to sell through their more expensive inventory and buy cheaper supply, passing on lower prices to motorists.

Advertisement

 

Community policing center to move to vacated library

City officials have agreed to move the West End Community Police Center from 284 Danforth St. to the Reiche Community School, according to City Councilor David Marshall.

Marshall, who represents the West End, said the move will take place after the Portland Library vacates the library space at the school.

Moving the Community Police Center to the library space will save the city $17,000 a year in rent at the Danforth Street property, he said.

The city will use the savings to hire staff so after-school youth programs can be housed in the new police center office. In addition, he said, the public library has agreed to provide a collection of books for use at the center.

Advertisement

Marshall said the police center office will also be available for use by community groups.

In a budget-reducing move, library officials on July 1 plan to close the Munjoy Branch at the East End School and the Reiche Branch in the West End.

LITCHFIELD

Collision leaves state trooper slightly injured, totals cars

A state trooper was slightly injured Sunday when his cruiser collided with a car on Hallowell Road.

Trooper Jonathan Leach suffered minor cuts to his head from the seat belt and air bag, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said.

Advertisement

Leach was not taken to the hospital, and he is not expected to miss any work as a result of the injuries, McCausland said.

No one was injured in the other vehicle, driven by Edward Brown, 81, of Durham, McCausland said.

The accident occurred about 5 p.m. as Brown’s vehicle was turning on to Hallowell Road from the parking lot of the Litchfield Sportsman’s Club.

“Brown’s car drove into the path of the cruiser, which struck Brown’s car in the side,” McCausland said.

Leach’s unmarked cruiser, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, and Brown’s 1997 Mercury Sable were totaled, McCausland said.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Advertisement

Police launch investigation into burglary at restaurant

South Portland police are investigating a burglary at Thatcher’s Restaurant on Foden Road.

Somebody forced open the door and stole a television and money from a cash register, police said.

The burglary happened sometime Sunday night or early Monday.

NAPLES

Robbery suspect steals narcotics from pharmacy

Advertisement

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a robbery Monday evening at the Naples Rite Aid Pharmacy, 665 Roosevelt Trail.

Capt. Don Goulet said a man entered the pharmacy around 5:30 p.m. and showed the pharmacist a note, implying he had a weapon.

The suspect fled on foot with an unknown amount of prescription narcotics, including OxyContin.

He is described as being about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and was wearing a camouflage Gore-Tex military jacket, dark sunglasses, a dark knit stocking cap, light-colored jeans, white sneakers and black gloves.

AUGUSTA

New state law to reduce childhood vaccine costs

Advertisement

Gov. John Baldacci signed a new law Monday to expand access to childhood vaccines and reduce the costs of immunizations.

Rep. Gary Connor, D-Kennebunk, sponsored the legislation, which was supported by physicians, health insurers and others.

The law is intended to reduce the cost of immunizations in Maine by working with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to acquire vaccines at the federal contract rate.

It also is intended to simplify the distribution and management of vaccines by medical practices, which now must keep separate vaccine stocks for public insurance patients or private insurance patients.

“This law will improve public health and save money,” Connor said.

 

Advertisement

Statewide average price for heating oil falls slightly

Maine energy officials say the statewide average cash price for home heating oil has dropped by a penny a gallon since a week ago to $2.75 per gallon.

The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security said Monday that the price for heating oil is a statewide average and prices vary widely from region to region.

In the latest survey, the lowest actual heating oil price of $2.42 per gallon was found in southwestern Maine, while the highest price of $3 per gallon was found in the eastern region.

Maine Energy Director John Kerry says that after a sharp decline last week, oil prices are rebounding as steps are taken to resolve the debt crisis in Greece.

BANGOR

Advertisement

Ship’s owners charged in alleged illegal oil discharge

The owners of a Cyprus-registered ship and a crew member are facing federal charges stemming from an alleged illegal oil discharge discovered when the vessel was docked in Eastport.

Lemissoler Ship Management Ltd. of Cyprus and the crew member have been charged with falsifying the ship’s oil logbook, removing a gauge so an alleged discharge of bilge oil waste could not be detected and obstructing justice by ordering two crew members to lie to authorities.

The Bangor Daily News said court documents did not indicate whether the alleged discharge happened in Maine or in international waters.

The Coast Guard detained the ship MV Margit Gorthan in Eastport in February but later allowed it to continue its voyage.

 

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.