SOUTH PORTLAND

Owner of massage parlor admits violations, pays fine

The owner of a massage parlor that was shut down because it had no business license and offered at least one sexual massage service admitted to a pair of charges in court Wednesday and paid a $1,500 fine.

Lucy Louie, 34, of Morristown, N.J., admitted in Cumberland County Unified Criminal Court in Portland to civil violations for operating Red Stone Spa at 585 Broadway without a massage license and failure to license as an adult use establishment. She was fined $500 for the first charge and $1,000 for the second, which she paid in cash.

A third civil charge of operating an adult use establishment at a prohibited site was dismissed by the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office because she admitted to the other two violations.

South Portland police and city officials ordered the Red Stone Spa closed on Aug. 19 after officers investigated a week earlier and found that the business was offering so-called “table showers,” or nude rubdowns of patrons.

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“The Police Department has evidence that one or more massage therapists … are providing massages to clients whose genitals are exposed,” wrote South Portland police Officer Jeffrey Caldwell in a letter to the spa’s proprietors dated Aug. 20.

That particular practice constitutes a violation of a 1997 city ordinance that defines such businesses as “adult use establishments” and gives the City Council the final approval of their business licenses.

GRAY

Police arrest one man, seek another in assault, robbery

A Westbrook man is in custody and police are seeking another suspect following an assault and robbery in Gray early Wednesday morning.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to North Raymond Road at 1:20 a.m. for a report that a 20-year-old man had been beaten up outside his home by a group of suspects who then stole several items from his house, police said.

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The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies identified suspects, and then a vehicle matching one that left the scene was found in Westbrook. One occupant, Sam Kalmach, 19, of 33 Foster St. in Westbrook, was arrested and charged with robbery, aggravated assault and burglary – all felonies.

He is being held on $2,000 bail at Cumberland County Jail.

The sheriff’s office said it is looking for Matthew Kalmach, 21, of Portland in connection with the incident.

PORTLAND

Cruiser camera’s footage leads to arrest for robbery

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A man who is wanted in New Hampshire on burglary charges was picked up by Portland police after his theft of a woman’s cellphone was caught on a cruiser’s dashboard-mounted camera, police said.

Portland police charged Ryan Raiche, 31, with robbery, being a fugitive from justice and receiving stolen property after his arrest Tuesday evening.

Police were already looking for Raiche. Police say he was seen on a pawn shop security camera selling stolen jewelry and electronics, though police did not know his name at the time.

On Tuesday at about 6 p.m., an officer in the area of Congress and High streets was approached by a woman who said a man had just grabbed her and wrenched a cellphone from her hand, police said.

The incident took place in front of the cruiser while the officer was dealing with another incident, police said.

Police caught up with Raiche and, after checking the video, confirmed the woman’s account and charged him with robbery.

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Women’s rights champion will speak Monday at USM

A retired federal judge and author of the autobiography, “In Defense of Women: Memoirs of an Unrepentant Advocate,” will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Abromson Community Education Center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

Nancy Gertner, now a professor at Harvard Law School, will present the 21st annual Frank M. Coffin Lecture on Law and Public Service, hosted by the University of Maine School of Law. The lecture series honors the late Judge Frank M. Coffin, longtime federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, former member of Congress, and renowned leader and mentor in public service.

A champion of civil rights and women’s rights, Gertner is a teacher, an author and a former defense lawyer. She was nominated to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton, and served as a U.S. District Court judge in Massachusetts from 1994 to 2011. She teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, forensic science and sentencing.

Admission to the event is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. For more information, call 780-4344 or email mainelaw@maine.edu.

HERMON

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State offers $1,000 reward in shooting of bald eagle

The Maine Warden Service is trying to determine who shot to death a bald eagle in Hermon earlier this week.

The eagle, which is protected by federal and state laws, was found near Hermon Pond and Souadabscook Stream, according to Cpl. John MacDonald.

The warden service is trying to determine who shot the bird and why and is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

It is against state law to hunt species that were previously on the state’s list of threatened or endangered species, which includes the eagle. Violating that law is a Class D misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail.

MacDonald said the shooting of a bald eagle in the state is rare, happening perhaps once a year.

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The warden service asked that anyone with information contact authorities on the Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) ALERT US (253-7887) or at www.maineogt.org.

HARRISON

Robbery of Northeast Bank remains under investigation

A person robbed a bank in Harrison, assaulted a customer and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash, the Cumberland Country Sheriff’s Office said.

The robbery occurred at 3:55 p.m. at Northeast Bank at 46 Main St.

The suspect did not display a weapon, police said, and the customer who was assaulted was not injured.

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After the robbery, the suspect drove away. A Maine state trooper, who was in town at the time, arrived at the bank within minutes of the call being broadcast by a police dispatcher. A Cumberland Country Sheriff’s deputy who patrols Harrison arrived shortly afterward and secured the bank.

Customers gave police a description of the suspect and the vehicle license plate. The sheriff’s office and Maine State Police continue to investigate the robbery.

OXFORD

Standish man faces charges over heroin found in his car

Authorities say a Standish man has been charged with heroin possession after police found him semiconscious in his vehicle at the Oxford Casino last weekend.

Police say 32-year-old Michael Lafollette was charged with possessing illegal drugs and violating probation.

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Chief Jon Tibbetts said officers responded to the casino after security reported an unresponsive person in a parked vehicle.

Tibbetts told the Sun Journal that officers found 4 grams of heroin in Lafollette’s vehicle, along with drug paraphernalia.

Police didn’t know if Lafollette was heading into the casino or had already left. There was no indication that Lafollette was distributing the drug.

Lafollette remains in jail pending a court appearance. It was not known if he has a lawyer.

PHILLIPS

Family asks for public’s help with finding missing horse

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The owners of a horse that’s been missing for more than a week are asking for the public’s help in finding the animal.

Phyllis Savage said the 9-year-old Arabian mare was last seen on Oct. 8 in the Bray Hill area in Phillips. It was last seen in a corral with an electric fence.

Savage told the Sun Journal that her 12-year-old granddaughter was staying at a friend’s house and brought her horse, Allie, so she and her friend could ride together.

The horse was seen during the day and was missing when her granddaughter came home from school.

The horse is brown with white on its forehead.

The family says the horse may be in the thick woods in the area.


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